Fergus G. Malone (August, 1844 – January 1, 1905) was a professional baseball player in the 1860s and 1870s. He was the catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1871, champion of the first professional league season.
Born 1842 in County Tyrone (today part of Northern Ireland), Malone was one of four Irish natives to play in the first National Association season and one of five in the first National League season. If the NA is disregarded as a major league, he and Andy Leonard share distinction as the first major leaguers born in Ireland, their teams having met in the first NL game, 22 April 1876 (Leonard is first overall taking the NA into account).
Although a left-handed thrower, Malone was mainly a catcher with major teams, both amateur and pro. Physically it was a demanding position, no one using a face mask or regularly using a glove. (Doug Allison used buckskin mittens in 1870, but gloves and masks were only adopted for regular use by some catchers beginning in the late 1870s.)
Malone was the highest paid player in professional baseball in 1874 with an annual salary of $2,800 (equivalent to $75,402 in 2023).[1]
Fergy Malone was 34 when the Athletics were expelled from the National League, which contracted from eight to six for 1877. He returned to the majors with the one-year Union Association in 1884, managing its Philadelphia entry and playing in one game. In 220 major league games Fergy Malone batted .274 with one home run, 157 runs batted in, and 200 runs scored. He was a player-manager for his teams in 1873, 1874, and 1884, recording a total of 47 wins and 66 losses.
Malone died 1905 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 60. He is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.
^Martin, Brian (2014). The Tecumsehs of the International Association: Canada's First Major League Baseball Champions. McFarland. ISBN9781476618692. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
Wright, Marshall (2000). The National Association of Base Ball Players, 1857–1870. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. ISBN0-7864-0779-4
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
fergy, malone, fergus, malone, august, 1844, january, 1905, professional, baseball, player, 1860s, 1870s, catcher, philadelphia, athletics, 1871, champion, first, professional, league, season, catcherborn, august, 1844county, tyrone, irelanddied, january, 1905. Fergus G Malone August 1844 January 1 1905 was a professional baseball player in the 1860s and 1870s He was the catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1871 champion of the first professional league season Fergy MaloneCatcherBorn August 1844County Tyrone IrelandDied January 1 1905 1905 01 01 aged 60 Seattle Washington U S Batted RightThrew LeftMLB debutMay 20 1871 for the Philadelphia AthleticsLast MLB appearanceApril 17 1884 for the Philadelphia KeystonesMLB statisticsBatting average 274Home runs1Runs batted in157Teams National Association of Base Ball Players Philadelphia Athletics 1864 1870 Keystone of Philadelphia 1865 Diamond State Base Ball Club of Wilmington Delaware 1866 Quaker City of Philadelphia 1867 Washington Olympics 1868 1869 League player Philadelphia Athletics 1871 1872 Philadelphia White Stockings 1873 Chicago White Stockings 1874 Philadelphia White Stockings 1875 Philadelphia Athletics 1876 Philadelphia Keystones 1884 League manager Philadelphia White Stockings 1873 Chicago White Stockings 1874 Philadelphia Keystones 1884 Born 1842 in County Tyrone today part of Northern Ireland Malone was one of four Irish natives to play in the first National Association season and one of five in the first National League season If the NA is disregarded as a major league he and Andy Leonard share distinction as the first major leaguers born in Ireland their teams having met in the first NL game 22 April 1876 Leonard is first overall taking the NA into account Although a left handed thrower Malone was mainly a catcher with major teams both amateur and pro Physically it was a demanding position no one using a face mask or regularly using a glove Doug Allison used buckskin mittens in 1870 but gloves and masks were only adopted for regular use by some catchers beginning in the late 1870s Malone was the primary catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics 1871 72 Philadelphia White Stockings 1873 and Chicago White Stockings 1874 In 1873 74 he was team captain earning manager s credit today He returned to the Philadelphia Whites and played in eight games in 1875 then returned to the Philadelphia Athletics for the inaugural National League season catching 20 of 60 games Malone was the highest paid player in professional baseball in 1874 with an annual salary of 2 800 equivalent to 75 402 in 2023 1 Fergy Malone was 34 when the Athletics were expelled from the National League which contracted from eight to six for 1877 He returned to the majors with the one year Union Association in 1884 managing its Philadelphia entry and playing in one game In 220 major league games Fergy Malone batted 274 with one home run 157 runs batted in and 200 runs scored He was a player manager for his teams in 1873 1874 and 1884 recording a total of 47 wins and 66 losses Malone died 1905 in Seattle Washington at the age of 60 He is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia The Society for American Baseball Research list Malone as a Civil War veteran having enlisted in a 100 days regiment on July 15 1864 and serving with Dick McBride as a private and corporal in Company A 196th Pennsylvania See also editList of Major League Baseball player managersReferences edit Martin Brian 2014 The Tecumsehs of the International Association Canada s First Major League Baseball Champions McFarland ISBN 9781476618692 Retrieved 13 November 2019 Wright Marshall 2000 The National Association of Base Ball Players 1857 1870 Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Co ISBN 0 7864 0779 4External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Retrosheet Fergy Malone Fergy Malone at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fergy Malone amp oldid 1209094182, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
