Peter McNabb

Edward Jacob McNabb
(Pete; Texas)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut May 12, 1893
• Final Game August 11, 1893
• Born October 24, 1865 in Bedford, OH USA
• Died February 28, 1894 in Pittsburgh, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

On February 28, 1894, pitcher Peter McNabb met a woman named Louise Kellogg in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania hotel room. During an argument, he shot her before turning the gun on himself. She was paralyzed but initially survived (though eventually succumbed to her wounds); McNabb died instantly.

Peter pitched one year in the majors, going 8-7 for the Baltimore Orioles under manager Ned Hanlon in 1893. His ERA at 4.12 was better than the team's ERA at 4.97, and his WHIP was also somewhat better than the team WHIP. At age 27, he was much older than two young regulars on the team, John McGraw and Joe Kelley.

McNabb had four years in the minors, most impressively going 37-26 for two teams on the West Coast in 1892.

McNabb's death was front page news. Sporting Life's coverage of the events occurring on February 28, 1894 indicated that Louise Kellogg was the stage name of an actress who was married to a man who was a minor league president. She was associated with an acting troupe, while Peter had signed a contract to play for the Grand Rapids club in 1894. Peter and Louise checked into a hotel as husband and wife, and Peter spent part of the evening with a former ballplayer named Lou Gilliland. When Peter and Gilliland came back to the hotel, Louise also returned to the hotel and she went upstairs with Peter. Only a few minutes later gunshots were fired. McNabb's home was said to be Mount Vernon, OH. A later issue stated that Peter, who had lived with Louise for several years, accused Louise of being in love with Gilliland.

"Reminders of Murderer McNabb. By the suicide . . . of E.J. McNabb Grand Rapids lost its strongest pitcher. McNabb played for a time with Baltimore last season and his work was very good. . . Grand Rapids . . . (agreed) to pay him the highest salary possible under the Western League agreement. . . He was known as the "Texas Cyclone". He has great speed and at times would pitch a phenomenal game of ball." - Sporting Life, March 10, 1894

Related Sites

• Pete McNabb at the SABR Bio Project