Tony Mullane
Tony Mullane was a gentleman playing the rough game of base ball in the 19th century. His regal manner and meticulously waxed handlebar mustache earned him the nickname "The Count." Popular with female fans, Mullane was a showman, often switching his delivery from his right-hand to his left-hand. Working in two-man rotations in the 1880s, the Irish right-hander won 30 games in five consecutive seasons. He won 284 games in his career, missing the magic 300 mark, which has helped keep him out of the Hall of Fame while other 19th century hurlers who were no better than he are enshrined.
Played For
Detroit Wolverines (1881)
Louisville, American Association (1882)
St. Louis Browns, National League (1883)
Toledo Blue Stockings, American Association (1884)
Cincinnati Red Stockings, American Association (1886-1889)
Cincinnati Reds (1890-1893)
Baltimore Orioles, National League (1893-1894)
Cleveland Spiders (1894)
Best Season: 1883
Pitching for St. Louis of the American Association, Mullane was 35-15 with 49 complete games and more than 460 innings pitched. He posted a 2.19 ERA - more than one full run below the league average.
Top-Dollar Tony
Mullane was a gentleman, but he was no pushover. He constantly battled team owners for more money, and in his first four professional seasons he played for four different teams. In 1881, Mullane pitched five games before he balked at his "temporary" contract and demanded a regular deal. The team released him. In 1882 he played for Louisville but was unhappy with his salary and jumped to St. Louis the following year for $1,400. After winning 35 games for St. Louis in 1883, Mullane wanted more money, held out, and eventually jumped to the Union Association. But before the season began, he hopped back to the American Association, signing a lucrative $2,500 contract with Toledo. When Toledo folded after the 1884 campaign, Mullane signed with Cincinnati for $5,000 — one of the richest contracts in the game, but only after he used St. Louis to drive up the price. But before the 1885 season began, St. Louis owner Chris Von der Ahe managed to convince the league to suspend Mullane for breech of contract. Returning in 1886, Mullane settled in for seven straight seasons with Cincinnati. In 1893, after Mullane bickered over his contract, the Reds traded him to Baltimore, where he stayed for nearly a full year before he was shipped to his final major league stop, Cleveland.
Description
Mullane was arguably the most popular player in baseball in the 1880s. His dark-featured good-looks attracted female fans to the ballpark. Sam Crane wrote that Mullane "was a very fine appearing fellow, and wore a heavy black mustache, as did Tim Keefe, and it was a toss-up between Tony and Tim as to which was the Adonis of the game."
Where He Played
Starting pitcher. Mullane also played 154 games in the outfield, and a handful of games at third base, first, and the middle infield.
Born
Anthony John Mullane was born on January 20, 1859, in Cork
Died
April 25, 1944, Chicago, IL
Batted: Both
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: CN2
Major League Debut
August 27, 1881
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1881
Coming soon...
Nicknames
Count, The Apollo Of The Box
"The Count" or "Count," and "The Apollo of the Box" because of his handsome features. Mullane was so popular with female fans that the Cincinnati Red Stockings instituted Ladies Day every Monday when he pitched.
Similar Players
Christy Mathewson had a similar personality: handsome, distinguished, and humble.
Related Players
Moses Fleetwood Walker, major league baseball's first black player, was Mullane's catcher in Toledo in 1884... Tim Keefe rivalled Mullane as the most popular gate-attraction of the 1880s... Charlie Comiskey played with Mullane on the 1883 Browns, and later signed Tony to play for one of his minor league teams in the early 1900s.
Feats
On June 30, 1892, Mullane pitched a 20-inning game that ended in a 7-7 tie... On September 11, 1882, he pitched a no-hit game against Cincinnati. The following day, Mullane held the same team hitless for six innings before surrendering a safety.
Milestones
Mullane missed one full season (1885) and parts of two others in contract disputes. Had he pitched he would have most likely won at least 30 more games, pushing him over the 300 mark. Every pitcher who has won 300 games is in the Hall of Fame. Mullane, with 284 (or 285 depending on the source), is on the outside looking in.
Notes
After his playing career, Mullane was a detective in the Chicago Police Department for several years.
Best Strength as a Player
He was an excellent all-around athlete. Sportswriter Sam Crane wrote that Mullane "relied mostly on his speed (pitch), and there were very few pitchers who had more than he did in his day and time. He was a fair batter, too, and was quite a speedy base runner."
Largest Weakness as a Player
None
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