Favorite Pre-1960 Obscure Player(s)

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Posted By: Anonymous

Billy Maharg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Maharg

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Posted By: Steve Murray

How about the pitcher who played a single game with Cincinnati; gave up 8 runs; won the game; and was then out of baseball forever.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Steve,

Who was it, and was he out of ALL organized ball following that game, or was he shipped back to the minors? At least give us a hint--why am I thinking 1950's? On the right track?


And to our anonymous friend, yes, Billy Maharg ("Graham" spelled backwards) was a shady, interesting character. A Philly-area pugilist, Maharg played in that infamous 1912 Tigers vs. A's game as one of the replacement Detroiters (the team was on strike due to Cobb's being suspended). Out of all the replacement players, Maharg was the only one who actually played in another major league game. He did so four seasons later with the Phillies. He was apparently involved in the Philadelphia branch of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. One thing I don't know is whether or not Maharg was questioned sufficiently in his involvement in the matter. Perhaps we would have had further insight if Maharg had been talked to more. He outlived Shoeless Joe by two years, so I would have to imagine that somebody at least attempted to get the scoop.

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Posted By: Steve Murray

"Who was it, and was he out of ALL organized ball following that game, or was he shipped back to the minors? At least give us a hint--why am I thinking 1950's? On the right track?"

Seems we may have a stumper here. Maybe I should have started a new trivia thread.

Yes he was out of ALL organized ball following that game.

Think earlier and that's the last hint.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Harry Smith pitched one game for the White Sox in 1912 gave up one run and got the win and never pitched another major league game. This has always been a mystery to me why he didn't stick in the majors after that...he wasn't injured because he went right on playing minor league ball for many years after that.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/smithha05.shtml

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

Win Ballou

I just did some digging and found this name.. Sounds more like a race horse than a ball player..

 

martyOgelvie

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

A great name made even better by his nickname, "Pard". He was a sort of forerunner to BoBo Newsom, as, like BoBo, Ballou acquired his nickname by calling everybody "Pard".

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Steve,

Ed Donalds did what you said, but only gave up two runs by the looks of it. I'm done trying!

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Posted By: Steve Murray

The "obscure" player was Christy Mathewson.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Trick question. I obviously thought you were referring to a one-gamer.

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Posted By: Rhett Yeakley

Roy Castleton, the first Mormon Major Leaguer...



(Still looking for the D311 and Western Playground)
-Rhett

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Posted By: John H.

Jodi,
The six balls on the 1952 Topps Gus Zernial card signify that he hit six homeruns in three consecutive games in 1951.

Steve,
Who was the HOF'er that lost that 10-8 game to Mathewson? Also, Mathewson stayed in the big leagues as the Reds manager until he went off to war so he wasn't actually "out" of baseball after that game.

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Posted By: Shawn Chambers

Didn't Mathewson beat Three Fingers Brown?

Oh, and props to the couple of guys who mentioned Bobby Veach. I am a big Veach fan and think he is definitely under-rated. If not for the two other guys who comprised the greatest outfield ever with him...he might be more famous.

S

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Posted By: Anonymous

Big Veach fan here as well. He hit .310 for his career and drove in over a 1,000 runs.

I also like Baby Doll Jacobson, Ken Williams and both Meusel brothers.

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

Bill Zuber (Goober)

AL Pitcher from the 30s and 40s

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

Ping Bodie. Ryne Duren. Matt Batts. Moe Berg. Eppa Rixey. Rixey was the career leader in wins by a lefthander until Warren Spahn came along. Served in WW I. A HOFer but somehow still obscure.

I used to work for Norm Corey, brother of "Professor" Irwin Corey, for those old enough to remember him. Norm's favorite player was Ping Bodie. He had a twin brother named Pong. (smiley face here).

Faye Throneberry. The only player I ever saw who looked 75 on his baseball card.

Louis Loudermilk, of course.

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Posted By: John H.

Shawn,

Yes, it was Mordecai "Three Fingers" Brown that Mathewson beat. I think it may also have been Brown's last game in the big league.