Books and articles about Stuffy McInnis

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RELATED LINKS » 1914: The Miracle in Boston Photos » Photo: Master Strategist from The American League » Photo: The $100,000 Infield Plus One from The American League Around the Web » Fact of the Day ... A Story About John "Stuffy" McInnis from philadelphiaathletics.org Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Wearing the small, rounded mitt of his day, Stuffy McInnis set still-standing fielding records for first basemen: in 1921, playing for the Red Sox, he made only one error in 152 games for a .9993 fielding average; with the Red Sox and Indians over the course of 163 games in 1921-22, he accepted 1,700 chances without an error; his 1,300 errorless chances in 1921 set the record for a season. His reputation for skillful defensive play developed with the Athletics, with whom he first appeared as a shortstop in 1909. In 1911 he replaced Harry Davis at first base in the "$100,000 Infield," hooking up with Frank Baker, Eddie Collins, and Jack Barry for three pennant winners (1911, 1913, and 1914). He appeared with six league champions altogether; the Red Sox were AL champs his first year with them in 1918, and, when the Pirates picked him up in 1925 as an extra, they won the championship. McInnis batted over .300 in 12 of his 19 seasons, and in each year from 1910 to 1915. A righthanded line-drive pull hitter, he could punch the ball to the opposite field as well. He gained his nickname as a youngster in the Boston suburban leagues, where his spectacular playing brought shouts of "that's the stuff, kid." He quit as manager of the Phillies after one last-place season in 1927, and coached at Harvard for five years. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 12, 1909: Philadelphia's Shibe Park is dedicated as a record crowd of 31,160 sees 18-year-old John "Stuffy" McInnis make his ML debut at SS. Eddie Plank pitches the A's to an 8-1 win over Boston, allowing six hits. A's catcher Mike "Doc" Powers injures himself going after a foul pop, and after the game complains of intestinal pains (other versions have the pain due to a sandwich or twisting himself in an unusual fashion). The 38-year-old will be operated on tomorrow, but will not survive the month, the first ML death this century caused by an on-field injury. » April 29, 1911: In the Highlanders 10–6 loss to the A's, New York pitchers Hippo Vaughn and Jack Quinn throw just seven pitches to the A's Stuffy McInnis, who has five singles. Stuffy hits a first pitch three times and the 2nd pitch twice. » June 27, 1911: In the 7th inning at Huntington Avenue Grounds, the A's Stuffy McInnis steps into the batter's box to lead off and hits Ed Karger's warm-up pitch for an inside-the-park home run while the Red Sox are still taking their positions. Boston manager Patsy Donovan's protests to ump Ben Egan, but Egan rejects the protest on the basis of Ban Johnson's new rule prohibiting warm-up pitches. The A's win, 7–3. Ban Johnson's time-saving rule, which declares that pitchers must throw as soon as the batter is in the box, is soon withdrawn. » October 14, 1911: The Athletics go into the World Series minus their star rookie 1B Stuffy McInnis. The veteran Harry Davis replaces him and drives in the first run as Chief Bender tries again to outpitch Christy Mathewson. The Giants are dressed in the same black uniforms they wore in their 1905 conquest of the Mackmen, and this Series starts as their last meeting ended: Mathewson wins it 2–1. The largest crowd ever to watch a ball game—38,281—is at the Polo Grounds. Gate receipts are $77,379. » August 14, 1912: In game one against Vean Gregg, Stuffy McInnis has two inside-the-park home runs to pace the A's to an 8–3 win over Cleveland. Philadelphia takes the nitecap, 2–0. » January 10, 1918: Connie Mack alarms Philadelphia by dealing Stuffy McInnis, the last player in his $100,000 infield, to Boston for players to be announced. The furor dies down when Mack announces he has received 3B Larry Gardner, OF Clarence "Tilly" Walker, and C Hick Cady. » March 8, 1918: The Yankees buy 1B George Burns, 37, from Detroit, then swap him to the A's for another veteran Ping Bodie, 30. Burns will replace Stuffy McInnis, the last of the "$100,000 infield," who went to the Red Sox in January. » June 23, 1919: Red Sox 1B Stuffy McInnis makes his first error of the year after handling 526 chances. » May 30, 1921: Red Sox 1B Stuffy McInnis makes an error, the only one he will make all year. The next day he begins an errorless streak of 163 games and 1,625 chances. » October 2, 1921: The Yankees close the season by beating the Red Sox 7–6. Ruth hits No. 59, off Curt Fullerton; for the team it is No. 134. Stuffy McInnis completes his 119th consecutive errorless game at 1B (1300 chances), and Boston SS Everett Scott plays his 832nd consecutive game, a team record that will not be approached this century. The previous Red Sox mark was held by Buck Freeman (535) and Frank Malzone will accumulate the next highest with 475 games. » June 3, 1922: Indians 1B Stuffy McInnis makes an error, his first in 163 games. » April 13, 1925: Stuffy McInnis is released by the Braves. He'll sign with the Pirates, bat .368 in 59 games, and get into his 5th WS. » October 20, 1926: John "Stuffy" McInnis is named manager of the Phils succeeding Art Fletcher. Fletcher will sign on with the Yankees as coach. » October 3, 1948: Joe Sewell so dominated the low-strikeout records that part of the heroics of Lou Boudreau in this season is often missed. Boudreau finishes the year with only 9 strikeouts, the best record by a RH batter in the AL since Stuffy McInnis fanned just 5 times in 142 games in 1922.