The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-05


writer Of FIVE exclusive sporting fe
afures IN addition to regular news
and views Of the tri.city sport field.
EDITOR. 4
BY BRUCE COPELAND.
George McQuillan. new manager
Of the Rock Island club OF the
Three-Eye league, was born in 1885
in Brooklyn, N. Y. He displayed
rare pitching talent at an early age
and was the hero of many a school
boy and sandlot diamond tussle.
OF recent years, there has been
misconception regarding McQuil-
lan's age, due largely to the fact
that he began playing professional
baseball with the Paterson club of
the old Hudson River league in
1904, when he was only 10 years
old.
McQuillan is Sc years old today
after II years in baseball. Fans
have been misled to believe that Nc
Quillan was nearing middle age.
due in part to the deception of the
baseball uniform and the facial
lines of anxiety and exertion which
tend to make any player appear
older on the lield than he really is.
His First Job.
The fame of the youthful pitcher
spread to Paterson in 1904, and Nc
Quillan was offered a job with the
Hudson River league club managed
by Dan Brouthers, demon slagger of
a generation or more ago. But
George began his career under a
cloud, so to, speak. His parents had
other ambitions for him; conse-
quently, he played that year in Pat
erson under the assumed name OF
Mack.
There is no available record Of
games won and lost by McQuillan
while in Paterson, although he pro-
fesses to have worked in his regular
share of games. However, he made
good right off the reel and estab-
lished an enviable reputation as a
promising young Highlander.
The following year, 1905, McQuil-
Ian was signed by Jersey City of the
old Eastern league, and released
later to the New Bedford club OF
the old New England league, which
was presided over by the late Tim
Murname, pioneer major Lacquer
and veteran Boston sport writer
BY that time, George had overcome
parental objections to a baseball
career and he resumed playing
under his right name.
Back and Forth.
McQuillan pitched seven games
for the old Jersey City Skeeters that
year, winning five and losing two
He finished the season with the New
Bedford Whalers, winning "A and
losing seven. He was recalled by
Jersey City at the end Of the New
England league season, and in 1906
he went through the entire season
with the Skeeters, winning Is and
losing nine.
Major league scouts bid high for
the youngster in 1906. His known
record for three years was: "a won
II lost, for a percentage of 1855
Thus, McQuillan had won two
thirds of his games-an attractive
record to any major league club
seeking young blood.
Charlie Murray of the Phillies.
outbid the fell for McQuiflan's ser
vices and he joined the Philadelphia
club in the spring Of 1907. How
ever, his promotion was short-lived
for on May 1 that year he was
farmed out to Providence in the
Eastern league, where he astcunded
close watchers again by winning Is
games and losing only seven.
His Greatest Year.
McQuillan considers the follow
ing year, 1908, his best year in base
ball. He was recalled by the Phil
lies at the close of the Eastern
league season and started off as a
Phillie regular in the spring OF
1905. He won % games that year
for the Quakers-the best pitcher
on the club, but the unluckiest
twirler of the year In both leagues
The Philadelphia Nationals that
year were regarded generally as a
dub" outfit, and McQuillan's trusty
right arm, bore the burden Of prac-
tically the entire club up to the
final games OF the season. Thai
season, with all the glories he won
almost single handed, was replete
with heart breaking reverses for the
brilliant starboard-sider. He was
credited with II defeats. eight Of
which were by score Of 10.
Harry Coveleskie, older brother
Of Stanley Coveleskie, star Cleveland
spftballer. gained renown that veal
as the Giant Killer" so designated
because, as a teammate Of McQuil.
Ian, he defeated the New Yorl
Giants in three crucial games Of
the same series at the end OF the
season. feat which cost the
Giants the pennant 1t will be re.
called that tbs Phiilies took the en-
tire series from the Giants-foul
straight. Coveleskie won three,
McQuillan one.
Strain Regins to Tell.
The strain of pitching heroicallJ
for . losing team in 1908 seemed II
tell on McQuillan in 1903. when. TO,
the Afst time in six years, he lost
more games than he could win. los
ing Is out Of 80, or winning 13. HI
local committee to conduct such I