Books and articles about George McQuinn

McQuinn was a solid-hitting, excellent-fielding, lefthanded first baseman who spent seven years in the Yankee farm system while Lou Gehrig reigned in New York. Drafted by the Browns in 1937, he put together a 34-game hitting streak in 1938, finishing at .324. He remained a St. Louis regular for eight years, leading AL first basemen in fielding three times and in assists twice. In 1944 his opening game home run gave the Browns their first-ever World Series victory.

McQuinn was 4F in the WWII draft because of a bad back, but was reclassified in 1945 when 4F athletes were targeted for service. Through the intervention of Illinois congressman Melvin Price (requested by the Browns) and Happy Chandler, McQuinn and others who were legitimately unable to meet combat requirements were allowed to stay with their teams.

With Gehrig long gone, McQuinn played first base for the Yankees in 1947-48, and was a starting All-Star both seasons. He set All-Star records with 14 putouts and 14 total chances accepted at first base in the 1948 contest. He went on to manage in the minors and scout for the Senators and Expos. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 25, 1938: St. Louis Browns' George McQuinn's 34-game hitting string is stopped seven short of George Sisler's AL record. » May 23, 1940: In front of just 793 paid customers in St. Louis, the Browns trip the Senators, 8–7, in 12 innings. Jimmy Bloodworth's 2-run home run gives the Nats the lead in the top of the 12th, but the George McQuinn's 2nd homer of the day, a single, and a triple by Rip Radcliff, who scores on a sac fly gives St. Louis the win over Sid Hudson. » October 4, 1944: The first all-St. Louis WS opens with the Browns beating the Cardinals 2-1 on George McQuinn's HR. Denny Galehouse is the winning P. It is the first Series in which all the games are played west of the Mississippi River. The Series is dubbed the Streetcar Series and is played with no days off. » December 10, 1946: The Yankees sign veteran 1B George McQuinn, recently released by the A's. The 36-year-old has two good years left in him and will hit .304 with 80 RBI in 1947. » May 17, 1947: The Yanks win a pair from the White Sox by 4–3 scores. Spec Shea wins the opener, collecting three hits a two runs scored. Joe DiMaggio's homer in the bottom of the 9th, off Maltzberger, is the winner. Bill Dickey has a pair of hits and a stolen base for the White Sox. In the nitecap, George McQuinn has three hits and scores the winning run in the 8th to break up the pitching duel between Spud Chandler and Chicago' Ed Lopat. » May 31, 1948: The Senators, fresh from four wins over the Red Sox, drop a pair to the host Yankees before 62,626. Spec Shea allows just two hits in coasting in the opener, 10–0. The Yanks collect 16 hits, including homers by Tommy Henrich and George McQuinn. The Yanks take the nitecap, 5-4, as Red Embree makes a rare start. Bobby Brown makes seven straight hits in the two games, making out his first and last at-bats.