Happy Finneran

Joseph Ignatius Finneran
(Smokey Joe)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 169 lb.

• Debut August 20, 1912
• Final Game September 1, 1918
• Born October 29, 1891 in East Orange, NJ USA
• Died February 3, 1942 in Orange, NJ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Manager Dooin and catcher Moran, both excellent judges of pitching, believe that the Philadelphia Club has picked up another Alexander in young Finneran, who joined the Phillies in Chicago. Finneran made an enviable reputation in Norfolk, Va., and all of the big league scouts were after him . . ." - Sporting Life, September 7, 1912

Joseph "Happy" Finneran pitched in three major leagues. He started in the National League in 1912, appearing in 14 games with the Philadelphia Phillies, and then returned for 3 games with the same team in 1913. Moving over to the Federal League in 1914, he went 12-11 with the Brooklyn Tip-Tops and followed that up by going 10-12 with them in 1915. After a couple of years in the minors with the St. Paul Saints, he showed up in the American League in 1918, appearing in 5 games with the Detroit Tigers and 23 games with the New York Yankees.

Joe started his minor league career in 1911, going 21-15 for the Norfolk Tars. He followed that up with an 18-15 year for Norfolk in 1912, coming to the majors for the first time in August of that year. Most of 1913 was spent with the Lowell Grays, for whom he went 14-2. During his two years with St. Paul, he was 12-8 and 18-11. After his last major league stint, he had five more seasons in the minors, most notably going 14-4 for the 1919 Vernon Tigers and 20-11 for the 1920 Akron Buckeyes.

"Yankees twirler Happy Finneran was caught with a chunk of tallow in his glove during a May 29, 1918 contest against the A’s and the 'tallow ball' was born." - from an article at Seamheads about pitchers using substances on balls [1]

Notable Achievements

• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1915)