Mike Loan
Encyclopedia
William Joseph "Mike" Loan (September 27, 1894 – November 12, 1966) was a Major League Baseball
player for the Philadelphia Phillies
. He was officially listed as standing 5 in 11 in (180.34 cm) and weighing 185 pounds (83.9 kg).
, on September 27, 1894. He was a student-athlete at Villanova University
, 1 of 49 from the school to play in Major League Baseball
.
" with the Philadelphia Phillies
in September 1912, appearing in a single game. He was the National League's second-youngest player that season, behind Frank O'Rourke
of the Boston Braves
. He was one of six players to appear at catcher
for the Phillies in 1912, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage
behind the plate. Appearing in the majors for the only time at age 17, he played against the St. Louis Cardinals
, recording one hit
, a single, in two at-bats, for a career batting average
of .500. He also scored a run
in his only game.
Loan later appeared in the minors, a member of the Eastern League Bridgeport Americans. In 1919, he batted .149 with 11 hits in 74 at-bats over 28 games. Two of his hits went for extra bases: one double
and one triple
. He slugged .189 and collected 14 total bases
. In the field, he had the Americans' second-most appearances at catcher (Bill Skiff
) and made 84 putout
s, 24 assists
and 1 error
, amassing a .991 fielding percentage.
, Pennsylvania
, at the age of 72. He was interred at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield.
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...
player for the Philadelphia Phillies
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 was officially listed as standing 5 in 11 in (180.34 cm) and weighing 185 pounds (83.9 kg).
Early life
Mike Loan was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, on September 27, 1894. He was a student-athlete at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, 1 of 49 from the school to play 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...
.
Baseball career
Loan got a "cup of coffeeCup of coffee
A "cup of coffee" is North American sports terminology for a short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level. The idea behind the term is that the player was only in the big leagues long enough to have a cup of coffee before being returned to the minors, or simply to describe a...
" with the Philadelphia Phillies
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...
in September 1912, appearing in a single game. He was the National League's second-youngest player that season, behind Frank O'Rourke
Frank O'Rourke (baseball)
James Francis O'Rourke was a Canadian infielder in Major League Baseball. He played fourteen seasons in the major leagues with the Boston Braves , Brooklyn Robins , Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and St...
of the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. He was one of six players to appear at 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 Phillies in 1912, posting a 1.000 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...
behind the plate. Appearing in the majors for the only time at age 17, he played against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, recording one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a single, in two at-bats, for a career batting average
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 :...
of .500. He also scored a run
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...
in his only game.
Loan later appeared in the minors, a member of the Eastern League Bridgeport Americans. In 1919, he batted .149 with 11 hits in 74 at-bats over 28 games. Two of his hits went for extra bases: one double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and one triple
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 slugged .189 and collected 14 total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
. In the field, he had the Americans' second-most appearances at catcher (Bill Skiff
Bill Skiff
William Franklin Skiff , was a Major League Baseball catcher who played in and with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees. He batted and threw right-handed. Skiff had a .250 career batting average. He was born in New Rochelle, New York and died in Bronxville, New York.-External links:...
) and made 84 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, 24 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and 1 error
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 ...
, amassing a .991 fielding percentage.
After baseball
Loan died on November 12, 1966, in SpringfieldSpringfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Springfield Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 19,418 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Wyndmoor, Erdenheim, Flourtown, and Oreland...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, at the age of 72. He was interred at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield.