Description
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Matty McIntyre
Born: June 12, 1880 Stonington, Connecticut
Died: April 2, 1920 (aged 39) Detroit, Michigan
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 175 lbs.
Positions: Leftfielder
Played For:
Philadelphia Athletics (1901)
Detroit Tigers (1904โ1910)
Chicago White Sox (1911โ1912)
Biography:
Born in Stonington, Connecticut, he helped the Tigers win the American League Pennant three times, from 1907 to 1909. He led the American League in singles(131), times on base (258), and runs (105) in 1908.
In 1,072 career games, McIntyre batted .269 with 562 runs, 1,066 hits, 140 doubles, 69 triples, 4 home runs, 319 RBI, 120 stolen bases, 439 walks, 1,356 total bases, and 87 sacrifice hits.
Due to the late August addition of Ty Cobb to the Tiger outfield, 1905 turned out to be a pivotal year for McIntyre. Within a week, the two were at odds. In the bottom of the ninth inning of a close game against the White Sox, Cobb overzealously pursued a fly ball that was in McIntyre’s territory which caused McIntyre to drop the ball and nearly lose the game. The play contributed to McIntyre taking a quick dislike of Cobb. Their feud escalated the following year as McIntyre actively participated in hazing the brash rookie and Cobb fought back.
Despite his impressive performance on the field, McIntyre may be best remembered as the leader of the “anti-Cobb” clique on the Tigers during Cobb’s early years. McIntyre joined the Tigers in 1904 and was a 26-year-old starter when 18-year-old Cobb joined the team in 1905. Early in Cobb’s rookie season, Cobb went after a flyball that was clearly in McIntyre’s left field territory. By cutting in front, Cobb caused McIntyre to drop the ball, infuriating McIntyre. McIntyre was a Connecticut Yankee who had little in common with the taciturn kid from Georgia. McIntyre and his cohorts led a prolonged hazing campaign, locking Cobb out of an empty washroom, flicking food at Cobb, and nailing his shoes to the clubhouse floor. Cobb’s legendary temper only added fuel to the fire, and the McIntyre-Cobb feud continued until McIntyre was sold to the White Sox after the 1910 season. (Cobb’s feud with McIntyre is documented in Al Stump’s 1994 book, “Cobb: The Life and Times of the Meanest Man Who Ever Played Baseball.”)
Following a siege of influenza, McIntyre died at age 39 on April 2, 1920, in St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit from Bright’s disease, a kidney ailment known today as nephritis. He was buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery on Staten Island and was survived by a wife, the former Grace Kennedy.
More info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matty_McIntyre
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcintma01.shtml
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/64d3d363
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