39 Facts About Joe McGinnity

1. Joe McGinnity led the league in innings pitched four times from 1900 to 1905.

2. Joe McGinnity was a tough-luck loser in Game Two and the winner in Game Four.

3. Joe McGinnity deserves at least some credit for helping the younger Mathewson develop into one of the greatest pitchers who ever lived.

4. In 1901, Joe McGinnity found himself with yet another new team.

5. Joe McGinnity often credited the man everyone called Uncle Robbie with polishing off some of his rough edges and teaching him some new tricks.

6. Joe McGinnity made some pocket money pitching for a team in Van Buren, Arkansas, and that led him to earn a professional contract with the Montgomery Colts of the Southern League in 1893.

7. Joe McGinnity mixed in a healthy dose of guile and an almost unmatched understanding of how to manipulate batters.

8. Joe McGinnity set a MLB record during the 1904 season recording his tenth win in 21 team games on May 21, the fewest team games to for a pitcher to reach the mark.

9. Joe McGinnity was nicknamed " Iron Man " because he worked in an iron foundry during the baseball offseasons.

10. Joe McGinnity was 28 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 18, 1899, with the Baltimore Orioles.

11. Joe McGinnity falls into a select group of early baseball figures whose autographs are scarce by nature.

12. Joe McGinnity finished his MLB career with 246 career wins, seven 20-win seasons, and two 30-win seasons.

13. Joe McGinnity had surgery to remove tumors from his bladder, and was said to be in critical condition.

14. Joe McGinnity acquired his nickname, "Iron Man", before his doubleheader pitching became widely discussed.

15. Joe McGinnity joined the coaching staff of former teammate Wilbert Robinson, along with Kelley, for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1926 MLB season.

16. Joe McGinnity pitched in his final professional game on July 28, 1925, after participating in an old-timers game earlier in the day.

17. Joe McGinnity played for the Great Falls Electrics of the Northwestern League for the remainder of the 1917 season.

18. Joe McGinnity sold the Tigers and purchased the Butte Miners of the Northwestern League in 1916, serving as player-manager and bringing with him several players from Tacoma.

19. Joe McGinnity sold stock in the team in 1915 in order to afford operating expenses.

20. Joe McGinnity served as player-manager the Tigers at the start of the 1913 season, but stepped down as manager, hiring Russ Hall to serve as manager in June.

21. Joe McGinnity won both games of doubleheaders on August 27, 1909, and July 23, 1912.

22. Joe McGinnity missed the beginning of the 1908 season with a severe fever.

23. Joe McGinnity won 21 games in the 1905 season, as the Giants won the NL pennant.

24. Joe McGinnity set an MLB record during the 1904 season recording his tenth win in 21 team games on May 21, the fewest team games to for a pitcher to reach the mark.

25. In 1903, Joe McGinnity started both games of a doubleheader on numerous occasions.

26. Joe McGinnity set MLB records with 48 games started and 434 innings pitched, which remain NL records today.

27. Joe McGinnity attempted to contact Johnson that night, offering to stay with the Orioles if he could receive Johnson's personal assurance that he was welcome to stay.

28. Joe McGinnity received a salary of $2,800, choosing less money in an upstart league for the chance to be reunited with McGraw, who was player-manager and part-owner of the Orioles.

29. Joe McGinnity considered retiring from baseball, but ultimately jumped to the AL, signing with the Baltimore Orioles of the AL before the 1901 season.

30. Joe McGinnity pitched two complete games in the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup, as the Superbas defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates.

31. Joe McGinnity signed McGinnity in the spring of 1899 for $150 a month.

32. Joe McGinnity pitched a complete 21-inning game, believed to be the second longest professional baseball game to date.

33. Joe McGinnity improved his fielding, as opponents attempted to bunt "Old Sal".

34. Joe McGinnity pitched locally for semi-professional teams in Springfield and Decatur, receiving a salary between $1 to $3 for each game.

35. Joe McGinnity pitched for semi-professional teams based in Decatur in 1888 and 1889.

36. Joe McGinnity changed it by adding an "n" after he emigrated to the United States in 1861.

37. Joe McGinnity set NL records for complete games and innings pitched (434) in a single season, which still stand.

38. Joe McGinnity was nicknamed "Iron Man" because he worked in an iron foundry during the baseball offseasons.

39. Joe McGinnity had seven 20-win seasons and two 30-win seasons.