Cal McVey
Encyclopedia
Calvin Alexander McVey was a professional baseball
player during the 1860s and 1870s. McVey's importance to the game stems from his play on two of the earliest professional baseball teams, the original Cincinnati Red Stockings
and the National Association
Boston Red Stockings. He also played on the inaugural National League
pennant-winning team, the 1876 Chicago White Stockings
.
He has the NA record for most career RBIs (276)
Cal McVey was born in rural Montrose, Iowa
and moved to Indianapolis
at eleven, where he learned baseball and soon excelled at the game, playing for the Western and Active clubs in the National Association of Base Ball Players
(NABBP). With McVey usually pitching, the Actives in 1868 defeated local rivals, lost to the three strong Eastern teams that toured the West, and won one game in six against Cincinnati teams (Wright 2000: 211). Despite a lopsided 7-54 defeat by the Cincinnati Red Stockings
, that club later hired him to play in 1869 for $700 and he served as the regular right fielder for both of its storied seasons.
' reported 84-game winning streak, 1869
and 1870
. Playing the Troy Haymakers, with the game tied 17 to 17, McVey foul
ed off a pitch
the catcher
claimed to have caught on the first bounce. That would have been an out
but the umpire disagreed. In the ensuing argument, Troy left the field and the game was awarded to Cincinnati on forfeit
.
signed to organize and lead a team in Boston. He hired McVey, Charlie Gould, and George Wright to join him, composing almost half the team that just missed winning the first National Association
pennant. With some personnel changes, the Boston Red Stockings won the other four NA pennants, dominating so severely in 1875 that they helped provoke a new league. McVey served Boston two seasons as the first catcher, otherwise in the outfield, followed by one season managing in Baltimore and two more seasons in Boston, now an outfielder and second catcher.
During the summer of 1875, Boston's four Western stars agreed to play next season for the Chicago White Stockings
: McVey, Deacon White
, Ross Barnes
, and Albert Spalding
. Partly because the rules forbade such tampering, Chicago led the founding of a new National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL)
. The Big Four and Cap Anson
led the team to an easy win on the field, McVey serving as regular first baseman, second pitcher to Spalding, and second catcher to White. Few pieces remained in place for the second season, when McVey worked as first catcher and second pitcher and the team slumped out of the picture.
In 1878
McVey returned to Cincinnati where he completed his major league career in two seasons as manager and infielder. The new Cincinnati Reds
finished a close second in his first year but slipped to fifth in 1879 (.538) but ahead of three new teams only. The reserve rule was adopted that fall, maybe a factor in his move to California, which he had visited on the 1869 Red Stockings tour. He was still a star batsman at the major league level.
In San Francisco during the 1880s, McVey played for, managed, or organized several teams. He retired there and died 1926, just short of 77 years old.
He was cremated.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player during the 1860s and 1870s. McVey's importance to the game stems from his play on two of the earliest professional baseball teams, the original Cincinnati Red Stockings
Cincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
and the National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
Boston Red Stockings. He also played on the inaugural National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennant-winning team, the 1876 Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
He has the NA record for most career RBIs (276)
Cal McVey was born in rural Montrose, Iowa
Montrose, Iowa
Montrose is a city in Lee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 957 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Mississippi River. It is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
at eleven, where he learned baseball and soon excelled at the game, playing for the Western and Active clubs in the National Association of Base Ball Players
National Association of Base Ball Players
The National Association of Base Ball Players was the first organization governing American baseball. The first, 1857 convention of sixteen New York City clubs...
(NABBP). With McVey usually pitching, the Actives in 1868 defeated local rivals, lost to the three strong Eastern teams that toured the West, and won one game in six against Cincinnati teams (Wright 2000: 211). Despite a lopsided 7-54 defeat by the Cincinnati Red Stockings
Cincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
, that club later hired him to play in 1869 for $700 and he served as the regular right fielder for both of its storied seasons.
Cincinnati
McVey was directly in the middle of the most controversial game of the Red StockingsCincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
' reported 84-game winning streak, 1869
1869 in baseball
-Champions:*National Association of Base Ball Players: Atlantic of Brooklyn-Events:* March 15 - The first professional baseball club is formed as the Cincinnati Red Stockings....
and 1870
1870 in baseball
-Champions:*National Association of Base Ball Players: Chicago White Stockings, albeit disputed by Mutual of New York-Events:*June 14 - After 84 consecutive wins since assembling the first professional team in winter 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings lose 8-7 to the Brooklyn Atlantics before a...
. Playing the Troy Haymakers, with the game tied 17 to 17, McVey foul
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
ed off a pitch
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
the catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
claimed to have caught on the first bounce. That would have been an out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
but the umpire disagreed. In the ensuing argument, Troy left the field and the game was awarded to Cincinnati on forfeit
Forfeit (baseball)
In rare cases, baseball games are forfeited, usually in the event when a team is no longer able to play. In the event of forfeiture, the score is recorded as "9 to 0", as per rule 2.00 of the Major League Baseball Rules Book...
.
1871
With the Red Stockings going out of business, manager Harry WrightHarry Wright
William Henry "Harry" Wright was an English-born American professional baseball player, manager, and developer. He assembled, managed, and played center field for baseball's first fully professional team, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings...
signed to organize and lead a team in Boston. He hired McVey, Charlie Gould, and George Wright to join him, composing almost half the team that just missed winning the first National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
pennant. With some personnel changes, the Boston Red Stockings won the other four NA pennants, dominating so severely in 1875 that they helped provoke a new league. McVey served Boston two seasons as the first catcher, otherwise in the outfield, followed by one season managing in Baltimore and two more seasons in Boston, now an outfielder and second catcher.
During the summer of 1875, Boston's four Western stars agreed to play next season for the Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
: McVey, Deacon White
Deacon White
James Laurie "Deacon" White was an American baseball player who was one of the principal stars during the first two decades of the sport's professional era...
, Ross Barnes
Ross Barnes
Charles Roscoe Barnes was one of the stars of baseball's National Association and the early National League , playing second base and shortstop. He played for the dominant Boston Red Stockings teams of the early 1870s, along with Albert Spalding, Cal McVey, George Wright, Harry Wright, Jim...
, and Albert Spalding
Albert Spalding
Albert Goodwill Spalding was a professional baseball player, manager and co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.-Biography:...
. Partly because the rules forbade such tampering, Chicago led the founding of a new National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL)
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. The Big Four and Cap Anson
Cap Anson
Adrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
led the team to an easy win on the field, McVey serving as regular first baseman, second pitcher to Spalding, and second catcher to White. Few pieces remained in place for the second season, when McVey worked as first catcher and second pitcher and the team slumped out of the picture.
In 1878
1878 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Boston Red Caps*International Association: Buffalo Bisons*Pacific Coast: San Francisco Athletics Inter-league playoff: Boston and Buffalo each won 1 game in 2 game series.-National League final standings:...
McVey returned to Cincinnati where he completed his major league career in two seasons as manager and infielder. The new Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds (1876-1880)
The Cincinnati Reds, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, were a professional baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio that played from 1876–1880. The Reds were a charter member of the National League.-History:...
finished a close second in his first year but slipped to fifth in 1879 (.538) but ahead of three new teams only. The reserve rule was adopted that fall, maybe a factor in his move to California, which he had visited on the 1869 Red Stockings tour. He was still a star batsman at the major league level.
In San Francisco during the 1880s, McVey played for, managed, or organized several teams. He retired there and died 1926, just short of 77 years old.
He was cremated.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions