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George Mullin (baseball)
Encyclopedia
George Joseph Mullin was a right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played fourteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers
(1902–13) and Washington Senators
(1913) of the American League
and the Indianapolis Hoosiers/Newark Pepper (1914–15) of the Federal League
.
franchise record for innings pitched (in a career and in a season) and has the second most wins in the team's history. He also pitched the team's first no-hitter; had five 20-win seasons (including a league-leading 29 wins in 1909); helped the Tigers to three straight American League pennants (1907–1909); twice hit over .310 as a batter; and ranks 7th in major league history for fielding assists by a pitcher. Yet, as one author noted: "The pitching prowess and significant achievements of George Mullin seem to have faded away on the brittle pages of baseball history. Not even in the Motor City ... is the name of George Mullin, the burly right-hander from Wabash, Indiana, mentioned." (Warren Wilbert, "What Makes an Elite Pitcher?" (McFarland 2003), p. 25)
Mullin was a powerfully built right-hander with an intimidating fastball, but imperfect control. He was known to try to keep opposing batters off balance by talking to them when they came to bat, or even talking to himself. (George Van Dusen, Dan Ewald, Jim Hawkins, "The Detroit Tigers Encyclopedia" (2003), p. 169) And with a runner on third base at Bennett Park, Mullin was known to fake a throw over the head of catcher Boss Schmidt
. Schmidt would then fake an attempt to run after the "errant" pitch, luring the runner toward the plate. Mullin would then toss the ball to Schmidt for an easy out.
He compiled a career record of 228-196, ranking 65th in wins in major league history.
, Mullin played semi-pro baseball in Wabash, Indiana
, earning the nickname "Wabash George." In 1901, at age 20, Mullin signed with both the Brooklyn Superbas
and Detroit Tigers
. Mullin chose the Tigers, wishing to stay closer to his home in Indiana. Mullin played his first twelve seasons with the Tigers.
In his rookie season, 1902, Mullin won 13 games (and lost 16) for the 7th place Tigers. The following season, Mullin won 19 and reduced his ERA
to 2.25 (an Adjusted ERA+
of 129). In 1903, Mullin was among the American League leaders with 6 shutouts (2nd in AL), 170 strikeouts (5th in AL), and 41 games (2nd in AL).
In 1904, Mullin had another strong year, pitching a club record 42 complete games (and 7 shutouts) with a 2.40 ERA and 161 strikeouts. However, the Tigers in the pre-Cobb era were a weak-hitting team that remained mired in 7th place, and Mullin lost 23 games despite a strong individual performance.
In 1905, Mullin won 21 games for his first 20-win season but also lost 21 games. He started in a career-high 44 games and pitched in a club record 382-1/3 innings. He continued to remain below the league average with an ERA of 2.51.
The Tigers finished in 6th place in 1906, but Mullin had another strong year with a record of 21-18 and 35 complete games.
To this day, Mullin is the Tigers' all-time innings pitched
leader, both in a career (3394) and in a season (382⅓).
as manager, and with the bats of Ty Cobb
and Sam Crawford
, the team finally had the winning combination, as they won three straight American League pennants from 1907-1909. During the Tigers' pennant years, Mullin won 66 games and pitched 105 complete games and more than 950 innings.
Mullin's best season was 1909, when he started the season with a one-hitter on Opening Day and then recorded eleven consecutive wins. He did not lose a game until June 15, 1909, and went on to lead the American League in both wins (29) and win percentage (.784).
of 1.86 in World Series play.
Despite strong pitching from Mullin, the Tigers lost each of the World Series they played in from 1907-1909. He had a 2.12 ERA in the 1907 World Series
, but the Detroit bats went cold, and Mullin lost both games he started. Mullin holds the distinction of being the only pitcher in World Series history to lose 20 games during the regular season, and still appear in the World Series. Mullin posted a 20-20 record in the '07 season. In the 1908 Series
, Mullin pitched a complete game shutout for a win. And in the 1909 World Series
, Mullin won two games, including a 5-hit, 10-strikeout complete game shutout in Game 4 against Honus Wagner
's Pittsburgh Pirates
.
In November 1909, a group of Detroit Tigers players toured Cuba and played 12 exhibition games against two integrated Cuban teams, Habana and Almendares. Mullin was among the Tigers players who toured Cuba. The tour drew wide attention in Cuba, where baseball was already very popular. Demonstrating the high level of play in Cuba, the Tigers lost 8 of the 12 games to the integrated Cuban baseball teams. On November 27, 1909, Mullin shut out the Cuban Almendares team in a 4-0 victory for the touring Tigers.
, Christy Mathewson
, Grover Cleveland Alexander
, and Walter Johnson
. His career record of 2.56 assists per game also ranks 7th in major league history for pitchers. He had a career-high 163 assists in 1904 and twice led the league in assists by a pitcher.
. Cobb was slumping and manager Bill Armour
summoned Mullin to bat for Cobb in the bottom of the 9th inning. According to the next day's account in the Detroit Free Press
, Mullin "hit center field with a triple." (Paul Votano, "Stand and Deliver: A History of Pinch-Hitting" (McFarland 2003), p. 29)
On April 20, 1912, Mullin was given the honor of pitching the first game at the new Navin Field, beating the Indians 6-5 in 11 innings. Mullin won his own game with an RBI single.
On May 21, 1912, Mullin shut out the Washington Senators
, earning his 200th career win—a 2-0 pitching duel with Walter Johnson
.
And on July 4, 1912 (Mullin's 32nd birthday), he pitched the first no-hitter
in Detroit Tigers history, as Mullin helped himself with 3 hits and 2 RBIs in the game.
In , Mullin got off to a shaky 1-6 start, and he was sold to the Washington Senators
on May 17, 1913. That season he also pitched four games for the Montreal Royals
in the International League
(records).
In 1914, Mullin jumped to the newly formed Federal League
and played for the Indianapolis Hoosiers. He enjoyed a one-year revival pitching for the Hoosiers in his home state of Indiana. His 2.70 ERA was among the Federal League leaders, and he also hit .312 with a .404 on base percentage and 21 RBIs in 77 at bats.
In 1915, the Hoosiers moved east and became the Newark Pepper, and Mullin played in only five games. His last major league game was with the Pepper on May 23, 1915. At least for that season he continued to work in the industry, pitching for Chester, Pennsylvania
in the semiprofessional Delaware County League.
Mullin died in 1944 at age 63 in Wabash, Indiana
. He was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
in 1962.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played fourteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1902–13) and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1913) of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and the Indianapolis Hoosiers/Newark Pepper (1914–15) of the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
.
Career Overview
Mullin holds the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
franchise record for innings pitched (in a career and in a season) and has the second most wins in the team's history. He also pitched the team's first no-hitter; had five 20-win seasons (including a league-leading 29 wins in 1909); helped the Tigers to three straight American League pennants (1907–1909); twice hit over .310 as a batter; and ranks 7th in major league history for fielding assists by a pitcher. Yet, as one author noted: "The pitching prowess and significant achievements of George Mullin seem to have faded away on the brittle pages of baseball history. Not even in the Motor City ... is the name of George Mullin, the burly right-hander from Wabash, Indiana, mentioned." (Warren Wilbert, "What Makes an Elite Pitcher?" (McFarland 2003), p. 25)
Mullin was a powerfully built right-hander with an intimidating fastball, but imperfect control. He was known to try to keep opposing batters off balance by talking to them when they came to bat, or even talking to himself. (George Van Dusen, Dan Ewald, Jim Hawkins, "The Detroit Tigers Encyclopedia" (2003), p. 169) And with a runner on third base at Bennett Park, Mullin was known to fake a throw over the head of catcher Boss Schmidt
Boss Schmidt
Charles "Boss" Schmidt was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers ....
. Schmidt would then fake an attempt to run after the "errant" pitch, luring the runner toward the plate. Mullin would then toss the ball to Schmidt for an easy out.
He compiled a career record of 228-196, ranking 65th in wins in major league history.
Early years
Born in Toledo, OhioToledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, Mullin played semi-pro baseball in Wabash, Indiana
Wabash, Indiana
Wabash is a city in Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. The population was 10,666 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wabash County....
, earning the nickname "Wabash George." In 1901, at age 20, Mullin signed with both the Brooklyn Superbas
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Mullin chose the Tigers, wishing to stay closer to his home in Indiana. Mullin played his first twelve seasons with the Tigers.
In his rookie season, 1902, Mullin won 13 games (and lost 16) for the 7th place Tigers. The following season, Mullin won 19 and reduced his ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
to 2.25 (an Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 129). In 1903, Mullin was among the American League leaders with 6 shutouts (2nd in AL), 170 strikeouts (5th in AL), and 41 games (2nd in AL).
In 1904, Mullin had another strong year, pitching a club record 42 complete games (and 7 shutouts) with a 2.40 ERA and 161 strikeouts. However, the Tigers in the pre-Cobb era were a weak-hitting team that remained mired in 7th place, and Mullin lost 23 games despite a strong individual performance.
In 1905, Mullin won 21 games for his first 20-win season but also lost 21 games. He started in a career-high 44 games and pitched in a club record 382-1/3 innings. He continued to remain below the league average with an ERA of 2.51.
The Tigers finished in 6th place in 1906, but Mullin had another strong year with a record of 21-18 and 35 complete games.
Mullin's Workhorse Abilities
Mullin had remarkable stamina as a pitcher. He started 428 games and had 353 complete game—25th highest total in major league history. He was among the American League leaders in complete games nine straight years (1903–1911) and innings pitched for eight straight years (1903–1910). His career highs were 42 complete games (1904) and 382⅓ innings (1905), both Tigers team records.To this day, Mullin is the Tigers' all-time innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
leader, both in a career (3394) and in a season (382⅓).
An Intimidating Fastball with Control Problems
Mullin was a powerfully built pitcher with an intimidating fastball, perhaps even more so due to his imperfect control. He hit batsmen 131 times in his career—the 19th highest total in major league history. He also threw 85 wild pitches and gave up 1238 bases on balls—45th most in major league history. He led the league in walks allowed four times (1903–1906), including a career high 138 in 1905, and was among the league leaders in walks allowed 11 times.The American League Pennants: 1907-1909
In 1907, the Tigers added Hughie JenningsHughie Jennings
Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...
as manager, and with the bats of Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
and Sam Crawford
Sam Crawford
Samuel Earl Crawford , nicknamed "Wahoo Sam", was a Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957....
, the team finally had the winning combination, as they won three straight American League pennants from 1907-1909. During the Tigers' pennant years, Mullin won 66 games and pitched 105 complete games and more than 950 innings.
Mullin's best season was 1909, when he started the season with a one-hitter on Opening Day and then recorded eleven consecutive wins. He did not lose a game until June 15, 1909, and went on to lead the American League in both wins (29) and win percentage (.784).
Six Complete Games in the World Series
Mullin started 6 World Series games for the 1907-09 Tigers. He went the distance, pitching complete games, in all 6 World Series Games he started. He gave up only 12 earned runs in 58 innings, for a lifetime ERAEarned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 1.86 in World Series play.
Despite strong pitching from Mullin, the Tigers lost each of the World Series they played in from 1907-1909. He had a 2.12 ERA in the 1907 World Series
1907 World Series
The 1907 World Series featured the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers, with the Cubs winning the Series four games to none for their first championship....
, but the Detroit bats went cold, and Mullin lost both games he started. Mullin holds the distinction of being the only pitcher in World Series history to lose 20 games during the regular season, and still appear in the World Series. Mullin posted a 20-20 record in the '07 season. In the 1908 Series
1908 World Series
The 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. In this first-ever rematch of this young event, the Cubs won in five games for their second consecutive title....
, Mullin pitched a complete game shutout for a win. And in the 1909 World Series
1909 World Series
The 1909 World Series featured the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers. The Pirates won the Series in seven games to capture their first championship of the modern Major League Baseball era and the second championship in the club's history....
, Mullin won two games, including a 5-hit, 10-strikeout complete game shutout in Game 4 against Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
's Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
The Cuban Tour of 1909
One of the All Time Assists Leaders
An all around athlete, Mullin had great range and ability to get to the ball. He contributed 1244 assists as a pitcher, the 7th highest total of any pitcher in major league history, behind legends such as Cy YoungCy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
, Christy Mathewson
Christy Mathewson
Christopher "Christy" Mathewson , nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era...
, Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander , nicknamed "Old Pete", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska, one of thirteen...
, and Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
. His career record of 2.56 assists per game also ranks 7th in major league history for pitchers. He had a career-high 163 assists in 1904 and twice led the league in assists by a pitcher.
A Batter Who Once Pinch Hit for Ty Cobb
Mullin also excelled as a batter. He had a career .262 batting average with a .319 on base percentage. He had 96 extra base hits, 122 bases on balls, and 18 stolen bases. Hit hit three doubles in his first major league start and batted .325 in his rookie season. He was such a reliable hitter that he was used 101 times (with 21 hits) as a pinch hitter. (Paul Votano, "Stand and Deliver: A History of Pinch-Hitting" (McFarland 2003), p. 33) On September 18, 1906, Mullin even pinch hit for Ty CobbTy Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
. Cobb was slumping and manager Bill Armour
Bill Armour
William Reginald Armour was an American manager in Major League Baseball who led the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians in the early 1900s. Armour was Ty Cobb's first manager in 1905....
summoned Mullin to bat for Cobb in the bottom of the 9th inning. According to the next day's account in the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
, Mullin "hit center field with a triple." (Paul Votano, "Stand and Deliver: A History of Pinch-Hitting" (McFarland 2003), p. 29)
Later years
Mullin continued as a winner and a workhorse in 1910 and 1911, with records of 21-12 and 18-10.On April 20, 1912, Mullin was given the honor of pitching the first game at the new Navin Field, beating the Indians 6-5 in 11 innings. Mullin won his own game with an RBI single.
On May 21, 1912, Mullin shut out the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, earning his 200th career win—a 2-0 pitching duel with Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
.
And on July 4, 1912 (Mullin's 32nd birthday), he pitched the first no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in Detroit Tigers history, as Mullin helped himself with 3 hits and 2 RBIs in the game.
In , Mullin got off to a shaky 1-6 start, and he was sold to the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
on May 17, 1913. That season he also pitched four games for the Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
(records).
In 1914, Mullin jumped to the newly formed Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
and played for the Indianapolis Hoosiers. He enjoyed a one-year revival pitching for the Hoosiers in his home state of Indiana. His 2.70 ERA was among the Federal League leaders, and he also hit .312 with a .404 on base percentage and 21 RBIs in 77 at bats.
In 1915, the Hoosiers moved east and became the Newark Pepper, and Mullin played in only five games. His last major league game was with the Pepper on May 23, 1915. At least for that season he continued to work in the industry, pitching for Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
in the semiprofessional Delaware County League.
Mullin died in 1944 at age 63 in Wabash, Indiana
Wabash, Indiana
Wabash is a city in Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. The population was 10,666 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wabash County....
. He was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame to honor Michigan sports people. It was organized in 1954 by Michigan Lieutenant Governor Philip Hart, Michigan State University athletic director Biggie Munn, president of the Greater Michigan Foundation Donald Weeks, general manager of the...
in 1962.
See also
- 1909 Detroit Tigers season1909 Detroit Tigers seasonThe 1909 Detroit Tigers won the American League pennant with a record of 96-56, but lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1909 World Series, 4 games to 3. The season was their 9th since they were charter members of the American League in 1901. It was the third consecutive season in which they won...
- Detroit Tigers team recordsDetroit Tigers/Team records-Single season records:- Career records :-Tigers hitting for the cycle:* Bobby Veach, September 17, 1920* Bob Fothergill, September 26, 1926* Gee Walker, April 20, 1937* Charlie Gehringer, May 27, 1939* Vic Wertz, September 14, 1947...
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListMLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListThis is a list of top 100 Major League Baseball pitchers who have the most hit batsmen of all time. There is an of hitters who have been hit by pitch the most times.Active players are denoted in bold text.-The List:* Bold denotes active player...
- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger