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Anthony John Mullane (January 30, 1859 – April 25, 1944), nicknamed "Count" and "the Apollo of the Box", was an Irish professional baseball player who pitched for seven major-league teams during 1881–1894. He is best known as a switch pitcher who could throw with either hand, and for having one of the highest career win totals of pitchers not in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Key Information

Career

[edit]

Born in County Cork, Ireland, Mullane emigrated to the United States in 1864. He made his major league debut with the Detroit Wolverines on August 27, 1881, picking up his first career win 9–1 over the Chicago White Stockings.

Mullane suffered an injury to his right arm and managed to teach himself to throw left handed. He resumed throwing right handed once the injury healed, and he even alternated throwing right handed and left handed in the same game, which was easy for him since he did not wear a glove. Mullane faced the batter with both hands on the ball, and then would use either one to throw a pitch. (It was over one hundred years before another ambidextrous pitcher, Greg A. Harris, using a special ambidextrous glove, was permitted to switch-pitch in one game shortly before he retired with the Montreal Expos. Harris was the only pitcher to do so in the 20th century. He had spent most of his career prohibited by the Boston Red Sox from pitching left handed.)

In 1882, Mullane moved on to the American Association and joined the Louisville Eclipse, where he started 55 of the team's 80 games and compiled a record of 30–24 with a 1.88 earned run average, the first of five consecutive 30-win seasons. On September 11, he pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Red Stockings. He recorded 35 victories with the 1883 St. Louis Browns.

In 1884, Mullane attempted to sign with the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association, a new independent league, even though under the reserve clause the Browns still had rights to his services. Threatened with banishment for defying his contract, Mullane relented. The Browns then sold him to the expansion Toledo Blue Stockings, with whom he won a career-high 36 games. That season, Mullane was teamed up with catcher Moses Fleetwood Walker, one of the first black men to play in Major League Baseball. Mullane stated Walker "was the best catcher I ever worked with, but I disliked a Negro and whenever I had to pitch to him I used to pitch anything I wanted without looking at his signals."[1] This helped contribute to Mullane's league-leading 63 wild pitches that season.[2]

The Browns attempted to reclaim Mullane after the 1884 season when both the Union Association and the Blue Stockings folded, but before the Browns could re-sign him under the rules, Mullane managed to sign with Cincinnati. For this action, the American Association suspended him for the entire 1885 season. Coming in the midst of his string of consecutive 30-win seasons, this may have cost Mullane a 300-win career.

Following the suspension, Mullane joined the Cincinnati Red Stockings for the 1886 season and remained there for the next seven and a half years, over which he won 163 games. At the plate, in 1889 he recorded career-highs with a .296 batting average, a slugging percentage of .418, and 24 stolen bases in 196 at-bats.

The 1893 season brought several rules changes, most notably the moving of the pitcher's mound an additional five feet from home plate. Mullane began the season a mediocre 6–6, and was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on June 16. He staggered to an 18–25 record with the Orioles in a little more than one full season over 1893 and 1894. Mullane set a dubious record on June 18, 1894, by allowing 16 runs in the first inning of a game against the Boston Beaneaters. A month later he was traded again, this time to the Cleveland Spiders, for whom he played only four games.

Mullane left the majors after the 1894 season with a record of 284–220 and a 3.05 ERA over a 13-year career. He played in the minor leagues on and off from 1895 to 1902. He also worked five games as an umpire. His 284 wins tie him with Ferguson Jenkins for 27th on the all-time list; he is fourth among eligible pitchers not in the Hall of Fame, behind only Roger Clemens (354), Bobby Mathews (297) and Tommy John (288). Mullane still holds the record for the most wild pitches in major league history, with 343.[3]

Post-career

[edit]

After his baseball career, Mullane joined the Chicago Police Department, from which he retired in 1924.[4] Mullane died at the age of 85 in Chicago, and is interred in grave 2, lot 48, block 5, section 58 at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery located in Worth, Illinois.[5] He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2010.

See also

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References

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Tony Mullane

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from Grokipedia
Anthony John Mullane (January 30, 1859 – April 25, 1944), commonly known as Tony Mullane, was an Irish-born pitcher who competed from 1881 to 1894, compiling 284 wins and a 3.05 while primarily pitching for mediocre teams in the National League and American Association. Renowned for his , Mullane became the first player to pitch with both hands in the same game on July 18, 1882, for the Louisville Eclipse against the Baltimore Orioles, showcasing his rare ability to throw effectively left- and right-handed. Nicknamed "the Count" and "the Apollo of the Box" for his striking physique and mound presence, he also pitched the first in American Association history on September 11, 1882. Mullane's career spanned teams including the , Louisville Eclipse, , Toledo Blue Stockings, , Baltimore Orioles, and , where he led the league in wins three times (30 in 1882, 35 in 1883, 36 in 1884) and posted standout seasons like his 2.19 in 1883. Despite these feats, his record was marred by frequent contract jumping, resulting in a 1885 suspension, and an accusation of game-fixing in 1886 from which he was later cleared. Emigrating from , , to the in 1862 and growing up in , Mullane transitioned post-retirement to umpiring and a long career as a policeman until his death.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Anthony John Mullane was born on January 30, 1859, in , . He was the eldest of four children born to Dennis Mullane, a laborer born in 1827, and Elizabeth Behan Mullane, a homemaker born in 1828. Mullane's younger siblings included two brothers, John (born 1860) and Michael (born 1862), and one sister, Mary (born 1864). The family resided in during his early years before emigrating to the amid the post-Famine era.

Immigration to the United States

Anthony John Mullane was born on January 30, 1859, in , , to Dennis Mullane (born 1827), a laborer, and Elizabeth Behan Mullane (born 1828), a homemaker. In 1862, when Mullane was three years old, his family emigrated to the amid the broader wave of Irish migration during the post-Great Famine era, settling in . The Mullane family at the time included , his parents, and a younger sister, Nora (born 1860 in ). Additional siblings were born after immigration: brother Sam in in 1865 and brother John in in 1874. Upon arrival in Erie, the family integrated into the local Irish-American community, where continued labor work, providing a stable environment for Anthony's early athletic pursuits. Mullane's exposure to began in Erie, where he played informally as a child, occasionally running away from home to join amateur games on local fields. This early immersion in the sport, facilitated by the family's relocation to a region with growing enthusiasm among working-class youth, laid the foundation for his future professional career.

Professional Career

Entry into Professional Baseball (1881–1883)

Mullane began his professional baseball career in 1881 with the Akron club of the League Alliance, a semi-professional circuit, before transitioning to the major-league of the National League in August. He made his major-league debut on August 27, 1881, against the Chicago White Stockings, securing a 9–1 victory in his first start. Over five appearances, all starts, for that season, Mullane recorded a 1–4 win–loss mark with a 4.91 (), reflecting his adjustment to National League competition amid rumors of potential moves to other teams like the Louisville Eclipse. In 1882, Mullane joined the Louisville Eclipse of the American Association, a rival major league to the National League, where he emerged as a workhorse . Starting 55 of the team's games, he achieved a 30–24 record with a 1.88 ERA over 460 , contributing significantly to the Eclipse's third-place finish despite the team's overall mediocrity. On July 18, 1882, against the Baltimore Orioles, Mullane became the first documented major-league to throw with both hands in a single game, switching from right to left in the fourth inning due to arm soreness without a fielder's , demonstrating his ambidextrous capability. Later that season, on , he pitched the American Association's first , a 2–0 against the , striking out 12 while issuing 10 walks. In August 1882, amid interest from multiple clubs, Mullane signed a contract with the of the American Association for the following year. Mullane's 1883 season with the St. Louis Browns solidified his status as an elite pitcher in the American Association, where he posted a league-leading 35–15 record with a 2.19 ERA in 53 appearances, including 49 starts. His workload exceeded 400 innings, underscoring the era's demands on pitchers, and he ranked among the league leaders in wins and strikeouts, though the Browns finished second overall. This period marked Mullane's rapid ascent from a late-season novice to a dominant starter across major leagues, facilitated by his versatility and endurance despite frequent team jumps driven by contract disputes.

Cincinnati Reds Era (1884–1889)

Following a dominant 1884 season with the Toledo Blue Stockings, where he recorded 36 wins and 325 strikeouts, Tony Mullane signed with the Cincinnati Reds on November 5, 1884, for an estimated $5,000 salary with a $2,000 advance. However, this contract violated a prior agreement with the St. Louis Browns, resulting in a one-year suspension and a $1,000 fine imposed by the American Association for contract jumping; Mullane was reinstated on October 2, 1885. Mullane debuted with the Reds in the 1886 American Association season, posting a 33-27 record with a 3.70 over 63 games and 529.2 , striking out 250 batters. Early in the season, on June 4, 1886, he faced accusations of intentionally losing a game against the Brooklyn Grays, but an American Association panel cleared him after he sued a newspaper for libel. In 1887, Mullane improved to 31 wins against 17 losses, with a 3.24 ERA in 48 games and 416.1 innings, though he led the league in wild pitches with 53. Mid-season, on May 1887, he was suspended without pay and fined $100 for insubordination amid salary disputes with management, but was reinstated later that year. Mullane's performance peaked in 1888, achieving a 26-16 record, 2.84 ERA, and 186 strikeouts in 44 games and 380.1 innings, contributing to the Reds' competitive standing in the AA. By 1889, signs of decline emerged as a pitcher, with an 11-9 record, 2.99 ERA in 33 games and 220 innings, while he also played 34 games in the field as a third baseman, outfielder, and first baseman, batting .296 with career highs in hits (97 in 1884, but strong offensive output noted).
YearTeamW-LERAGIPSO
1886CIN33-273.7063529.2250
1887CIN31-173.2448416.197
1888CIN26-162.8444380.1186
1889CIN11-92.9933220.0112

Later Team Affiliations (1890–1894)

Mullane continued pitching for the in the National League from 1890 through the early part of 1893, compiling a combined record of 39 wins and 29 losses with a 2.86 over those seasons. In 1890, he posted a 12-10 mark with a 2.24 in 25 games, primarily as a starter, while also appearing in the outfield and at multiple infield positions. His workload increased in 1891 to 51 games and 426.1 , yielding 23 wins against 26 losses and a 3.23 , though personal tragedies including the death of his son disrupted his season. By 1892, Mullane rebounded with a 21-13 record, 2.59 , and three shutouts in 37 appearances, despite internal team conflicts. On June 16, 1893, after starting the season 6-6 with a 4.41 in 15 games for , Mullane was traded to the Orioles in exchange for outfielder Piggy Ward and $1,500. With Baltimore, he went 12-16 in 34 games, maintaining a 4.45 over 244.2 , though the team struggled overall. His combined 1893 performance across both clubs resulted in 18 wins and 22 losses with a 4.44 . Mullane returned to for the 1894 season but experienced a sharp decline, recording 6 wins and 9 losses with a 6.31 in 21 games before his July 13 trade to the for pitcher John Clarkson. In four starts for , he managed just 1-2 with a 7.64 over 33 , and was released on August 4 amid health issues including blood poisoning from an ingrown toenail. His overall 1894 totals stood at 7-11 with a 6.59 in 25 games, marking the end of his major league career.
YearTeam(s)W-LGGSCGIP
1890CIN12-102.24252121209.0
1891CIN23-263.23514742426.1
1892CIN21-132.59373430295.0
1893CIN/BLN18-224.44493934367.0
1894BLN/CLV7-116.59251912155.2

Playing Style and Records

Ambidextrous Pitching Technique

Tony Mullane, a naturally right-handed , developed proficiency in throwing left-handed after injuring his right arm early in his career, enabling him to pitch ambidextrously as a contingency measure. This adaptation allowed him to maintain effectiveness despite arm strain, a common issue in the underhand pitching era of the before overhand delivery was fully legalized. On July 18, 1882, during a game with the Louisville Eclipse against the Baltimore Orioles in the American Association, Mullane became the first major league pitcher documented to use both hands in the same contest. He began right-handed but switched to his left hand starting in the fourth inning, completing the game without a fielder's glove to facilitate the transition. Contemporary reports noted his ability to grip the ball with both hands while facing batters, then deliver from either side, sometimes varying within an at-bat to exploit batter weaknesses. Mullane's technique relied on minimal —eschewing gloves permitted him to field barehanded and switch arms fluidly, though it increased risks and contributed to his career-leading 343 wild pitches. Unlike modern switch-pitchers who alternate per batter, Mullane's approach was opportunistic, driven by fatigue or tactical needs rather than strict protocols. This versatility extended his durability across 347 games, but records of mid-game switches beyond 1882 are sparse, suggesting it was not a routine practice.

Statistical Achievements and Milestones

Mullane recorded 284 wins and 220 losses over his 13-season major league career from 1881 to 1894, achieving an of 3.05 across 555 games (504 starts), with 468 complete games, 30 shutouts, and 1,803 strikeouts in 4,531⅓ . His win total ranks him among the top pitchers of the , though achieved primarily with non-contending teams in the American Association and National League. Additionally, Mullane amassed 661 as a , the highest total in major league history for players primarily known as hurlers. In 1884, Mullane posted his pinnacle season with the Toledo Blue Stockings, securing 36 victories against 26 defeats in 64 appearances, leading the in wins while completing 64 games and recording 7 shutouts. He also topped the in winning percentage (.581) during the 1883 season with the Louisville Eclipse. Mullane pitched the American Association's inaugural on September 11, 1882, blanking the 2-0; this feat occurred at the league's adopted pitching distance of 50 feet from home plate, marking the first such in major league history under those dimensions. Among league-leading statistics, Mullane paced the AA with 69 games pitched in 1882 and earned saves titles five times: 1883 (AA), 1888 (AA), 1889 (AA), 1890 (Players' League), and 1893 (NL).

Notable Performances

One of Mullane's most distinctive feats occurred on July 18, 1882, when, pitching for the Louisville Eclipse against the Baltimore Orioles in an American Association game, he became the first major league pitcher to throw with both hands without a fielder's glove. Starting right-handed, Mullane switched to his left hand in the fourth inning after the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs, retiring the side without allowing a run in that frame or thereafter, though Louisville ultimately lost 9-8. This ambidextrous display, leveraging his natural ability to throw effectively from either side, underscored his unique versatility amid an era of rudimentary equipment and pitching distances of 50 feet. Later that season, on September 11, 1882, Mullane pitched the first in American Association history, a 2-0 victory over the at Eclipse Park in Louisville. He allowed only two walks and one hit-by-pitch while striking out four, facing the minimum 27 batters after the third inning, with the Reds' lone baserunner erased on a . This performance capped a dominant 1882 campaign for Mullane, in which he posted a 1.88 over 459 innings and led the league with 149 strikeouts. Mullane's endurance shone in his 1884 season with the Toledo Blue Stockings, where he recorded 36 wins against 26 losses in 67 appearances, all complete games totaling 567 , alongside a league-leading 7 shutouts and 325 strikeouts. His workload exemplified the grueling demands of 19th-century pitching, contributing to Toledo's competitive standing in the American Association despite the team's overall struggles.

Controversies and Scandals

Contract Jumping and League Disputes

Mullane's reputation as a contract jumper emerged early in his career. In 1883, after signing with the of the American Association for the upcoming season, he agreed to terms with the rival Union Association's St. Louis Maroons, receiving a $500 advance, in a direct challenge to the established reserve system. Fearing permanent blacklisting by major leagues, he quickly reneged and signed instead with the American Association's Toledo Blue Stockings for a higher salary, marking one of his initial high-profile leaps between competing circuits. The 1884 season amplified these disputes. Property of the Browns under the National Agreement's , Mullane became the first player to openly violate it by signing with the Union Association's in early 1884. He reversed course before the season began, securing a with Toledo for $4,000–$5,000 with the Browns' reluctant approval, though this triggered legal maneuvering, including a failed attempt by Browns owner Chris von der Ahe amid fan hostility during a May 4 appearance in . Following Toledo's collapse and the Union Association's failure, Mullane signed with the on November 5, 1884, for $5,000 including a $2,000 advance, breaching his prior pledge to return to the Browns. League authorities responded harshly at the American Association's 1884 winter meetings. On December 9–11, an arbitration committee recommended Mullane's expulsion, leading to a full-season suspension for 1885 and a $1,000 fine, repayable to the Browns by January 1, 1885, with expulsion threatened for non-compliance or unauthorized play. He was reinstated on October 2, 1885, allowing a return to Cincinnati, though his actions exemplified the era's tensions over player mobility and the reserve clause's enforcement amid rival leagues' incursions. Later, in May 1887, Cincinnati suspended him without pay and fined him $100 for insubordination, reinstating him mid-June, underscoring ongoing disciplinary frictions beyond mere contract shifts.

Game-Fixing and Performance Manipulation Allegations

In June 1886, Tony Mullane, then pitching for the of the American Association, faced public accusations of colluding with gamblers to throw games during a recent road trip. On June 18, the Cincinnati Enquirer published affidavits from Indianapolis-based private detectives claiming Mullane had corresponded with gamblers, prompting widespread scrutiny amid the era's rampant game-fixing concerns in . The core allegation centered on a contest against the Grays at Washington Park, where Mullane started for . Patrick J. McMahon, a purported tied to New York gambling interests, asserted that Mullane had signaled for bets on after the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, despite the Reds holding a 7-0 lead entering the eighth. then erupted for 12 runs across the final two frames, including 10 earned, to secure an 12-7 victory; critics highlighted Mullane's sudden ineffectiveness, such as issuing walks and hits in clusters, as suspicious. Mullane's purported links to houses fueled claims of intentional underperformance for profit, though no direct evidence of payments surfaced. Mullane vehemently denied the charges, filing a $20,000 libel suit against the Cincinnati Times-Star for publishing defamatory reports. The American Association convened an investigative panel, which ultimately exonerated him, citing insufficient proof of wrongdoing and dismissing the detectives' affidavits as unreliable. No suspension or fine was imposed, allowing Mullane to continue pitching; he completed the 1886 season with a 33-27 record and 3.70 over 70 appearances, leading the league in wins despite the controversy. Subsequent assessments have viewed the allegations as unproven, with Mullane's by league officials standing as the formal resolution, though the incident reflected broader issues in where influences often led to unsubstantiated claims against prominent players. No further game-fixing charges were leveled against him in his career.

Off-Field Personal Misconduct

Mullane's first marriage to Barbara Lawless, entered in 1886, dissolved acrimoniously in 1894 following allegations of extreme cruelty lodged by Lawless in her filing. She specifically claimed that Mullane physically beat her after she criticized his on-field performance in 1893. In response, Mullane accused Lawless of personal vices including smoking, excessive drinking, and dissipating his earnings through failed investment schemes. The discord escalated in 1894 when Lawless further charged Mullane with amid a dispute over payments. Separate from domestic matters, Mullane faced legal repercussions for an in in 1894, where he was sued for $2,000 by a hotel proprietor after striking the man with a . This incident, reported contemporaneously in the , underscored Mullane's propensity for confrontations outside contexts. Historical accounts, drawing from period newspapers and baseball records, portray these events as reflective of Mullane's volatile temperament, though no criminal convictions are documented for either the marital claims or the battery suit.

Personal Life

Marriages and Family Dynamics

Tony Mullane married Barbara Lawless in 1886, with whom he had two children: a named Ina and a son who died in July 1891. The couple's seven-year marriage deteriorated amid mutual recriminations, culminating in Barbara filing for in May 1893 on grounds of extreme cruelty. Barbara alleged that Mullane physically assaulted her following her criticism of his baseball performance after a game, contributing to the charged atmosphere of their separation. In response, Mullane countersued, accusing her of smoking, consuming beer, and squandering his earnings on speculative ventures, while seeking to limit alimony obligations. The divorce was finalized in July 1894, with the court granting it on the basis of Mullane's extreme cruelty; subsequent disputes escalated when Barbara accused him of threatening her life in January 1894 during an alimony confrontation, prompting calls for his arrest on contempt charges. These proceedings highlighted volatile family dynamics marked by financial tensions and reciprocal claims of misconduct, reflecting the era's limited for spousal disputes in professional athletes' lives. Mullane did not remarry following the , and at his death in 1944, he was survived by daughter Ina and granddaughter Dorothy, indicating ongoing familial ties despite the earlier acrimony.

Public Persona and Social Interactions

Tony Mullane was regarded by contemporaries as a charismatic yet volatile figure in , often dubbed "The Apollo of the Box" for his athletic build and dominant pitching displays that captivated audiences in the . His on-field flair, including ambidextrous pitching switches mid-game, endeared him to fans in cities like , where he won 30 games in multiple seasons, fostering a celebrity status amid the sport's growing popularity. However, this image was tempered by his reputation as a "spoiled, self-indulgent " prone to and self-serving antics, as later historical assessments noted, reflecting behaviors that alienated peers and management. Off the field, Mullane's social interactions were marked by notoriety as a heavy drinker and prolific womanizer, traits that amplified his fame in but solidified his standing as a troublemaker among club officials and rivals. Contract disputes, such as his 1884 jump from the to the for a $5,000 deal despite prior commitments, drew public ire from league figures and fueled perceptions of unreliability, though fan support persisted due to his . Teammate relations soured notably with Black catcher in 1884; Mullane openly expressed racial animus, stating Walker "was the best catcher I ever worked with, but I disliked a Negro," and deliberately threw wild pitches into the dirt to injure him or force his removal, ignoring catcher's signals during Toledo Blue Stockings games. Despite this, Mullane conceded Walker's superior handling skills, highlighting a grudging amid personal prevalent in the era's segregated circles. Public altercations further defined his persona, including an 1880s incident where he struck a hotel manager with a during a dispute, underscoring his impulsive temperament. Allegations of spousal abuse also surfaced, contributing to a broader narrative of unchecked personal misconduct that contrasted with his athletic acclaim. In later years, after retiring in 1893, Mullane transitioned to a sergeant's role in the , where his fame reportedly aided community interactions, though historical records emphasize his earlier scandals over any reformed public image.

Later Years and Legacy

Post-Playing Career Activities

After retiring from professional baseball, Mullane joined the Chicago Police Department in January 1903 as a complaint sergeant. He later advanced to the role of detective and acting sergeant. In 1911, he suffered a near-fatal brain abscess but recovered sufficiently to continue his duties. Mullane retired from the department in 1924 after over two decades of service. During this period, Mullane maintained ties to baseball by umpiring games in , including the American Association in 1903 and the Southern Association in 1904, though his performance received mixed evaluations from observers. Earlier, in 1901, he owned and subsequently sold a saloon in , reflecting entrepreneurial interests amid his transition from the sport. He resided in for the remainder of his life, where he remained a figure of local interest due to his playing exploits.

Death and Historical Assessments

Mullane died on April 25, 1944, at his home at 6427 South Ellis Avenue in , , at the age of 85. He was survived by his daughter Ina, a brother John, and a granddaughter Dorothy. Historians regard Mullane as one of the premier pitchers of baseball's early professional era, highlighted by his career record of 284 wins against 220 losses, a 3.05 , 1,803 strikeouts, 468 complete games, and 30 shutouts over 13 major league seasons from 1881 to 1894. His ambidextrous pitching—capable of throwing effectively with either hand, a feat first demonstrated in —stands as a pioneering innovation, though used sparingly after initial experiments. Despite these achievements, often compiled with underperforming teams that never won a championship, Mullane's legacy is tempered by his notoriety for contract violations and erratic behavior, which researchers attribute to limiting his recognition compared to contemporaries like or John Clarkson. Assessments emphasize Mullane's 284 victories as the 29th-most in major league history, underscoring his dominance in an era of dead-ball pitching and weaker offensive support, yet his exclusion from the Hall of Fame reflects debates over character clauses and the era's fragmented leagues, where frequent team-jumping diluted perceptions of loyalty. Posthumously, organizations like have honored him through biographical projects and regional markers, such as in Spokane where he pitched minors in the , affirming his technical prowess amid personal flaws.

Hall of Fame Consideration and Debates

Tony Mullane's exclusion from the National Baseball Hall of Fame stems primarily from a combination of his era's statistical context, perceived shortcomings relative to Hall of Fame peers, and documented off-field conduct that raised questions about his . Despite compiling 284 wins over 13 major league seasons from 1881 to 1894—a total that ranks fourth all-time among non-inducted pitchers—his .563 and 3.05 lag behind contemporaries like John Clarkson (328 wins, .649 ) and (342 wins, .605 ), both enshrined. Mullane's career also suffered from the 1893 pitching distance increase to 60 feet, 6 inches, after which his ballooned to 6.59 in his final season, limiting his longevity compared to enduring Hall of Famers. Mullane received formal consideration in December 2012 as one of 10 candidates on the Hall's Pre-Integration Committee ballot, which evaluates figures from before 1947; he required 75% approval but fell short, with only , Hank O'Day, and elected from the slate. Proponents highlight his versatility as the first documented ambidextrous , capable of switching arms mid-game, and his in completing 468 of 504 starts while contributing 6.3 offensively as a . His 66.6 career places him 133rd all-time, above the approximate 55-WAR midpoint for Hall pitchers, fueling sabermetric arguments that he ranks among overlooked 19th-century aces like Bob Caruthers. Opposition centers on character-related episodes, including a 1885 suspension for contract-jumping to the , unproven 1886 game-fixing allegations (cleared by an American Association panel), and personal misconduct such as assault charges and refusing signals from Black catcher in 1884, interpreted by some as racial animus. These incidents, alongside frequent disputes with owners and teammates, have led analysts to argue that Mullane's "free spirit" undermined his candidacy under the Hall's implicit integrity standards, even as 19th-century baseball's chaotic labor environment contextualizes some jumping. He remains eligible via future Classic Baseball Era ballots, with advocates citing his designation as the 2015 Overlooked 19th-Century Legend as evidence of undervaluation.

References

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