48 Facts About Deacon McGuire

James Thomas "Deacon" McGuire was an American professional baseball player, manager and coach whose career spanned the years 1883 to 1915.

Deacon McGuire played 26 seasons in Major League Baseball, principally as a catcher, for 11 different major league clubs.

Deacon McGuire played on Brooklyn teams that won National League pennants in 1899 and 1900.

Deacon McGuire's assist, caught stealing, and stolen bases allowed totals remain current major league records.

Deacon McGuire was the manager of the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians.

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Deacon McGuire moved as a boy to Cleveland, learned to play baseball "on the lots" of that city, and at age 18 was playing for the "Woodlands" team.

Deacon McGuire first gained note playing baseball for a team in Hastings, Michigan, where he was paired with pitcher Lady Baldwin.

Deacon McGuire made his major league debut in June 1884 with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association.

Deacon McGuire began the 1885 season playing for the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the newly formed Western League.

Deacon McGuire appeared in 16 games for the Hoosiers, who were the dominant team in the Western League, compiling an.

In 1886, Deacon McGuire caught 49 games for the Quakers, two more than the team's other principal catcher Jack Clements.

On July 2,1888, Deacon McGuire signed as a free agent with the Detroit Wolverines.

Deacon McGuire appeared in only three games for Detroit, had no hits in 13 at bats, and was released on August 1,1888.

In late August 1888, Deacon McGuire met and signed with Tom Loftus, the manager of the Cleveland Blues of the National League.

In early February 1889, Deacon McGuire was released by Cleveland and signed by the Toronto Canucks of the International League.

Deacon McGuire will have no redress if he is addressed hereafter as 'Deacon' McGuire.

In February 1891, Deacon McGuire jumped from the Rochester Broncos to the Washington Statesmen.

Deacon McGuire played the next nine seasons in a Washington uniform.

Defensively, Deacon McGuire led the American Association's catchers with 130 assists, 56 errors, 204 stolen bases allowed and 129 runners caught stealing.

However, Deacon McGuire had almost as many bases on balls as hits, giving him a more than respectable.

In 1893, Deacon McGuire caught only 50 games and, despite the limited playing time, ranked second in the National League's catchers with 27 errors.

Deacon McGuire had the best season of his career in 1895 as he hit.

Deacon McGuire led the National League's catchers with 312 putouts, 180 assists, 40 errors, 12 double plays turned, 28 passed balls, 293 stolen bases allowed, and 189 runners caught stealing.

Deacon McGuire appeared in 131 games for the Senators, 93 at catcher and 37 at first base.

Deacon McGuire began the year for the ninth consecutive season with an overmatched Washington team that finished in 11th place.

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On July 14,1899, Deacon McGuire received good news; he had been traded to the Brooklyn Superbas, a team managed by Ned Hanlon and competing for the National League pennant.

In 1900, Deacon McGuire shared catching responsibility with Duke Farrell, Deacon McGuire handling 69 games at the position and Farrell 76.

Deacon McGuire resumed his role as the Superbas' number one catcher in 1901.

In March 1902, Deacon McGuire jumped to the still new American League, signing a two-year with the Detroit Tigers.

The Brooklyn club sued Deacon McGuire for breaching his contract to play there and sought an injunction prohibiting him from playing anywhere else.

At age 38, Deacon McGuire was the fourth oldest player in the American League, his batting average dropped to.

Deacon McGuire spent his final years as a full-time player with the Highlanders from 1904 to 1906.

In 1905, Deacon McGuire remained New York's number one catcher, appearing in 71 games at the position.

Deacon McGuire was hired by the Boston Red Sox in early June 1906 and took over as the team's manager on June 10,1907.

Deacon McGuire appeared in seven games as a player for Boston, principally as a pinch-hitter, and made three hits, including a home run, and scored a run in five plate appearances.

On September 18,1908, Deacon McGuire signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Naps and appeared in only one game, at first base.

Deacon McGuire served principally as a scout for Cleveland in 1908 and the first half of 1909.

In resigning his post, Deacon McGuire stated that he was disappointed in the team's showing and hoped that better results could be achieved with a new man in charge.

In February 1912, Deacon McGuire was hired as a pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers.

Deacon McGuire had been expected to serve as a scout during the regular season, but was assigned in May 1912 to remain with the club as a coach throughout the season, working alongside manager Hughie Jennings.

Deacon McGuire took to the field as one of the Tigers' replacement players.

Salsinger wrote that manufacturers took a hint from Deacon McGuire and began padding catcher's mitts with felt and hair.

Deacon McGuire claimed he came up with the idea when he was catching for pitcher Hank O'Day at Toledo in 1884.

Deacon McGuire played before the advent of most modern protective equipment, and his fingers were reportedly "gnarled, broken, bent, split and crooked" by the end of his career.

Deacon McGuire's longevity enabled him to set numerous major league records, some of which are set forth below:.

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Deacon McGuire worked in the saloon during the off-season, and his brother operated it year round.

In 1915, Albion "went dry", and Deacon McGuire Brothers became a restaurant and "sample room" and eventually closed.

Deacon McGuire coached the Albion College baseball team in 1926 and worked as a chicken farmer.