Jim Pittsley

 

Jim Pittsley pitched for the Royals and Brewers from 1995-99.

James Michael Pittsley was born April 3, 1974, in DuBois, in western Pennsylvania northeast of Pittsburgh. He lettered in baseball and basketball at DuBois High School, and pitched in American Legion ball. As a senior in the fall of 1991 he signed a letter of intent to play baseball at North Carolina State, but following his 1992 graduation he was drafted in the first round by the Royals and he signed with them. A draft preview in the May 31 Atlanta Journal & Constitution speculated on the Braves picking Jim and said:

Jim Pittsley: A righthander out of DuBois (Pa.) High, Pittsley is 6-7 and struck out 88 in 45 innings. He is rated as having the best velocity of any high school senior, according to the publication Baseball America.

Sporting News columnist Peter Pascarelli, in the June 15 issue, wrote that Jim “might have been the most talented high school pitcher in the draft.” He had been the Yankees’ plan B for their number six pick in the first round, if they didn’t get Derek Jeter. Jim was sent to the Royals’ team in the Rookie Class Gulf Coast League; on August 3 he filled out a questionnaire in which he listed his nickname as “Pitts,” his size as 6-7, 215, his hobbies as hunting and fishing, and mentioned that he had an uncle, Johnny Pittsley, who had played in the New York Giants organization. From the August 23 Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Righthander Jim Pittsley, chosen in the first round of last June’s free-agent draft, is rapidy making progress with the Kansas City Royals’ Rookie League team in the Gulf Coast League.

Pittsley, the 17^th player selected and the first high school pitcher chosen, is 4-1 with a 3.52 ERA and 39 strikeouts and 14 walks in 38 1/3 innings. Take away his professional debut, a one-inning calamity when Pittsley gave up three hits and six runs and walked three, and Pittsley has pitched very well.

“I feel more comfortable each time I go out there,” he said.

Pittsley’s velocity reached 88 mph recently but has typically ranged between 84-86. Pittsley isn’t throwing across his body as much as he did as an amateur. Otherwise, the Royals have made few changes to Pittsley’s delivery and aren’t looking at anything drastic.

“He has a tendency to tilt forward just a little bit,” Cram said. “Down the road, we’ll try to get him to stand up straighter and get more of a downward plane. He really doesn’t have bad mechanics. They just have to be refined a little bit.”

4-1 turned out to be Jim’s final record in the Gulf Coast League, in ten starts, with a 3.32 ERA in 43 1/3 innings. Somewhere along the way he made one three-inning start in the Class Advanced A Florida State League, allowing no runs on two hits.

In 1993 Jim pitched for the Rockford Royals of the Class A Midwest League. He had a couple of stints on the disabled list with injuries to his pitching shoulder and upper back; for the season he had a 4.26 ERA in 80 1/3 innings in 15 starts, with 87 strikeouts and 32 walks.

For 1994 Jim moved up to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Advanced A Carolina League, where he had an 11-5 record and 3.17 ERA in 161 2/3 innings in 27 starts, with a league-leading 171 strikeouts. He was named to the league’s all-star game.

Jim then skipped over Class AA and went to the Omaha Royals of the American Association for 1995; he was said to be the youngest player in the league. He got off to a good start, and was called up to Kansas City, where he made his major league debut on May 23 at Toronto, getting the start. His first batter was Devon White, who singled, and then Alex Gonzalez hit a home run. Shawn Green hit a solo homer in the second, and Gonzalez led off the third with his second homer. After Jim allowed a walk and a double with one out in the fourth he was relieved. He didn’t get the loss, though, as the Royals came back to take a brief lead before losing 10-6. 

He lost his next start to a rainout, and was sent back to Omaha to get two more starts there before coming back to Kansas City. But, as the Rockford Register Star reported on June 1:

Pittsley faces surgery

Jim Pittsley may face elbow surgery after tearing a ligament in his right elbow.

Pittsley made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals earlier this season, then was sent back to the minors for two starts before he was scheduled to return to the American League.

In his first minor league start, he injured his elbow. He hopes treatments and a rehabilitation program will build up his elbow to avoid surgery. If it doesn’t work, Pittsley will have a ligament from another part of his body removed and inserted in the elbow.

“There’s no risk involved,” Pittsley said. “All the players who have had the surgery have come back and thrown well. The only setback is you’re out a year before you can come back. That’s quite awhile. That’s why we’re trying to postpone this as long as we can. Who knows? It might come around and we won’t have it.”

Pittsley was sent home June 24 to DuBois, Pa., to rest his arm for a month.

“If it’s surgery, that’s what it will be,” Pittsley said. “I’ll be back, It’s not like my career is over.”

Same paper, August 13:

Good news for Pittsley

The Kansas City Royals received some good news Aug. 4 when Jim Pittsley, a 1992 first-round pick, did not have to undergo “Tommy John surgery” to repair his right elbow…

Instead, Dr. Frank Jobe was able to surgically repair a slight tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in Pittsley’s right elbow.

Immediately afterward Jim was recalled to the major league roster and placed on the 60-day disabled list. His Omaha stats were a 4-1 record and 3.21 ERA in 47 2/3 innings in eight starts with 39 strikeouts; with Kansas City he had a 13.50 ERA in the one start.

In March 1996 Jim signed a new KC contract, and on April 1 he was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. On April 12 he threw batting practice for the first time. In June he was sent back to Wilmington for a rehab assignment, where he pitched nine innings over two starts and allowed eleven earned runs; he struck out ten but gave up four home runs. He then moved to Wichita of the Class AA Texas League, where in three starts he went 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA in 22 innings, allowing just nine hits but, unusually for him, only striking out seven.

In July Jim was moved up to Omaha, where he spent the rest of the season. He went 7-1 in 13 starts with a 3.97 ERA in 70 1/3 innings, striking out 53 and walking 39.

Jim went to spring training 1997 projected as the leading candidate for the Royals’ fifth starter slot, but in mid-March he was optioned back to Omaha. On March 23 a Detroit News article on rotisserie league sleepers (likely written before Jim’s demotion) said:

Jim Pittsley, Royals: He’s had health problems, but he’s 6-foot-7, has a 92-93 mph fastball, and can throw his curve and change-up for strikes.

Jim got one start for Omaha before getting called back up when Chris Haney broke his ankle. He started for the Royals at home against Texas on April 16, and pitched well but lost 2-0 to John Burkett. This was followed by a series of poor starts; the Detroit News reported on May 11:

Pittsley struggling, but still confident

By David Srinivasan

The Detroit News

Royals Manager Bob Boone was less than flattering when he talked about right-hander Jim Pittsley on Thursday.

“He’s 0-3,” Boone said. “He’s struggled with his control. He’s pitched a couple of good games, but he’s given up big home runs in every outing.”

Ouch.

“He’s got a pretty good fastball, (but) there are no free rides (in the big leagues).”

That’s dire talk, but there’s promise here despite Pittsley’s 7.08 earned-run average.

In the minors, he showed a solid ability to change speeds and location with a change-up, a curve and a cut fastball.

His regular fastball is straight, but it hit the low 90s before he underwent elbow surgery last season, Even though Pittsley missed most of ’96, he says his arm strength has returned.

But he isn’t a top prospect just because of his control and stuff, he’s also bright and confident.

“In 1995, I pitched in Toronto (he allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings in his major-league debut). That woke me up, ‘cause I got hit around,” Pittsley said.

He said that was the last time he felt nervous on the mound.

And during his time on the disabled list last season, Pittsley studied the game.

In addition to learning on his own, Pittsley credits veterans on the Royals with helping him. He says Tim Belcher, a former Tigers starter, has helped him especially. Belcher has taught Pittsley how to prepare mentally for starts and goes over hitters with him.

Pittsley makes sure to speak respectfully of his teachers—including the Triple-A coach who helped him with his mechanics—but his thoughts quickly return to his last start, the one in which he allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Boone was succinct in his analysis: “He got his (bleep) kicked.”

Pittsley was verbose: “I fell behind early in the count, I bounced a couple of curveballs, and my (cut fastball) wasn’t cutting.

“When you throw a straight fastball in this league, they’re gonna hit it. You have to have movement on your pitches (and throw strikes).”

Pittsley has a plan, has quality pitches, and good team [sic] of coaches working with him. Boone may have sounded gruff, but he was a great defensive catcher with a fine record of working with young pitchers. If things go right, Pittsley will be a productive member of Kansas City’s rotation by season’s end.

From I.J. Rosenberg’s “Midweek Baseball Report” in the June 4 Atlanta Journal:

Kansas City: With starter Chris Haney on the disabled list with a fractured ankle, the Royals were considering signing the recently released Dennis Martinez, thinking he could replace rookie Jim Pittsley (0-4, 7.04 ERA) in the rotation. But general manager Herk Robinson said, “I think Haney will be back in three weeks. Pittsley has pitched a little better his past two starts. I don’t think (signing Martinez) will happen. I don’t see it as necessary.”

On June 7, at home against the Rangers, Jim got his first win, giving up three earned runs in seven innings as the Royals won 10-4. Afterward a short filler item appeared in several newspapers, here as it ran in the Marietta Daily Journal on June 12:

Pittsley home like museum

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Need some Jim Pittsley memorabilia?

In a china cabinet in DuBois, Pa., is everything you’ll need—pennants, plaques and about 100 game balls.

“My mom and dad always went and got the ball I hit for a home run when I was in Little League,” said Pittsley, Kansas City’s tall, tough right-hander. “We have one for my 100^th strikeout in Little League, home runs I hit, game balls from high school—No-hitters, home runs.”

Now they can add the ball from his first major league win.

From the Kansas City report in the June 23 Sporting News:

When pitcher Jim Pittsley bobbled a bunt, he ended the team’s streak of errorless play at 11 games and 106 innings, both club records. The team was four games shy of the Rangers’ A.L. record of 15 consecutive errorless games, set last season…Pittsley’s double against the Pirates was the first hit by a team pitcher since the D.H. was adopted in 1973…With Chris Haney back in the rotation, rookie Glendon Rusch was sent to the bullpen. Pittsley will continue to start, with Rusch available to “piggyback” him in the late innings… [all ellipses part of the original article]

After an excellent start against the Brewers on June 29 in which he allowed one run in eight innings but Jeff Montgomery blew the save in the ninth, Jim had back to back seven-run outings. He was then optioned back to Omaha on July 15, but on the 28^th he was recalled for one game when the Royals needed him to start. At home against the Twins, he allowed just three singles in six innings and got the win, putting his record at 3-7. He was recalled again for starts on August 23 and 29, then on September 2 he was brought back for the rest of the season. He started five games in September, winning two and losing one for a final record of 5-8, and gradually got his season ERA down to 5.46. He pitched 112 innings in 21 starts, striking out just 52, a very low ratio by his previous standards. For Omaha he had a 4.42 ERA in 38 2/3 innings in seven starts.

At spring training 1998 Jim failed to make the starting rotation, but he was out of options after all his bouncing back and forth in ’97, so the Royals put him in the bullpen for the first time in his professional career, since another team would have been able to claim him if they had tried to send him back to Omaha again.

Through the end of May Jim had made 14 relief appearances and had a 4.57 ERA. In his next outing, on June 2 at home against the Angels, he pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings with three strikeouts; he also hit one batter, which ignited a series of brawls and retaliatory pitches. From the next day’s AP account:

Four beanballs and two bench-clearing brawls led to 12 ejections in Anaheim’s victory over Kansas City.

The problems started in the top of the seventh, when Anaheim’s Phil Nevin was hit in the back by Kansas City pitcher Jim Pittsley. Nevin, who was also hit in his previous at-bat by Chris Haney, charged the mound and tried to tackle Pittsley, but the pitcher wrestled Nevin down and appeared to throw some jabs.

Both benches emptied, but apparently no other players threw punches. Nevin, Pittsley, and Kansas City coaches Rich Dauer and Jamie Quirk also were ejected…

From another AP article:

…The first hit batsman came in the fifth when Angels catcher Phil Nevin was hit by Kansas City starter Chris Haney two batters after Tim Salmon homered.

In the seventh, Nevin was hit in the back of the neck by fastballer Jim Pittsley.

“The second time, I know that it was deliberate,” Nevin said. “There was no doubt it came from the bench.”

Nevin went after the 6-foot-7 Pittsley, creating the first fight.

“I am shocked,” said Nevin, who was body-slammed by Pittsley. “I don’t have any bad blood with those guys.”

“I didn’t sense anything (between the teams),” Kansas City manager Tony Muser said.

Rich Delucia hit the Royals’ Dean Palmer with the first pitch of the eighth.

“Richie did what he thought he had to do,” Angels manager Terry Collins said.

“After we hit Palmer, it should have been over,” Nevin said. “It’s part of the game, but it’s unfortunate.”

Royals reliver Scott Service hit Darin Erstad with two outs in the ninth and was ejected.

Then came the bottom of the ninth. On the second pitch, Angels left-hander Mike Holtz hit Jose Offerman.

“I think that some words came out of the Angels dugout that got Offy excited,” Muser said. “That is what got it started.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IOPvBoCw_U

AP, June 4:

AL president calls Tuesday’s brawl ‘low point for major league baseball’

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Calling the brawl between the Anaheim Angels and Kansas City Royals “a low point for major league baseball,” American League president Gene Budig hinted Wednesday that disciplinary action would be severe.

Budig happened to be in Kauffman Stadium Tuesday night when the Angels and Royals exchanged five beanballs and degenerated into a ninth-inning melee that led to 12 ejections. Budig said he would announce his decision on Friday, and indicated that managers Terry Collins of the Angels and Tony Muser of the Royals could be in trouble.

Both were ejected, along with three coaches.

“I was distressed by the utter disregard for safety on the field,” Budig said. “There was a clear breakdown in leadership on the part of the teams. Managers and coaches. Leadership on the field. I will respond in what I believe is a fair but very firm way.”

Budig suspended Collins and Muser for eight games each, and suspended nine players for from five games to one game each, including Jim for two, and fined three coaches. Jim had made another relief appearance on the 4^th and got his first start of the year on the 7^th, which was a 7-1 loss to the Astros. He served his suspension on the 12^th and 13^th, and got another start on the 22nd in Cincinnati, pitching the first five innings of a four-pitcher combined shutout.

After that Jim was back to the bullpen for the rest of the year. He ended up with a 6.59 ERA in 68 1/3 innings in 39 games, striking out 44 and walking 37.

In 1999 Jim won the fifth starter job in spring training. After five starts he had a 1-2 record and 6.94 ERA, with seven strikeouts and 15 walks in 23 1/3 innings. On May 16 he was designated for assignment, which meant that another team could claim him for the waiver price, and the Brewers did. From the May 22 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

“We just felt he’s a grade better than some of what we have in long relief right now,” said general manager Sal Bando, who watched middle relievers Steve Faltisek and Horacio Estrada get roughed up Thursday in a doubleheader sweep by the Mets.

“We have good reports on his stuff. He just hasn’t pitched well for whatever reasons. We’re going to see if we can help him pitch better. We thought it was a gamble worth trying.”

Same paper, June 30:

Brewers right-hander Jim Pittsley has moved ahead of struggling bullpen mate Al Reyes on Garner’s depth chart.

“Pittsley is going to get more work,” Garner said. “We’ve given Al a lot of chances but he hasn’t been getting it done.”

Pittsley, picked up on waivers from Kansas City on May 21, compiled a 1.29 ERA in his first nine appearances. He worked 14 innings, allowed nine hits and walked four while striking out nine. Opponents are batting .191 against him.

“He’s done the job for us just about every time he’s gone out there,” pitching coach Bill Campbell said. “He’s certainly earned a chance.”

At 6 feet 7 inches, Pittsley is Milwaukee’s tallest pitcher since 6-8 Jeff Juden exited last year. Unlike Juden, Pittsley has shown consistent mechanics and better-than-average control.

“He does a good job of throwing on a downhill plane,” Campbell said. “When you have a big guy that does that, the hitter has to make up his mind sooner whether or not he is going to swing.

“Pittsley is really big. Bob Melvin went out to warm him up between innings a few weeks ago and he came back to the bench and said, “It seemed like he was just going to hand the ball to me, he was so close.”

After two short outings that got his ERA down to 1.20, Jim had a four game stretch where he allowed eight earned runs in a total of 3 2/3 innings, which ballooned his ERA to 4.82. On July 19 the Brewers designated him for assignment, the Journal Sentinel reporting the next day:

In order to clear a roster spot for [Kyle] Peterson, the Brewers designated reliever Jim Pittsley for assignment. The club has 10 days to trade, release or assign Pittsley to Class AAA Louisville. Pittsley, already released by Kansas City this year, can refuse the assignment and become a free agent. “I hope he takes the assignment,” Brewers manager Phil Garner said. “He showed some signs of throwing the ball good.”

On Sunday afternoon, Pittsley continued his tough luck. He faced two batters and gave up a walk and a two-run double.

“That probably put him over the edge,” Garner said.

Jim stayed the rest of the season with Louisville, where he was returned to the starting rotation. In eight starts he went 2-4 with an 8.77 ERA, allowing 55 hits, 16 walks, and eight home runs in 39 innings. On October 15 he was granted free agency.

On February 23, 2000, the Salina Journal reported that:

The Royals, as desperate as anybody in baseball for pitching, said they may bring back former first-round pick Jim Pittsley, who pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers last year.

Herk Robinson said the club would bring Pittsley back as a reliever if he would change his delivery to throwing sidearm.

“We’d try to bring somebody in to work with him during extended spring training, but he has to be 100 percent committed to making the change,” Robinson said.

So much for the downhill plane. Apparently nothing came of that, and the next news of Jim I came across was an announcement from November 16, 2000, that he had signed a minor league contract with Tampa Bay and would be invited to major league spring training in 2001. This was the last update on Jim that I found.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/Ppittj002.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pittsji01.shtml

Gus Yost

 

Gus Yost (or Jost) pitched one game for the 1893 Chicago Colts.

On June 12, 1893, the Chicago Colts played the Nationals in Washington. From the next day’s Chicago Daily Inter Ocean:

JOST WAS ONLY A JOKE

Anson Tried Comedy in the Game at Washington

MADE IT A WALKING MATCH

Runs Forced In by the New-found Apprentice.

Mauck Finally Substituted Too Late to Save the Colts from Defeat.

…Anson presented the most untamed pitcher that ever escaped from an asylum in the person of young Jost. The first eight balls pitched sent two men to base, and with an occasional strike and foul he kept it up until five consecutive contestants had entered in the walking match. To these were added a wild pitch and a base hit, and yet only two runs were scored. Anson’s lucky angel was on the watch and inspired Hoy and O’Rourke to try running instead of walking, and both perched at second and Larkin was the third out, when he tried to make three bases on Farrell’s single.

Anson hugged himself that he had gotten off with less than four or five runs and kept the young man at it until he had sent three more to first and two hits had been made in the third; then he jerked him out, put his other German, Mauck, who was quite as effective as on Saturday, except in one inning…

The June 17 Sporting Life summed it up as “Anson tried an amateur named Yost in the box, but he could not locate the plate and gave way to Mauck in the third inning.” Gus allowed four earned runs on three hits and eight walks in 2 2/3 innings, while striking out one. His teammates in the game included, besides manager/firstbaseman Cap Anson, Jimmy Ryan, Bill Dahlen, Walt Wilmot, and Bill “Little Eva” Lange; the Nationals lineup included Dummy Hoy, Jim O’Rourke, Sam Wise, Duke Farrell, and pitcher Al Maul.

The Chicago column in the June 24 Sporting Life mentioned that “Pitcher Yost, who was given a trial in Washington, was left behind.” Nothing more is known about Yost/Jost, except that he is listed as having been 6’5”, but I have no idea where that comes from. It’s very possible that he was a Washington D.C. area player whom Anson agreed to try out while the Colts were in town.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Y/Pyostg101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/yostgu01.shtml

Bill McTigue

Bill McTigue was a pitcher who played for Boston in the National League in 1911-13 and the Tigers in 1916.

Willliam Patrick McTigue was born in Nashville on June 3, 1891, the third of ten children of John and Mary “Mammie” McTigue. John and Mammie were both born in Tennessee; Mammie’s parents and John’s father were from Ireland. In the 1900 census the family is living at 1029 Bowles Street in Nashville. John is a foreman in the timber industry. There are five children, ranging in age from 13 to three; youngest child Nannie had died the previous December.

In the 1907 Nashville City Directory the family is living at 1029 15^th Avenue South—since Bowles Street no longer exists I wonder if this is the same house with a new address. John is a partner in Goodrich & McTigue at 918 Broadway: “Tin, Copper and Brass Work, Roofing. Special attention to job work.” 16-year-old William has his own entry as a “colr.” Collector? In the 1909 directory older brother Charles is a bookkeeper at 918 Broadway, living with the family on 15^th Avenue, while William is a student and has an address of 116 8^th Ave North.

The 1910 census, taken April 26, shows the family still at 15^th Avenue, and we learn that they own their home. Four children have been born since 1900, and all nine are living in the house, including oldest child Katie, who is there with her husband Earl Lanier, a butcher, and their two children, both older than Katie’s youngest sibling Joseph. John is listed as the proprietor of a sheet metal shop, and Charles a bookkeeper for a sheet metal shop. William is listed as a ballplayer.

Bill was a pitcher, and five days before the census was taken he had made his professional debut for the Birmingham Barons of the Class A Southern Association. He pitched a complete game against Mobile, but lost 10-1, allowing 10 hits and 10 walks. He didn’t last long with Birmingham, and made his way to the Kankakee Kays of the Class D Northern Association. The Kankakee team disbanded on July 11 and Bill ended up in the Class B New England League, with the Haverhill Hustlers. At some point he moved to the New Bedford Whalers of the same league, and with the two teams combined he had a 7-6 record in 16 games. On August 20 it was announced that he had been purchased by the National League’s Boston Doves, not yet known as the Braves; the Chattanooga Daily Times reported on August 22:

Birmingham Will Protest Sale of Southpaw McTigue

Birmingham will protest the sale of William McTigue, the young pitcher who tried out with the local team in the spring, and was later released to the New Bedford club in the New England league. The sale of McTigue for a trifle of $1,200 to the Boston Nationals was reported Saturday.

As is known, the big, raw-boned southpaw, picked up by Molesworth around the amateur lots of Nashville, was farmed to Kankakee, and on the breaking up of that club was transferred to Haverhill in the New England league. With the permission of Birmingham, McTigue was transferred from Haverhill to New Bedford, where he aided in practically cinching the pennant of that circuit. Sometime ago Birmingham exercised its option on McTigue by sending in the amount agreed upon to Secretary Farrell, of the national commission. In case McTigue goes to Boston, Birmingham will get the price for him.

A misinformed Sporting Life editorialized in their September 3 issue:

Boston papers say that the Boston Club paid “$12,000 for pitcher McTigue, of the New Bedford club.” Help! Murder! Police! Twelve thousand dollars for a New England League player; never in the world! Clip a cypher, maybe two cyphers, from those figures.

Complicating things further, the Pirates also made a claim for Bill. From the September 10 Sporting Life:

PLAYER DISPUTE.

Pittsburg and Boston Clubs Claim Pitcher McTigue, of Haverhill.

Special to “Sporting Life.”

Pittsburg, Pa., September 5.—The Pittsburg and Boston Clubs have locked horns over the services of pitcher McTigue. It seems that early in the season the Pittsburg Club heard of McTigue through Jack Miller’s brother, who was playing with Kankakee, where McTigue was pitching at the time. President Dreyfuss put the pitcher’s name in his famous dope sheet and notified his scouts to keep tab upon the young man. McTigue drifted East after Kankakee disbanded and landed at Haverhill, Mass. Fred Tenney, a stockholder in the Boston Club, was playing in the New England League, and seeing McTigue perform gave Manager Lake of the Doves, a tip to land him. Lake arranged with Haverhill and landed McTigue. Pittsburg had two drafts in for McTigue, one for Birmingham, Ala., the other for Fall River, Mass. Pittsburg claims McTigue never played officially with Haverhill.

On October 8 Bill appeared on the Boston reserve list; a week later he appeared on the Birmingham reserve list. On November 26 Sporting Life reported a National Board of Arbitration decision: “Claim of player McTigue vs. Haverhill, Mass., allowed.” I don’t know what that was about. A week later Sporting Life had two items about Bill:

The management of the Doves has received word that pitcher Bob [sic] McTigue, the claim to whose services has been in dispute for many months, has been awarded to President Dovey’s club. The player came originally from Birmingham, Ala., but owing to a dispute over the salary question came to the conclusion that he was a free agent. After reaching the North he signed up with Haverhill, of the New England League, but finished out the season with New Bedford.

And

The Boston Club has just received the signed contract of pitcher William McTigue, the big and strong southpaw twirler who delivered the goods for New Bedford last season in winning the New England League pennant for the “Whaling City,” and whom Pittsburg tried so hard to secure.

The 1910 Nashville City Directory shows Bill as a clerk at 917 12^th Avenue South, still living on 15^th with John, now a city councilman in addition to his business, Charles, still a bookkeeper at Goodrich & McTigue, and 16-year-old John Jr., now getting his own listing as a “cashboy” at 620 Church Street.

Bill went to spring training 1911 with Boston, the team having been sold by Dovey and now being known mainly as the Rustlers. From the Boston Herald, March 28:

Today it was decided that Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8, the Boston National regulars will play at Lynchburg both days. It is possible that as the team goes into Baltimore for Sunday that some of the players may be granted permission to run up to Washington for Palm Sunday, April 9, and spend the day in a big city. Bill Sweeney, Patsy Flaherty, Bill McTigue, Bill Ingerton, Bill Collins, Billy Burke and others are going to the Baltimore Cathedral and assist at the Palm Sunday services.

Bill made his major league debut on May 2 in Philadelphia, the team’s 17^th game of the season. He came in to pitch to start the bottom of the ninth, after the Rustlers had scored two in the top of the inning to tie the game at 5-5. He walked Otto Knabe and had a 2-0 count on Hans Lobert when he was removed for Al Mattern. Mattern walked Lobert, Sherry Magee reached on an error to load the bases, and Dode Paskert singled in Knabe for the winning run. Somehow current stats give the run to Mattern even though the loss is rightly assigned to Bill.

Bill next appeared in a game on May 11 at home against the Reds. He pitched the ninth in a 13-10 loss, not allowing any hits but giving up a run on four walks. He pitched again the next day, the ninth again in another loss to the Reds, this one 18-8; he again allowed a run, this time on two hits and one walk.

Bill then sat until June 3, when he got his first start, at Cincinnati. He lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks; Boston tied the game at four before losing 15-4, so he didn’t get the loss. He pitched three more times in June, was a regular starter during July, then relieved twice in August and was done. He had an 0-5 record and 7.05 ERA in 14 games, eight of them starts (in five of which he failed to get through the fourth inning); in 37 innings he walked 49. In early August he pitched a shutout in a 7-inning exhibition game against Canton of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League.

Despite his poor results, Bill seems to have been well-regarded. The Boston correspondent in the July 22 Sporting Life said that:

McTigue has a fine assortment, but lacks control. Another year in the minors would about fit him for fast company.

On August 19 Sporting Life quoted the Philadelphia Record as saying that “Even Boston has two promising port-siders in McTigue and Mattern,” and on September 2 their Boston correspondent reported:

[Tyler] and McTigue look to be comers. Mac lacks control but it is expected that he will grow better the more he pitches.

After the season Bill appeared on Boston’s reserve list, and in the 1911 Nashville directory, where he is listed as a clerk at 704 Broadway, still living on 15^th Avenue with John, still a businessman/councilman, Charles, now an assistant city recorder (presumably due to Dad’s influence), and John Jr., now a bookkeeper at 704 Broadway.

From the Boston Herald of January 26, 1912:

A contract was received from Willliam McTigue, the south-paw pitcher. McTigue’s home is in Nashville, Tenn., and is known as “Rebel” [his home is?]. President Ward and Manager Kling are of the opinion that he will be a very valuable twirler this coming summer. McTigue was so well thought of last year that McGraw of the Giants, in talking with President Ward a month ago, asked if he wanted to let go of a youngster, a south-paw, by the name of McTigue. Ward, who had seen the youngster, who is only 20 years old, stands 6 feet 1 ½ inches and weighs 160 pounds, pitch against New York, was very much impressed with his work and believes that with another year’s experience he will be a first-class man. Lack of control was his fault last summer.

Same paper, March 10:

Bill McTigue, who had everything but control, will show the entire staff up if he can correct his one fault, wildness. Not a pitcher on the roster of the club has the speed and fine assortment of “hooks” of this wiry young southerner, and Manager Kling believes he will be able to locate the plate this season, and that he will be a winning twirler.

Boston report, Sporting Life, March 16:

Duke Farrell has taken pitcher McTigue in tow and is trying to overcome the latter’s wildness, or rather lack of control [an important distinction?], which bothered him so much last season. The Duke has suggested an overhand movement instead of the sidearm affair McTigue used last year. The pitcher has tried it with good success and says he will stick to it.

Bill made the team, now known as the Braves, again not pitching until the team’s 17^th game. He made six relief appearances during May, at the end of which he had an 11.45 ERA in 11 innings, with 12 walks—so much for the overhand movement. On June 8 he was released on option to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class AA International League. On June 22 Sporting Life’s Boston correspondent wrote:

McTigue, the left-handed pitcher, was sent to Stallings, in Buffalo and started out by winning his first game for the Bisons, holding the Montreal Club down to four hits. A season with Stallings ought to do him a lot of good. Doubtless the club has some understanding with Buffalo by which it can recall McTigue if he develops.

Bill started regularly for Buffalo, but had a three-game stretch over which he lasted a total of 3 2/3 innings. Around the beginning of July he was moved to Montreal, where he pitched much better, and also played some center field. He finished the International League season with an 11-12 record, with 92 walks and 145 strikeouts in 171 2/3 innings, pitching in 32 games while playing center in ten. He hit .313 in 99 at-bats, slugging .455.

Bill was then called back up to Boston. He pitched in relief on September 26 and 28 and on October 2, the last of which was a 7 2/3 inning stint against Brooklyn in which he got his first major league win. Three days later he got the start in the final game of the year, and got an 11-7 complete game win against the Phillies; at the plate he had a single and a walk, scored a run, and drove one in. Only five of Philadelphia’s runs were earned, which brought Bill’s season ERA down to 5.45 in 34 2/3 innings in ten games, with 17 strikeouts and 18 walks.

On the day of that final game of the season, the following appeared in the Boston Herald:

REBEL MCTIGUE TO WED

Announcement is made of the engagement of Miss Anne Farmer Sawyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Leon Sawyer of Harris street, Brookline, to William Percy McTigue, a member of the pitching staff of the Boston Nationals. Mr. McTigue is the son of John T. McTigue of Nashville, Tenn., long prominent in the politics of Tennessee, and brother of Charles H. McTigue, city recorder of Nashville. He withdrew from the University of the South to enter professional baseball. Miss Sawyer was formerly a resident of Dorchester, and was graduated in 1908 from the Dorchester High School.

The wedding took place three days later, October 8, in New London, Connecticut, as Sporting Life reported on December 7:

Boston National Player Elopes.

Boston, Mass., November 30.—William Percy McTigue, of Nashville, Tenn., the young left-hand pitcher of the Boston Nationals, was secretly married six weeks ago to Anna Farmer Sawyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Leon Sawyer, of No. 42 Harris street, Brookline. Belated announcements of the wedding were received here this week. The two were married in London, Conn., October 8, just three days after their engagement was announced.

Also Sporting Life, January 4, 1913, from the Boston report:

In the case of “Rebel” McTigue, the left-handed pitcher, a little hold-out has developed. McTigue had plenty of stuff on the Spring trip, but he lacked control and was sent to the Montreal Club to ripen up. He did very well in the International League and was recalled at the end of the season and showed well for the Braves. His contract calls for more money than he received last year, but the player has returned it and has asked for more money. There are no threats to quit and it is expected the matter will be adjusted to the player’s satisfaction.

Bill did eventually sign a contract and go to spring training with the Braves. On March 18 the Springfield Daily News ran a feature ranking the Braves’ players; they ranked Bill ninth of the 12 pitchers in camp, saying:

Bill McTigue—Bill must rank down here for the present, because of his weak physical condition. He needs weight badly and cannot hope to stand the wear of a big league full nine-inning game without more weight. Finds it hard to shake off aftermaths of Winter grippe attack.

Bill made the team, and on April 17, the second game of the season, he made his only major league non-pitching appearance. In the bottom of the ninth in a home game against the Giants, Cy Seymour pinch-hit for catcher Bill Rariden and hit a two-run double off Christy Mathewson to tie the game at 2-2. Bill came in to run for Seymour but wasn’t able to come around to score, and the Giants won it 3-2 in ten innings.

Bill then sat on the bench until May 12, when he was sold back to the International League, this time with the Baltimore Orioles. He did some starting and some relieving until persistent illness ended his season in late June; he had an 8-5 record in 64 1/3 innings in 14 games, walking 34. The August 9 Sporting Life quoted the Baltimore Sun as saying:

McTigue’s illness has been a great drawback to the team. He is a good pitcher when right.

The 1913 Nashville City Directory shows Bill as a cashier at the Colonial Billiard Parlor. On September 29 son Willliam Benton McTigue was born in Brookline, Massachusetts; Bill and Anna’s address was given as 42 Harris Street, her parents’ house. From the December 20 Sporting Life:

BALTIMORE PITCHER SIGNS

BALTIMORE, Md., December 15.—Manager Jack Dunn, of the Baltimore Club, has received the signed contract of “Lefty” McTigue. The pitcher said he appreciated the treatment received last season while he was ill and unable to work.

Also Sporting Life, March 14, 1914:

George [sic] McTigue, formerly of the Braves’ pitching staff, and now under contract with the Baltimore International League team, is too ill to report for Spring practice with the other Orioles at Fayetteville, N.C., and it is considered doubtful whether he will be able to pitch at all this season.

And August 29, 1914:

CLAIMS AGAINST BALTIMORE CLUB

BALTIMORE. Md., August 22.—Editor “Sporting Life”—Although this has been a poor season for Jack Dunn, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, two former players have been trying to collect money from him before the National commission. Fans, no doubt, will be surprised to learn that pitcher Bill McTigue is one of them. About a month ago, McTigue, who, unfortunately, is in a sanitorium in Tennessee, said to be suffering with tuberculosis, filed a claim against Dunn, asking for this season’s salary. While everyone feels sorry for the pitcher, it is hard to see how he could expect Dunn to pay him for work which he has not done. McTigue came here from the Boston Braves [in 1913] and soon after his arrival in Baltimore suffered an attack of typhoid fever. He returned to his home and although he had worked in only a very few games Dunn sent him a full year’s salary. During the last two months of the race McTigue was not even with the club, but he got his money just the same. This Spring it was learned that he was not strong enough to play ball and now he has filed a claim for his salary…

Bill’s claim against the Orioles was rejected. From Sporting Life, January 30, 1915:

Pitcher Pud McTigue, who quit the game a year or so ago while a member of the Baltimore Internationals, has been released to Nashville by Jack Dunn. McTigue has recovered his health and expects to make a good showing in the Southern League this year.

By the time the season started Bill was not with Nashville but with his fourth International League team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had an uneventful but successful season, the effects of his illness seemingly worn off, going 17-10 in 240 2/3 innings in 34 games. He walked just 90 batters, great by his past standards; the league stats don’t include earned runs, but he allowed just 3.40 runs per nine innings so his ERA was probably under 3. He also had a good year at the bat, hitting .287/.337/.500 with five home runs in 94 at-bats—this was excellent power at that time, as the league leader hit 14 and Bill’s homer frequency was much higher than anyone else in the league.

In November Bill was sold to the Detroit Tigers. Sporting Life’s Detroit correspondent reported in their December 4 issue:

Before leaving for the East President Navin signed Bill McTigue, a left-hand pitcher, who was with Toronto last season and who has seen previous big league service with the Boston Braves, to a Detroit contract. The Toronto Club gave Detroit permission to dicker with the pitcher, as he has determined to cast his lot with the Federals. Detroit gives Toronto a cash sum and also must send one player to the International League club after the training season is ended. McTigue accepted a smaller salary from Detroit than the Feds offered him, realizing the seriousness of the situation. The independents wanted him a year ago, but passed him up after he had been afflicted by typhoid fever and seemed to be down and out. Toronto took a chance on him. He made good. Now Toronto wins as Detroit will deal liberally with President McCaffrey.

Bill was right not to sign with the Federal League, which folded before the 1916 season. He went to spring training with the Tigers, and on March 23 the Providence Evening Bulletin ran an endorsement by Detroit catcher Oscar Stanage:

STANAGE SAYS McTIGUE WILL GET DETROIT BERTH

Waco, Tex., March 23.—“This fellow is more like Ed Killian than any left-hander I’ve caught since I joined the Detroit club. In Saturday’s game he showed me more stuff than any southpaw that we’ve had in my eight years as a Tiger. He throws his curve, his fast ball and his slow one all with the same motion. You’ll remember, also, that Killian helped to win a lot of his own games by his own batting. And you probably will recall the way Mac has been hitting and how he hit on Saturday.”

Oscar Stanage, dean of the Detroit backstopping department, was the speaker, and, before this morning’s workout, was discussing Bill McTigue, whom Detroit got from Toronto, and who had previous big league experience with the Boston Nationals. Stanage says that there isn’t a chance for this southpaw to go back, and says he will stand back of that statement. He looks for him to be paired with Coveleskie, in the southpaw department.

McTigue didn’t make much of an impression when he first came here. He’s one of the lightest men on the squad. He was slow to get his arm into shape. In that he was wise, as he knew that he had plenty of time, and was able to gauge the date on which he would need to be right. At bat, in early practice, he looked like a joke.

About a week ago he got going, both as a slabbist and as a swattist. Now he’s one of the most dangerous hitters on the squad. He drives to right field almost invariably and hits on a line. In the International League last season he batted .287. He had 26 safeties, and of these five were home runs. He drove the ball into the Toronto right field bleachers four times and hit it into the river, at Harrisburg, once.

This fellow, if he continues to improve on the slab, has a grand chance to stick for another season. Kavanaugh, Heilman and Maisel, all are right-handed hitters. McTigue hits left handed. His only rival on this line is Harper, who also bats from the near side of the plate.

Harper can hit left-handers. He has proven this. McTigue thinks that he can’t. Jennings is trying to make him think that he can. If he gets this idea in his mind he may prove what Stanage claims—that he is a second Killian. And Detroit never had a gamer pitcher than Ed, nor one who was more valuable for all round work.

Scranton Republican, April 6:

Bill McTigue, Detroit pitcher, has the right dope on Benny Kauff and proved it in a recent game. He says that Benny is a first-ball hitter, and that if a pitcher makes that one a poor one Benny loses a lot of his effectiveness. “He has been press agented so much,” says McTigue, “that he can’t wait to get a crack at that old pill.”

The Tigers’ season opened on April 12. On April 22 Sporting Life quoted Detroit manager Hughie Jennings as saying: “McTigue, the Toronto southpaw, has the earmarks of a big league hurler.” On April 30 Bill finally got into a game, the team’s 15^th of the year, at home against Cleveland. He came in with one out in the second, the Tigers’ third pitcher of the game, and allowed two inherited runners to score to make the score 6-0. He lasted 3 2/3 innings before being hit for, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks.

Two days later Bill pitched a perfect ninth inning in another loss to Cleveland. Three days after that, at home against the Browns, he pitched two thirds of an inning and gave up three runs, though only one was earned. Two days after that, May 7, he was released back to Toronto and his major league career was over; for Detroit he had a 5.06 ERA in 5 1/3 innings.

With the Maple Leafs Bill went 16-15 with a 1.96 ERA in 290 innings in 38 games, walking 88 and striking out a league-leading 187, 35 more than the second-place finisher, his teammate Urban Shocker. He also played 14 games in the outfield, and hit .299/.324/.402.

In January 1917 Bill was sold to the Chicago Cubs. On March 3 the following appeared in the “Looking ‘Em Over With Harold V. Wilcox” column in the Detroit Times:

Bushers and Big Leaguers

A few fellows who are tried out and sent back are big leaguers at heart, but lack the skill. Such a one was Bill McTigue, a southpaw pitcher who was with the Tigers last year, with the Braves off and on for four years before, and with the Cubs in California this spring. McTigue and Cunningham were used freely against the Giants in the exhibition games. Bill pitched major league ball against the men of McGraw. He mixed up his deliveries as he should. He made the runners hug the bases. He worked like Coveleskie would. But he was walloped unmercifully. Without polish and making many tactical errors, Cunningham slammed that spitter of his over. His performance was faulty in the extreme, but he made the Giants eat out of his hand. McTigue had everything but the stuff, and Cunningham had the stuff and nothing else, barring a doggedness that makes him try even tho he is quaking.

San Diego Tribune, March 15:

Sidelights on the Cubs in Training Camp

By Charles Dryden

…When the hour for repose arrived [in Sacramento], Bill McTigue and Artie Shaw were assigned to a room containing one small bed. Being the bigger and stronger, Bill copped the bunk and Artie was getting ready to sleep on the floor. He happened to open a closet door, from which a disappearing bed emerged and cracked him on the nose. Artie flopped into the blankets still arrayed in light marching order, meaning uniform and spiked shoes. He figured Tip O’Neill had another quick start framed up for the morning.

On March 24 the Salt Lake Tribune reported on an exhibition game between the Cubs and the San Francisco Seals: “Bill McTigue appeared in a ditch digger’s shirt, the red sleeves of which dazzled the local thumpers for a while.” On April 16 Bill was released to the Providence Grays, his fifth International League team. From the August 27 Brantford Daily Exposition, reporting on the previous day’s doubleheader between Providence and Toronto:

In the second Toronto inning of the second game “Bill” McTigue, the tall southpaw of the Grays, who was formerly a member of the Leafs, caused no little amusement when a close decision went against Providence by hoisting a white flag—a towel draped on a bat.

Bill seems to have spent the entire season with Providence, yet pitched just 124 innings in 21 games; he went 7-4 with a 2.47 ERA. He hit .313 with five triples in 64 at-bats. On May 25 he had filled out his draft registration card, giving his family’s 15^th Avenue address in Nashville. He claimed exemption from the draft on grounds of having dependents, and gave his appearance as medium height, medium build, blue eyes and light hair.

On November 21 the Arkansas Democrat reported:

Mike Finn, skipper of the [Chattanooga] Lookouts, stopped off in Nashville several days ago to confer with “Pud” McTigue, the Nashville sidewheeler, who heaved last season for Providence in the International League, and Dawson Graham, who played first base for Nap Lajoie’s Toronto club, and who was Traveler property a few days last season. No agreement was reached between the Chattanooga boss and the International performers, but Finn is said to have admitted that the prospects of McTigue southpawing in Lookout livery next season was bright…

Atlanta Journal, February 23, 1918:

‘Pud’ McTigue Bought By Atlanta Crackers From Providence Team

…McTigue has one of the fastest balls in captivity, and he has had two tryouts with the big leagues. His wildness has been the rock that has foundered him, but during the past two years he has mastered this to a considerable extent. McTigue is still a kid and has many years of baseball ahead of him. He ought to be a great star in this league.

Bill went to spring training with the Crackers, but got sick and went home. He rejoined the team in late April and lost two starts in May; on May 23 the Knoxville Sentinel reported:

“PUD” McTIGUE TURNED BACK TO PROVIDENCE

ATLANTA, May 23—Pud McTigue was turned back to the Providence club of the International league from whom he was purchased by the Crackers. Pud was unable to regain his health and strength.

However, somehow he rejoined Atlanta again, relieved on June 4, and lost a complete game on June 6. On June 8 the Arkansas Gazette reported:

Pitcher Pud McTigue, the Atlanta flinger, who hasn’t been doing any very effective flinging, is said to be ready to try the outfield. Pud says that he can hit and chase flies if he can’t pitch any more.

But that seems to have been the end of Bill’s career. The 1918 Nashville directory contained this listing:

JOHN T. McTIGUE AND SONS (Successors to Goodrich & McTigue) (John T Edward B John T Jr and Wm P) Tin and Slate Roofing Galvanized Iron Cornice and Skylights 622 Broadway Phone Main 335

The four partners at McTigue and Sons were all living in the house on 15^th Avenue.

Bill’s tuberculosis returned, and he and his family moved to San Antonio for the climate. The 1920 census was taken on January 10, and it finds the McTigues at 305 Goliad Street in San Antonio, sharing the house with their landlady, Eleanor Ryan. Bill is doing clerical work for the government. Soon after that they returned to Nashville, where Bill passed away on May 6. 

His death was widely reported on May 7, but somehow the San Antonio Light didn’t get around to it until May 23:

MOURN “PUD” M’TIGUE

San Antonians Who Knew Him Realize Great Loss to Baseball.

Many friends, made here during the last few months of his life, are bemoaning the death in Nashville, Tenn., of William (“Pud”) McTigue at one time, before falling victim to the ravishes [sic] of the great white plague, one of the most promising pitchers in baseball.

McTigue spent several months here last year in a vain effort to regain his health and made many friends among the followers of baseball. He went so far as to sign with the San Antonio club, believing that the climate was bringing back his strength and that by this season he would be able with careful work, to regain the pinnacle he reached on the hill.

It was to McTigue’s speed that Joe Tinker referred when he uttered that celebrated baseball phrase “You cannot hit something you cannot see.” Baseball critics over the country agreed that no left-hander ever showed the major leagues more stuff than McTigue except “Rube” Waddell. McTigue’s career with the Boston Braves was cut short, however, by the disease that rapidly sapped his strength.

Fans everywhere are mourning Bill as what the Nashville Tennessean calls “the greatest unsuccessful pitcher who ever lived.”

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmctib101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mctigbi01.shtml