Jimmy Hallinan
Encyclopedia
James H. "Jimmy" Hallinan (May 27, 1849 – October 28, 1879) was an American baseball player born in Ireland. In the first professional league season, he played shortstop
in five games for the 1871 Fort Wayne Kekiongas
. He returned to professional play four years later and worked as a regular player for five teams in four major league
seasons, including two as the regular shortstop
of the New York Mutuals
.
for four seasons with that club. During that stretch, he played a few professional games for the Fort Wayne Kekiongas
of the National Association.
of Keokuk, Iowa
in . He played every inning of their 13 games at shortstop and, when the Westerns folded, moved on to the New York Mutuals
for the remainder of that season and all of 1876, when the Mutuals were a founding member of the National League
. With two home run
s, he was third in the NL in that category. With three in 1875 he had ranked fourth in the NA. The Clipper observed that he, "being remarkably fleet of foot, was often credited with home runs."
Jimmy playing sparingly for the Cincinnati Reds
in . When the Reds disbanded during business troubles, it looked as if the team was going to fold; he and Charley Jones
agreed to sign and play with the Chicago White Stockings
. The Reds eventually corrected their situation, and rightfully asked for their two players back. It was agreed between the two teams that Jones return to the Reds, and Hallinan was to remain with the White Stockings.
It was during July of that season that Hallinan became too ill to play, which forced him to quit, but did return to the field later in August for the Indianapolis Blues
. He was only able to participate in three games. Although he was a better than average hitter, he lacked skill in the field. For his career, he hit
.287 in 170 games, but in his 111 games
at shortstop, he totaled 161 errors for a .744 fielding percentage. He didn't fare much better in his games in the outfield
or at second base
, as his career total was .756. Early in his career, he spent most of his playing time at shortstop
, but due to his lack of fielding skill, he was later moved to the outfield
.
of the bowels, dying at 30 years of age in Chicago, Illinois, and he was interred at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois
.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in five games for the 1871 Fort Wayne Kekiongas
Fort Wayne Kekiongas
The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a professional baseball team, notable for winning the first professional league game on May 4, 1871. Kekionga - pronounced KEY-key-awn-guh - is the name of Chief Little Turtle's Miami Indian settlement where the St. Joseph River and the St. Mary's River join to form...
. He returned to professional play four years later and worked as a regular player for five teams in four major league
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...
seasons, including two as the regular shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
of the New York Mutuals
New York Mutuals
The Mutual Base Ball Club of New York was a leading American baseball club almost throughout its 20-year history. It was established during 1857, the year of the first baseball convention, just too late to be a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players. It was a charter...
.
Early years
Hallinan began his baseball career in with the amateur Aetna Club of Chicago, and played shortstopShortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for four seasons with that club. During that stretch, he played a few professional games for the Fort Wayne Kekiongas
Fort Wayne Kekiongas
The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a professional baseball team, notable for winning the first professional league game on May 4, 1871. Kekionga - pronounced KEY-key-awn-guh - is the name of Chief Little Turtle's Miami Indian settlement where the St. Joseph River and the St. Mary's River join to form...
of the National Association.
Major leagues
Hallinan did not play professional baseball again until he joined the WesternsKeokuk Westerns
The Western club of Keokuk, Iowa, or Keokuk Westerns, were a professional baseball team in the National Association in 1875, the last season of that first professional league. They are considered a major league team by those who count the NA as a major league....
of Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
in . He played every inning of their 13 games at shortstop and, when the Westerns folded, moved on to the New York Mutuals
New York Mutuals
The Mutual Base Ball Club of New York was a leading American baseball club almost throughout its 20-year history. It was established during 1857, the year of the first baseball convention, just too late to be a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players. It was a charter...
for the remainder of that season and all of 1876, when the Mutuals were a founding member of the 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...
. With two 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...
s, he was third in the NL in that category. With three in 1875 he had ranked fourth in the NA. The Clipper observed that he, "being remarkably fleet of foot, was often credited with home runs."
Jimmy playing sparingly for the 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:...
in . When the Reds disbanded during business troubles, it looked as if the team was going to fold; he and Charley Jones
Charley Jones
Charles Wesley Jones was an American left fielder in the National Association and Major League Baseball who hit 56 home runs and batted .298 during his twelve-year career...
agreed to sign and play with 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...
. The Reds eventually corrected their situation, and rightfully asked for their two players back. It was agreed between the two teams that Jones return to the Reds, and Hallinan was to remain with the White Stockings.
It was during July of that season that Hallinan became too ill to play, which forced him to quit, but did return to the field later in August for the Indianapolis Blues
Indianapolis Blues
The Indianapolis Blues were a baseball team in the National League only during the 1878 season and finished fifth in the six-team league with a 24-36 record. They were managed by outfielder/first baseman/catcher John Clapp, and played their home games at South Street Park.Their top-hitting regular...
. He was only able to participate in three games. Although he was a better than average hitter, he lacked skill in the field. For his career, he hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.287 in 170 games, but in his 111 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
at shortstop, he totaled 161 errors for a .744 fielding percentage. He didn't fare much better in his games in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
or at second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, as his career total was .756. Early in his career, he spent most of his playing time at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, but due to his lack of fielding skill, he was later moved to the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
Death
It is alleged that the reason Jimmy became too ill to play was most likely due from overuse of alcohol. In October of the following year, he succumbed to inflammationInflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
of the bowels, dying at 30 years of age in Chicago, Illinois, and he was interred at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
.