Jimmy McAleer

James Robert McAleer
(Loafer)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut April 24, 1889
• Final Game July 8, 1907
• Born July 10, 1864 in Youngstown, OH USA
• Died April 29, 1931 in Youngstown, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

James Robert McAleer spent the bulk of his fourteen-year professional playing career with the Cleveland Spiders. He is regarded by some sports historians as an instrumental figure in the formation of the American League.

He became a member of a Youngstown minor league baseball club in 1882, remaining with the team until 1884. The following year, he joined another minor league club in Charleston, SC; and in 1887, he played for a team based in Memphis, TN. According to his obituary, McAleer's skill as a centerfielder was first recognized in 1888, when he was playing for a club in Milwaukee, WI. In addition to his playing in the majors, he umpired one National League game in 1893.

McAleer broke into the major leagues in Cleveland, OH, where he established a reputation as a graceful outfielder. In 1898, when the Spiders' owners purchased the St. Louis Browns franchise, McAleer opted to stay in Cleveland, taking a three-year hiatus from baseball until the Cleveland Blues franchise joined the newly-formed American League. He participated in only three games with the Blues, in 1901, before taking over as manager of the new league's St. Louis Browns (a different team than the National League club).

McAleer in 1912

McAleer lured players such as future Hall of Famers Jesse Burkett and Bobby Wallace and managed the Browns for eight years. He later served as manager of the Washington Senators, and was a major stockholder in the Boston Red Sox between 1912 and 1913. During his tenure as Washington's manager, he reportedly invited President William Howard Taft to throw the first-ever Presidential opening pitch (opening day, 1910, Senators v A's).

Following a bitter quarrel with Ban Johnson, president of the American League, however, McAleer sold his holdings in the Red Sox. McAleer's feud with Johnson turned out to be a lifelong affair, despite the efforts of legendary baseball manager Charlie Comiskey to smooth over the rift. He returned to his native Youngstown, where he died at the age 66.

An article in The Youngstown Daily Vindicator praised the ex-major leaguer in the following terms: "Forceful and resourceful, but always retiring when there was talk of his share in the development of baseball, James R. McAleer died within a matter of weeks after the passing of Byron Bancroft Johnson, his chief partner in the forming of the American League, and the man with whom he 'broke,' which break brought about his retirement."

Despite McAleer's varied career, his contributions to professional baseball have never been fully recognized. In 1936, in the first elections to the Hall of Fame, he received just one vote in the balloting for 19th-century figures.

Preceded by 1st manager

Cleveland Blues Manager 1900-1901

Succeeded by Bill Armour

Preceded by Hugh Duffy

St. Louis Browns Manager 1902-1909

Succeeded by Jack O'Connor

Preceded by Joe Cantillon

Washington Senators Manager 1910-1911

Succeeded by Clark Griffith

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Notes
1899	Youngstown Little Giants	Inter-State League		5th	none	replaced Harry Truby
1900	Cleveland Blues	American League	63-73	6th	none
1901	Cleveland Blues	American League	54-82	7th	Cleveland Blues
1902	St. Louis Browns	American League	78-58	2nd	St. Louis Browns
1903	St. Louis Browns	American League	65-74	6th	St. Louis Browns
1904	St. Louis Browns	American League	65-87	6th	St. Louis Browns
1905	St. Louis Browns	American League	54-99	8th	St. Louis Browns
1906	St. Louis Browns	American League	76-73	5th	St. Louis Browns
1907	St. Louis Browns	American League	69-83	6th	St. Louis Browns
1908	St. Louis Browns	American League	83-69	4th	St. Louis Browns
1909	St. Louis Browns	American League	61-89	7th	St. Louis Browns
1910	Washington Senators	American League	66-85	7th	Washington Senators
1911	Washington Senators	American League	64-90	7th	Washington Senators

References

• The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio, April 29, 1931.
• The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio, April 30, 1931.

Related Sites

• Jimmy McAleer at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Manager page