Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-04
BY JOHN II. GRUBER.

There have been many brilliant second
basenhen in the big leagues. that position
being really studded with stars. Among
the best of them must be counted John
Alexander McPhee, generally referred to
as Biddy McPhee, whose brilliant playing
was confined exclusively to the Cincin-
natl team. He covered the position for
eighteen years, something no other sec
ond baseman has done at any time or IN
any league. In the American Associa-
ton he shone Respondent, and when his
team was placed in the National League,
in 1890 he soon was recognized as one OF
the best although he had to compete
against stars whose briiliancy seemed
secure from invasion.
McPhee was born November /. 1888.
at Messina. y. y. and i'll every recent
sketch of his life the fact was not over
looked that Messina was also the piltn,
place of John I. Brush. the soul OF
the National League. Early in his life
his parents moved to keithburS, n.y.
and it was there Biddy picked up
knowledge of the game which IN later
years put him at the head OF his class.
Started as Backstop.
lie at~tirst hankered after the position
OF catcher and got his first JOB as such
with the Davenport team in 1873 he also
played with the same team IN 1879 behind
the bat. in right field and at second
base He was among the first catchers
of the many who made a success as in
fielders, especially as second basemen
In 1880 McPhee obtained a situation as
bookkeeper at Davenport when he re-
ceived more money than he did as Dali
player and liked the job, too. In the
summer of 1881 he was induced to go to
H. lrn
base for the team of that town. AT the
end of the season he was engaged the
Cincinnati club. a charter menber. OF
the American Association, which played
it's first games i'll tSS2-
Considerable persuasion was needea 10
induce him to leave. his job as booA-'
keeper, and when at last he DID sign. lhe
Cincinnati newspapers made the most OF
it, lauding him to the skies as an honest
man and the best second baseman in the
world His first game with Cincinnati
was the first the Reds played in the.
American Association. 1t was against
the Pittsburghs at Cincinnati May 2, 1882.
and the visitors won by a score OF ~ 10
Q. The winners, under the leadership of
AL Pratt hit the ball SO hard and often
as to gain for them the name OF slug
gers" In this his first game in fast
company, McPhee made very. poor
showing. Because of the Mandatory no.
tees in the papers. he was expected to
be perfect. but he was, as he tells 1t
himself, rotten" provoking boots and
jeeds from all corners of the grounds. 1t
was then he "got his Irish up, and from
the second game until he resigned from
the team in March. 1900, a. period OF
eighteen years, he was considered the
king bee of second baseman by Cmcin-
scattered over the country. No second
baseman and few PLAYERS in other posi-
tons lasted so long with any team. ., =
D1ouad pri1l;anf Roll
During his stay with the Reds, Biddy
necessarily took part in many games out
of the ordinary. June Is. 1893. he helped
his team to defeat the Louisvilles by
score of 30 to l.. This made total of
forty-two runs, the largest number scored
in National League game up to that
time, the Reds getting fourteen runs in
the first inning. Four years later, June
%, 1897. the Chicago and Louisville teams
broke the record by scoring forty three
runs, Chicago getting thirty-six and
Louisville seven. and this is the largest
number ever made in the National
League The thirty-six runs made by
Chicago, by the way, is also the largest
piled up by a team in the league.
McPhee also saw, undoubtedly with
much uneasiness. Tony Mullane give the
Washingtons twelve bases on balls on
MAY 81, 1898, but his team neverth eless
won by score of to ). On August 8.
1899. he certainly squirmed, when PINK
Hawley and Noodles Hahn, in a game
against Brooklyn, together gave twelve
bases on balls, five by Hawley and seven
by Hahn. But he had the satisfaction
not only of seeing his team win. "A to IL.
but also of seeing the. opposing pitchers.
Joe Yeager. Wild Bill Donovan and
Brickyard Bill Kennedy. issue nine free
passes. a total of twenty-one free gifts
in single game. This ought to be q