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O'Neill was a star slugger in the dead-ball era, a vital member of the St. Louis teams that won four straight American Association pennants, 1885-88. In 1887, the year a base on balls was counted as a hit and charged as an at-bat, O'Neill hit a league high .435, and was one of 11 players to bat more than .400. Even without that advantage, his performance that year was phenomenal: he led the league in hits, doubles, triples, home runs, runs scored, and slugging average. Because James O'Neill foul-tipped many balls in order to wait the pitchers, hoping they eventually would walk him and build up his average, he became known as "Tip". He was a hero to Irish-American fans, who frequently named their sons after him. The next year, when bases on balls were not considered hits, his league-leading average was .335. (JK)