Alex McKinnon (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Alexander J. McKinnon was an American
Major League Baseball
first baseman
from Boston, Massachusetts. He played for several teams in his short-lived career in the National League
.
, and played first base for the next three seasons.
In , Alex was a member of the Troy Trojans of the National League
when decided to "jump" his contract and play for the Rochester club of the International Association, which was against the league's policy and he was expelled for this action. This expulsion caused a ripple effect that meant that no National League team could play versus Rochester, nor could they play against teams that had played Rochester. Though this could have caused the Association a great deal of money, they stood behind the team's decision even though National League President William Hulbert
had made a secret deal that allowed Rochester to reorganize and circumvent the losses. Alex did not play very much during that season as he was struck with sickness for much of the time.
He decided to quit playing baseball after the season and moved west to engage in business interests. On November 27, 1882, Alex was married in Boston, although the marriage produced no children. On March 5, , he was re-instated during a special session of the National League, and signed with the Philadelphia Quakers
. He, again, was too sick to play and asked and received his release from the club for this reason.
, and led the league in games played
with 116. While he hit well with a .272 batting average and 12 triples
, he committed a record 53 errors
at first base, for a .955 fielding percentage
, a record that still stands today for the lowest percentage for a first baseman in a single season.
Alex moved on the St. Louis Maroons
for the next two seasons. In , he batted .294 and significantly improved his fielding at first base with a league leading .978 fielding percentage. Also during that season, he finished out the season as the player-manager, managing
the final 39 games of the season, winning only six of them. This was his only stint as manager during his career. His hitting continued to improve in , when he batted .301 and hit eight home run
s. After the season, on December 1, he was traded to the Pittsburg Alleghenys
for Otto Schomberg
and $400.
, when he contracted typhoid pneumonia
and subsequently died in Charlestown, Massachusetts
at the age of 30, and was interred at Lowell Cemetery
in Lowell, Massachusetts
. Pittsburgh wore a black crepe
on their uniforms for the rest of the season to honor Alex.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
from Boston, Massachusetts. He played for several teams in his short-lived career in 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...
.
Early career and expulsion
Alex began his amateur career with the Boston Stars in , then joined the Syracuse StarsSyracuse Stars (National League)
The Syracuse Stars was an American baseball team 19th century, as well as the name of the minor league baseball teams which preceded it, based in Syracuse, New York. They played their home games at Newell Park...
, and played first base for the next three seasons.
In , Alex was a member of the Troy Trojans 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...
when decided to "jump" his contract and play for the Rochester club of the International Association, which was against the league's policy and he was expelled for this action. This expulsion caused a ripple effect that meant that no National League team could play versus Rochester, nor could they play against teams that had played Rochester. Though this could have caused the Association a great deal of money, they stood behind the team's decision even though National League President William Hulbert
William Hulbert
William Ambrose Hulbert was one of the founders of the National League, recognized as baseball's first major league, and was also the president of the Chicago White Stockings franchise....
had made a secret deal that allowed Rochester to reorganize and circumvent the losses. Alex did not play very much during that season as he was struck with sickness for much of the time.
He decided to quit playing baseball after the season and moved west to engage in business interests. On November 27, 1882, Alex was married in Boston, although the marriage produced no children. On March 5, , he was re-instated during a special session of the National League, and signed with the Philadelphia Quakers
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He, again, was too sick to play and asked and received his release from the club for this reason.
Major League career
He formally began his major league career for the New York GothamsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, and led the league in games played
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,...
with 116. While he hit well with a .272 batting average and 12 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, he committed a record 53 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
at first base, for a .955 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
, a record that still stands today for the lowest percentage for a first baseman in a single season.
Alex moved on the St. Louis Maroons
St. Louis Maroons/Indianapolis Hoosiers
300px|thumb|right|1888 Indianapolis HoosiersThe St. Louis Maroons were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1884-1886. The club, established by Henry Lucas, were the one near-major league quality entry in the Union Association, a league that lasted only one season, due...
for the next two seasons. In , he batted .294 and significantly improved his fielding at first base with a league leading .978 fielding percentage. Also during that season, he finished out the season as the player-manager, managing
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
the final 39 games of the season, winning only six of them. This was his only stint as manager during his career. His hitting continued to improve in , when he batted .301 and hit eight 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. After the season, on December 1, he was traded to the Pittsburg Alleghenys
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...
for Otto Schomberg
Otto Schomberg
Otto H. Schomberg was a Major League Baseball first basemen who played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and the Indianapolis Hoosiers.-Pittsburgh Alleghenys:...
and $400.
Late career and death
The season began with Alex improving his hitting and fielding, likely becoming one of the better first basemen in the National LeagueNational 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...
, when he contracted typhoid pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and subsequently died in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
at the age of 30, and was interred at Lowell Cemetery
Lowell Cemetery
Lowell Cemetery is a cemetery located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Founded in 1841 and located on the banks of the Concord River, the cemetery is one of the oldest garden cemeteries in the nation, inspired by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
in Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
. Pittsburgh wore a black crepe
Crêpe
A crêpe or crepe , is a type of very thin pancake, usually made from wheat flour or buckwheat flour . The word is of French origin, deriving from the Latin crispa, meaning "curled". While crêpes originate from Brittany, a region in the northwest of France, their consumption is widespread in France...
on their uniforms for the rest of the season to honor Alex.