James McAleer | |
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Center fielder / Manager / Executive | |
Born: Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | July 10, 1864|
Died: April 29, 1931 Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | (aged 66)|
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 |
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]
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