Random Wednesday: John McCloskey
January 16, 2008 by Geoff Young
Filed under News
Today’s random player isn’t a player, it’s a manager. John McCloskey headed the Louisville Colonels, “leading” them to a 37-113 record in 1895 and for the first 19 games of 1896. He was replaced by Bill McGunnigle after a 17-5 loss to the Boston Beaneaters dropped the Colonels to 2-17 on the young season.
A decade later, McCloskey would receive a second chance. From 1906 to 1908 he managed the St. Louis Cardinals, who proceeded to lose 98, 101, and 105 games under his command.
McCloskey’s managerial record over parts of five seasons? A remarkable 190-417, good for a .313 winning percentage. Beyond that, information is sketchy. Note that this is not the same John McCloskey who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1906 and 1907.
Until next time…
Heck, what more information do you need? With that kind of record he should have been banned from every Little League team, never mind the majors.
I don’t understand why the Cardinal’s kept him for three years. They must have known something, because they still have a major league team and Louisville doesn’t.