Emerald Isle Nine

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A St. Patrick’s Day Tribute to players born in the Emerald Isle.

Here’s the All-Ireland All-Star team

SP – Tommy Bond

SP – Tony Mullane

SP – Hugh Daily

C – Jimmy Archer

1B – Jack Doyle

2B – Reddy Mack

3B – Mike Muldoon

SS – Jimmy Hallinan

LF – Jocko Fields

CF – Jimmy Walsh

RF – Patsy Donovan

Bench

P – Mike O’Neil

C – Tom Needham

IF – Frank McLaughlin

OF – Curry Foley

Manager – Patsy Donovan

The last Irish-born ML player is Joe Cleary (no. 43 below). Joe wins the Not Ready For Prime Time Award – career marks of 189 ERA, 4 ERA+, 24 WHIP. But, there’s hope – he also had 27 K/9.

Here’s the complete list.

Rk Player PA From To Age G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
1 Patsy Donovan 8172 1890 1907 25-42 1824 7505 1321 2256 208 75 16 738 457 334 518 .301 .348 .355 .702 *97/8
2 Jack Doyle 6589 1889 1905 19-35 1569 6055 977 1811 316 64 25 971 440 282 518 .299 .351 .385 .736 *324/96587
3 Tony Mullane 2971 1881 1894 22-35 784 2720 407 661 99 38 8 223 221 114 112 .243 .307 .316 .623 *1/8759364
4 Jimmy Archer 2882 1904 1918 21-35 847 2646 247 660 106 34 16 296 124 283 36 .249 .288 .333 .621 *2/3475
5 Reddy Mack 2373 1885 1890 19-24 550 2062 381 524 87 36 6 262 275 69 83 .254 .352 .340 .692 *4/8
6 Jimmy Walsh 2100 1912 1917 24-29 541 1771 235 410 71 31 6 150 249 213 92 .232 .330 .317 .647 897/536
7 Mike Muldoon 2030 1882 1886 24-28 495 1932 254 450 88 28 10 187 92 134 12 .233 .270 .323 .593 *5/4798
8 Tom Needham 1651 1904 1914 25-35 523 1491 113 311 50 10 8 117 109 189 20 .209 .274 .272 .546 *2/3845
9 Tommy Bond 1462 1876 1884 20-28 361 1441 156 340 32 7 0 121 21 53 .236 .247 .268 .515 *1/9835
10 Jocko Fields 1451 1887 1892 22-27 341 1319 212 358 65 32 12 176 124 139 50 .271 .338 .397 .734 7/24986531
11 Curry Foley 1339 1879 1883 23-27 305 1305 192 373 57 12 6 128 34 83 .286 .304 .362 .666 *9/1387
12 Jack O’Neill 1045 1902 1906 29-33 303 945 74 185 24 5 1 74 52 156 20 .196 .258 .235 .493 *2/39
13 Andy Leonard 990 1876 1880 30-34 215 970 155 259 26 7 1 87 20 41 .267 .282 .311 .593 *7/645
14 Barney McLaughlin 766 1884 1890 22-28 178 696 84 169 23 7 3 66 67 27 15 .243 .312 .309 .621 /649178
15 Tom Dowse 626 1890 1892 23-25 160 590 62 116 12 1 0 46 29 66 7 .197 .243 .220 .463 *2/937841
16 Hugh Daily 590 1882 1887 34-39 167 562 53 88 13 2 0 17 28 79 0 .157 .197 .187 .383 *1/7469
17 Jimmy Hallinan 493 1876 1878 27-29 108 481 94 141 17 8 2 57 12 15 .293 .310 .374 .685 /6497
18 Mike Hines 467 1883 1888 20-25 120 451 69 91 20 3 0 26 16 60 0 .202 .229 .259 .489 /*2978
19 Frank McLaughlin 444 1882 1884 25-27 107 426 60 97 21 4 5 4 18 11 .228 .259 .331 .590 /*6485917
20 Mike O’Neill 415 1901 1907 23-29 137 380 50 97 14 9 2 41 20 63 4 .255 .306 .355 .662 /*17
21 Sleeper Sullivan 351 1881 1884 22-25 97 347 39 64 7 4 0 15 4 21 .184 .194 .228 .421 /*2981
22 Andy Cusick 341 1884 1887 26-29 95 332 27 64 7 1 0 15 8 39 1 .193 .214 .220 .434 /*23697845
23 Paddy O’Connor 294 1908 1918 28-38 108 267 17 60 11 1 0 21 17 36 4 .225 .276 .273 .550 /*25
24 John Tener 282 1885 1890 21-26 73 263 29 62 5 2 3 25 15 47 4 .236 .287 .304 .591 /*19735
25 John McGuinness 280 1876 1884 19-27 66 275 32 67 9 2 0 4 5 6 .244 .257 .291 .548 /*3462
26 Irish McIlveen 197 1906 1909 25-28 53 177 18 38 3 3 0 8 15 15 6 .215 .280 .266 .545 /*9718
27 Con Lucid 171 1893 1897 19-23 54 151 29 36 4 4 0 17 14 24 1 .238 .311 .318 .629 /*1
28 Conny Doyle 128 1883 1884 21-22 31 126 11 32 6 4 0 3 2 15 .254 .266 .365 .631 /*76
29 Charlie McCullough 101 1890 1890 24-24 29 95 3 3 0 0 0 1 6 3 .032 .089 .032 .121 /*1
30 Fergy Malone 100 1876 1884 31-39 23 100 14 23 2 0 0 6 0 1 .230 .230 .250 .480 /*296
31 Sam Nicholl 82 1888 1890 19-21 22 78 10 10 0 0 0 4 4 2 3 .128 .171 .128 .299 /*78
32 John O’Connell 57 1891 1902 19-30 16 51 3 9 1 0 0 7 6 8 2 .176 .263 .196 .459 /*4639
33 Cyclone Ryan 36 1887 1891 21-25 9 33 4 7 1 0 0 3 3 0 1 .212 .278 .242 .520 /*31
34 Pete Daniels 33 1890 1898 26-34 14 29 2 7 2 0 0 3 4 4 0 .241 .333 .310 .644 /*1
35 Bill Farmer 16 1888 1888 24-24 5 16 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .125 .125 .125 .250 /*29
36 Bill Collins 13 1887 1891 24-28 5 12 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 .167 .231 .167 .397 /*269
37 John Curran 12 1876 1876 24-24 3 12 5 4 1 0 0 2 0 0 .333 .333 .417 .750 /*29
38 Ted Sullivan 10 1884 1884 33-33 3 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 .333 .400 .333 .733 /*96
39 Pat McManus 8 1879 1879 19-19 2 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .125 .125 .125 .250 /*1
40 Bill Sullivan 6 1878 1878 24-24 2 6 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 .167 .167 .333 /*7
41 Patrick O’Loughlin 5 1883 1883 23-23 1 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .400 .400 .400 .800 /*9
42 Mike Flynn 2 1891 1891 19-19 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 /*2
43 Joe Cleary 0 1945 1945 26-26 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 /*1
44 Johnny O’Connor 0 1916 1916 24-24 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 /*2
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/17/2012.

 

 

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bstar
bstar
12 years ago

Mickey Cochrane was assumed to be Irish by most of the baseball public, although both his parents were actually of Scottish descent(his dad was actually born in Northern Ireland). Hence, he picked up the nickname “Mickey” because everyone assumed he was just another “Irish mick”. Apparently no one in his life actually called him that but referred to him as Mike, his real name.

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Phil Gaskill
Phil Gaskill
12 years ago
Reply to  bstar

Um, Gordon Stanley Cochrane’s real name was Mike?

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John Autin
Editor
John Autin
12 years ago
Reply to  Phil Gaskill

Various sources say the nickname “Mike” or “Black Mike” came from his intense competitive personality. I can’t quite make the connection there.

His SABR bio says, “he was known as Mike in his private life while the public called him Mickey. As for his given name Gordon, only his parents called him that when Cochrane was an adult.”

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MikeD
MikeD
12 years ago

I would have suspected there would be a very heavy concentration of players form the late 19th and 20th Centuries. Baseball has been a popular way for immigrants, and really their offspring, to try and build a better life, even though the percentage making it has been and remains small.

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Doug
Author
Doug
12 years ago
Reply to  MikeD

You are bang on, MikeD.

I’ve updated the post with the complete list of Irish-born players. Only one played later than 1918 and the great majority are 19th century.

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MikeD
MikeD
12 years ago
Reply to  MikeD

…and hopefully the Cincinnati Reds played their young secondbase prospect today, Brodie Greene. His heritage is probably more Scottish, but we can pretend for St. Patrick’s Day.

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John Autin
Editor
John Autin
12 years ago

Mayo Smith
Kerry Wood
Mike Kilkenny
Ted “Cork” Wilks
Clare Patterson
Matt Meath
Brendan Monaghan
Pat Antrim
Jim Tyrone
Jim Limerick

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Doug
Author
Doug
12 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

In addition to Irish McIlveen (#26 on the list), there was Irish Meusel who had a nice 10 year career (.310 BA, 118 OPS+, 19.9 WAR). Meusel was born in Oakland, CA.

There are also 7 players with the nickname Irish, none born in Ireland.

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Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

Sydney O’Brien

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MrDave
MrDave
12 years ago

Always felt that Mullane should be in the Hall.

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John Autin
Editor
John Autin
12 years ago
Reply to  MrDave

Mullane certainly belongs in the Nickname Hall of Fame: “The Apollo of the Box.”

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Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
12 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

John A.,

Yep, right up there with Bob Ferguson, “Death to Flying Things”, or Arlie Latham, “The Freshest Man On Earth”. We just don’t have good four/ five-word nicknames anymore.

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Jeff Allen
Jeff Allen
12 years ago
Reply to  Lawrence Azrin

Well, there was Mike “The Human Rain Delay” Hargrove in the late 1970s. But currently, we have Pablo “Round Mound of Pound” Sandoval. Who, interestingly enough, has a batter’s box routine almost as long as Hargrove’s.

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Paul E
Paul E
12 years ago

Well,they certainly had the morket cornered on 19th century pitching….Did “One Arm” Daily really lack the prerequisite 2nd wing? If so, kind of an odd contrast that Mullane was supposed to be ambidextrous.

JA:
The reports of the day said the “women would swoon” over Mullane. A real live rock star

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Ed
Ed
12 years ago
Reply to  Paul E

Some info on “One-Arm” via wikipedia: “His nickname, “One Arm” Daily,is a reference to his left arm; he had lost his left hand to a gun accident earlier in his life. To compensate for this injury, he fixed a special pad over the affected area and caught the baseball by trapping it between the pad and his right hand. Sometimes, after long games of having to catch baseballs this way, his stump would become sensitive – so sensitive in fact, that he once punched his catcher for not heeding his warning to throw the balls back to him softer.” “Daily… Read more »

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Doug
Author
Doug
12 years ago
Reply to  Paul E

There is also a fairly comprehensive biography of Daily in the SABR Bio Project. http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/8d8c99e4 Regarding Daily’s life after baseball, pretty sparse. This is what the Bio Project article says. “Daily spent the next six years [after his last major league season] jumping between semi-pro teams and earning about fifty dollars a month. He worked as a nail maker and umpired some games in Western Indiana in 1899. September 7 of that year Daily called a forfeit loss against Danville in a game at Terre Haute when Danville catcher Fred Abbot turned around and punched him. Daily flipped his stop… Read more »

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Jason Z
Jason Z
12 years ago

Doug- You inspired me to compile the list of greatest Jewish ballplayers. C-Moe Berg, not the best jewish catcher, but gets points for being a spy. backups-Steve Yeager, Brad Ausmus and Harry Danning 1B-Hank Greenberg backup-Mike Epstein, when your nickname is Superjew, you make this list. 2B-Buddy Myer backup-Ian Kinsler, closing fast. SS-Lou Boudreau, mom was Jewish, makes him Jewish too. 3B-Al Rosen backup-Kevin Youkilis OF-Shawn Green OF-Sid Gordon OF-Art Shamsky, gotta have a 69 Met. backup-Benny Kauff, “The Ty Cobb of the Federal League”, someone needs to run the NCAA baskeball betting pool. He can better do this on… Read more »

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Paul E
Paul E
12 years ago
Reply to  Jason Z

Jason:
Cool! The real Tribe…..But no Ryan Braun? And how about Bo Belinsky? I believe Buddy Myer’s mother was a Gentile, but we’ll take him

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Jason Z
Jason Z
12 years ago
Reply to  Paul E

Ryan Braun’s dad is Jewish, so he misses the cut. According
to Jewish law, you are what the mom is.

I had Blomberg in my notes, but forgot to include him as the
first DH.

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Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  Jason Z

You could also throw in Ron Blomberg, the first DH, and Saul Rogovin who led the AL in ERA in 1951.

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Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
12 years ago
Reply to  Jason Z

As noted below in #12, 16,17, there is considerable dispute over some players concerning their Jewish heritage. Players sometimes used to hide their Jewish origins, as before WWII this often came with considerable negative baggage publicity-wise. For instance, Johnny Kling (catcher for the T-to-E-to-C Cubs) denied he was Jewish, so did Buddy Meyer I think. To add to the names above, Bud Selig would be the Commissioner, Marvin Miller the head of the MLPA. I’d love to be a “fly on the wall” when those two had a meeting… Owners: Andrew Freedman (Giants), Barney Dreyfuss (Pirates), Emil Fuchs (Braves) Charles… Read more »

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Jeff Allen
Jeff Allen
12 years ago
Reply to  Jason Z

My favorite guy who misses the cut for the Chosen Team is Ruben Amaro, Sr. He is not Jewish, but his wife is, meaning his son is. He’s the first major leaguer to have a Jewish son play in the bigs.

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Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
12 years ago
Reply to  Jason Z

For those of you in the DC area, there’s a documentary today on Public TV about Jewish MLB players:

WMPT-TV @8-9:30 PM, also 12-1:30 AM.

I haven’t seen it, so I can’t vouch for its quality .

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bstar
bstar
12 years ago
Reply to  Lawrence Azrin

Lawrence, did you see the Hank Greenberg movie/documentary? Pretty well done stuff.

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Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
12 years ago
Reply to  bstar

bstar,

Yes, I did see “The Life & Times Of Hank Greenberg” when it came out in 1998. My favorite part was in the interview of Walter Matthau, when he said that he joined a particular club just to get the chance to play tennis with Greenberg.

Overall it was excellent, ***1/2 out of **** stars.

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Jason Z
Jason Z
12 years ago

didn’t know about Buddy Myer. If only his dad is Jewish, I wouldn’t
have included him.

I also forgot…

Our GM would be Ruben Amaro Jr.
And of course the commissioner is Bud “lite” Selig.

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Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  Jason Z

You could also throw in Gabe Paul as GM.

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Timmy Pea
Timmy Pea
12 years ago

I’m inspired to put together the all Polish team, but it’s dark in my apartment so I’m waiting for my brothers to come over so we can change the bulbs.

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John Autin
Editor
John Autin
12 years ago
Reply to  Timmy Pea

Ted Kluszewski is now climbing out of the grave and rolling up his sleeves to expose his Polish joke stoppers.

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Jason Z
Jason Z
12 years ago
Reply to  Timmy Pea

One to hold the bulb. How many to spin the ladder?

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MrDave
MrDave
12 years ago
Reply to  Timmy Pea

As a fellow Polack, I’m in the same place you are. Fortunaetly, the glow from my computer monitor is illuminating the keyboard.

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Luis Gomez
Luis Gomez
12 years ago

All those All Time Greatest __________ teams are far more interesting than the ones from a couple of weeks ago, in which almost everyone agrees on the same players.

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topper009
topper009
12 years ago

All-time Irish name team (Mc’s and O’s)

C: Brian McCann
1B: Mark McGwire
2B: Bid McPhee
3B: Gil McDonald
SS: Ed McKeon
OF: Jim O’Rourke
OF: Paul O’Neill
OF: Willie McGee
DH: Willie McCovey

RHP: Joe McGinnity
LHP: Jim O’Toole

MGR: John McGraw

Lots of 1B, also Fred McGriff and Frank McCormick

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