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.”

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