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A minor league phenom who had an 18-strikeout game in the Western League and a 17-strikeout game in the American Association, O'Toole was purchased by Pittsburgh from St. Paul for a then exorbitant $22,500. In 1912, the spitballer was 15-17 with NL highs of six shutouts and 159 walks, and lost a pair of games to the Giants' Rube Marquard before sellout crowds. O'Toole's name ultimately became a metaphor for unsuccessful Pirate prospects. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 22, 1911: The Pirates pay St. Paul of the American Association $22,500 for righthander Marty O'Toole, the highest purchase to date. Barney Dreyfuss spends another $5,000 for his batterymate Billy Kelly. In 1912, O'Toole will be 15–17 and lead the NL with 159 walks. He will last only two more years. » July 1, 1912: At Pittsburgh, Chicago's Wildfire Schulte breaks up a scoreless pitching duel between Marty O'Toole and Jimmy Lavender by legging out an inside-the-park homer in the 12th inning. Lavender and the Cubs win, 1–0. » August 7, 1912: At Pittsburgh, the Pirates win their 3rd straight against the leading Giants, belting Christy Mathewson for 15 hits and six runs in eight innings. Spitballer Marty O'Toole allows seven hits to win, 7–2.