| James McAleer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Center fielder / Manager / Executive | |
| Born: July 10, 1864 Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: April 29, 1931 (aged 66) Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 24, 1889, for the Cleveland Spiders | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 8, 1907, for the St. Louis Browns | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .253 |
| Home runs | 12 |
| Runs batted in | 469 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
As player
As manager
As owner
| |
James Robert "Loafer" McAleer (July 10, 1864 – April 29, 1931) was an American center fielder, manager, and stockholder in Major League Baseball who assisted in establishing the American League.[1] He spent most of his 13-season playing career with the Cleveland Spiders,[2] and went on to manage the Cleveland Blues, St. Louis Browns, and Washington Senators. Shortly before his retirement, he became a major shareholder in the Boston Red Sox.[3] His career ended abruptly. During his brief tenure as co-owner of the Red Sox, McAleer quarreled with longtime friend and colleague Ban Johnson, president of the American League.[4] In the wake of this disagreement, he sold off his shares in the Red Sox and broke off his relationship with Major League Baseball.[5]
McAleer's rift with Johnson, along with his sudden retirement, damaged his professional reputation, and he received little recognition for his contributions to baseball.[5] Today, he is most often remembered for initiating the customary request that the President of the United States throw out the first ball of the season.[2]
- ^ "'Jimmy' McAleer Passes Away". The Christian Science Monitor. Associated Press. April 29, 1931.
- ^ a b "Jimmy McAleer". Baseball Biography. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
da74was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "McAleer Credited For Aiding Baseball". The Youngstown Vindicator. July 13, 1986. p. D-11.
- ^ a b Ward, Frank B. (April 29, 1931). "James R. McAleer Chiefly Responsible for Formation of American League". The Youngstown Daily Vindicator.