Fergy Malone
Encyclopedia
Fergus G. Malone was a professional baseball
player in the 1860s and 1870s. He was the catcher
for Athletic of Philadelphia
in 1871, champion of the first professional league season.
Born 1842 in Ireland
, Malone was one of 4 Irish natives to play in the first National Association
season and one of five in the first National League
season. If we do not count the NA as a major league, he and Andy Leonard
share distinction as the first major leaguers born in Ireland, by good fortune that their teams met in the first NL game, 22 April 1876. Leonard is alone first if we count the NA.
Although a left-handed thrower, Malone was mainly a catcher with major teams, both amateur and pro. Physically it was a demanding position, no one using a face mask or regularly using a glove. (Doug Allison
used buckskin mittens in 1870, but gloves and masks were only adopted for regular use by some catchers beginning in the late 1870s.)
Malone was the primary catcher
for the Philadelphia Athletics
1871–72, Philadelphia White Stockings
1873, and Chicago White Stockings
1874. In 1873–74, he was team captain
, earning manager's credit today. He returned to the Philadelphia Whites and played in eight games in 1875, then returned to the Philadelphia Athletics
for the inaugural National League
season, catching 20 of 60 games.
Fergy Malone was 34 when the Athletics were expelled from the National League, which contracted from eight to six for 1877. He returned to the majors with the one-year Union Association
in 1884, managing its Philadelphia entry
and playing in one game. In 220 major league games Fergy Malone batted .274 with one home run
, 160 runs batted in
, and 200 runs scored
. He was a player-manager for his teams in 1873, 1874, and 1884, recording a total of 47 wins and 66 losses.
Malone died 1905 in Seattle, Washington
at age 62. He is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.
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 in the 1860s and 1870s. He was 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...
for Athletic of Philadelphia
Athletic of Philadelphia
Athletic of Philadelphia was a prominent National Association, and later National League, professional baseball team that played in the second half of the 19th century.-Early History:...
in 1871, champion of the first professional league season.
Born 1842 in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Malone was one of 4 Irish natives to play in 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...
season and one of five in the first 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...
season. If we do not count the NA as a major league, he and Andy Leonard
Andy Leonard
Andrew Jackson Leonard played left field for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first fully professional baseball team. He was one of five men to play regularly for both the Cincinnati and the Boston Red Stockings, the latter winning six championships during his seven seasons...
share distinction as the first major leaguers born in Ireland, by good fortune that their teams met in the first NL game, 22 April 1876. Leonard is alone first if we count the NA.
Although a left-handed thrower, Malone was mainly a catcher with major teams, both amateur and pro. Physically it was a demanding position, no one using a face mask or regularly using a glove. (Doug Allison
Doug Allison
Douglas L. Allison played catcher for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first fully professional baseball team. He was considered a specialist, at a time when some of the better batsmen who manned the position normally rested, or substituted at other fielding positions. In Cincinnati,...
used buckskin mittens in 1870, but gloves and masks were only adopted for regular use by some catchers beginning in the late 1870s.)
Malone was the primary 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...
for the Philadelphia Athletics
Athletic of Philadelphia
Athletic of Philadelphia was a prominent National Association, and later National League, professional baseball team that played in the second half of the 19th century.-Early History:...
1871–72, Philadelphia White Stockings
Philadelphia White Stockings
The Philadelphia White Stockings were an early professional baseball team. They were a member of the National Association from 1873 to 1875. Their home games were played at the Jefferson Street Grounds...
1873, and 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...
1874. In 1873–74, he was team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
, earning manager's credit today. He returned to the Philadelphia Whites and played in eight games in 1875, then returned to the Philadelphia Athletics
Athletic of Philadelphia
Athletic of Philadelphia was a prominent National Association, and later National League, professional baseball team that played in the second half of the 19th century.-Early History:...
for 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...
season, catching 20 of 60 games.
Fergy Malone was 34 when the Athletics were expelled from the National League, which contracted from eight to six for 1877. He returned to the majors with the one-year Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
in 1884, managing its Philadelphia entry
Philadelphia Keystones
The Philadelphia Keystones was a professional baseball franchise. In 1884, they were a member of the short-lived Union Association. The team was owned by former player Tom Pratt....
and playing in one game. In 220 major league games Fergy Malone batted .274 with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, 160 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, and 200 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. He was a player-manager for his teams in 1873, 1874, and 1884, recording a total of 47 wins and 66 losses.
Malone died 1905 in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
at age 62. He is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.
External links
- Retrosheet. "Fergy Malone".