| Marty McHale | |
|---|---|
 McHale during the 1913 season | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1886-10-30)October 30, 1886 Stoneham, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| Died: May 7, 1979(1979-05-07) (aged 92) Hempstead, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 28, 1910, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 8, 1916, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 11–30 |
| Strikeouts | 131 |
| Earned run average | 3.57 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Martin Joseph McHale (October 30, 1886 – May 7, 1979) was an American professionalbaseballpitcher who played for theBoston Red Sox,New York Yankees andCleveland Indians inMajor League Baseball between 1910 and 1916. He also performed professionally invaudeville and worked as astockbroker.
McHale was born inStoneham, Massachusetts, as the third of five children born to Kate and Patrick McHale.[1] He graduated fromStoneham High School.[2] He attended theUniversity of Maine and he playedcollege baseball,college football, andtrack and field for theMaine Black Bears.[1] While pitching for thebaseball team, he threw three consecutiveno-hitters in 1910.[1][3]
Out of college, McHale received contract offers from a few differentMajor League Baseball teams, and chose to sign with theBoston Red Sox in May 1910,[4] for a $2,000signing bonus.[5] He made his professional debut with theBrockton Shoemakers of theClass BNew England League.[6] McHale made his major league debut on September 28, 1910.[1] He had a 0–2win–loss record and a 4.61earned run average (ERA) in twogames started for Boston in 1910,[7] and a 0–0 record and a 9.64 ERA in four games for the Red Sox in 1911.[8] The Red Sox sold McHale to theJersey City Skeeters of theClass AAInternational League before the 1912 season, along withHenri Rondeau,Hap Myers,Billy Purtell,Walter Lonergan,Jack Killilay, andSteve White, forHugh Bedient.[9][10] He spent the 1912 season with Jersey City.[11]
After beginning the 1913 season with Jersey City, theNew York Yankees purchased McHale from the Skeeters for $6,000 in August 1913.[12][13] He pitched to a 2–4 record and a 2.96 ERA for the Yankees in 1913,[14] and a 6–16 record and a 2.97 ERA in 1914.[15]
McHale began the 1915 season with a 3–7 record and a 4.25 ERA,[16] and the Yankeeswaived McHale in July 1915.[17] The Yankees sold McHale to theMontreal Royals of the International League.[18] He finished the 1915 season with theRichmond Climbers of the International League. He had a 4–9 record with Montreal and Richmond.[1] The Yankees released McHale after the 1915 season.[19] He signed with Boston in February 1916,[20] and made two appearances for Boston[21] before he was released during the season. He signed with theCleveland Indians in May 1916,[22] and made five appearances, pitching to a 5.56 ERA for Cleveland,[23] before he was released in July.[24]
McHale performed professionally invaudeville, singing as atenor.[25] Before he signed with the Red Sox, he performed inminstrel shows and two-act sketch shows in Boston,Wakefield, andWinchester, Massachusetts. When he signed with the Red Sox, he formed the Red Sox Quartette with teammatesBuck O'Brien,Hugh Bradley, andLarry Gardner in 1910. Gardner left the group and was replaced by Bill Lyons, who was not a baseball player, but was signed to a contract with the Red Sox "to make the name of the act look proper", according to McHale.[5] They performed in local venues, includingKeith's Theatre, during the baseball offseasons.[26] The group disbanded in 1913.[1]
McHale teamed withMike Donlin, starting in 1914,[27] for an act they titled, "Right Off the Bat".[5] In 1918, McHale enlisted in theUnited States Army Air Service, serving as aLieutenant in the 22nd Regiment of Engineers.[28] After Donlin moved toHollywood to pursue his acting career, McHale continued to perform in a solo act.Variety once referred to McHale as "baseball's[Enrico] Caruso", andBabe Ruth called McHale "the best goddamn singer I ever heard!".[5]
After retiring from baseball, McHale wrote articles forThe Evening Sun, which were sold by theWheeler Syndicate to newspapers around the country.[5] In 1920, he became a stockbroker. He joined a firm before opening his own, which he operated until he retired in 1972.[1] He residedHempstead, New York, in his later life.[1]
McHale died in his home on May 7, 1979.[3] His brother, John, served on Hempstead'stown council.[29]
