Jim McElroy (baseball)
Encyclopedia
James D. McElroy was an American
professional baseball player who played one season at the major league level. He pitched thirteen games for the Philadelphia Quakers
, and one game for the Wilmington Quicksteps
. His W
–L record was 1–13, and he had an earned run average
of 5.12. He attended Saint Mary's College of California
in Moraga, California
.
He is first seen on May 2, 1884, pitching for the Baltimore Monumentals
of the Eastern League
, when he pitched against the Quicksteps. Before the 1884 season, Harry Wright
took over as the Phillies manager
, and liked McElroy's talent. He threw extremely hard, but was very wild. In his 14 starts, there were seven different catcher
s who caught him, four of whom claimed that McElroy was the first pitcher they had ever caught at the major league level. In an era when catcher's equipment was still very meager, and with no other catchers willing to work with McElroy, Wright had to release him.
McElroy died in Needles, California
. of an intentional opium
overdose
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball player who played one season at the major league level. He pitched thirteen games for 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...
, and one game for the Wilmington Quicksteps
Wilmington Quicksteps
The Wilmington Quicksteps were an 1884 late season replacement team in the Union Association. They finished with a 2-16 record and were managed by Joe Simmons. The team played home games in Union Street Park in Wilmington, Delaware....
. His W
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
–L record was 1–13, and he had an earned run average
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...
of 5.12. He attended Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
in Moraga, California
Moraga, California
Moraga is a suburban incorporated town located in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, whose grandfather was José Joaquin Moraga, second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza...
.
He is first seen on May 2, 1884, pitching for the Baltimore Monumentals
Baltimore Monumentals
The Baltimore Monumentals were an American baseball team in the short-lived Union Association. In their lone season of 1884, they finished fourth in the UA with a 58-47 record.-History:The team was managed by William Henderson...
of the Eastern 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...
, when he pitched against the Quicksteps. Before the 1884 season, Harry Wright
Harry 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...
took over as the Phillies manager
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...
, and liked McElroy's talent. He threw extremely hard, but was very wild. In his 14 starts, there were seven different 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...
s who caught him, four of whom claimed that McElroy was the first pitcher they had ever caught at the major league level. In an era when catcher's equipment was still very meager, and with no other catchers willing to work with McElroy, Wright had to release him.
McElroy died in Needles, California
Needles, California
Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...
. of an intentional opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...