Tiernan patrolled the Giants outfield for 13 seasons at a time when players generally flitted from team to team. The low-keyed, lefthanded slugger spent the last half of his career tolerating Giants owner Andrew Freedman, an early baseball tyrant. Tiernan broke in as a left fielder in 1887, batted .287, and even pitched five games in relief. On May 16 he tied a major league record with five outfield errors in a game; on June 15 he tied the NL mark of six runs scored in a game.
Tiernan starred in right field on the 1888-89 New York pennant-winners, leading the league with 147 runs and 96 walks in '89. In 1891 he won the NL home run crown with 17. He topped the .300 mark seven times, with a high of .369 in 1896. In 1899 he was let go after batting .255 as a part-timer. (AJA)
Contribute your recollections of Mike Tiernan by clicking here.
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 16th, 1887: Giants rookie Mike Tiernan makes 5 errors, tying the ML record for an OF. But he contributes a HR as New York beats Indianapolis 11-8.
»June 17th, 1887: Boston scores 10 runs in the 10th inning to beat New York 19-9, relief P Mike Tiernan taking the beating.
BALLPLAYERS | TEAMS | CHRONOLOGY | TODAY | BOOKS | NEWSLETTER | ERRATA | FAQ
