Amby McConnell
From BR Bullpen
Ambrose Moses McConnell
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 7", Weight 150 lb.
- School Beloit College
- Debut April 17, 1908
- Final Game October 8, 1911
- Born April 29, 1883 in North Pownal, VT USA
- Died May 20, 1942 in Utica, NY USA
[edit] Biographical Information
On July 19, 1909 Amby McConnell hit into the first definite unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history, turned by Neal Ball of the Cleveland Indians. In 1911 he had the best fielding percentage of second basemen in the American League. He held the Boston Red Sox rookie record for steals (31) for almost 100 years - until Jacoby Ellsbury broke it in 2008.
After his major league career ended, he managed in the minor leagues and in 1919 won the batting title as the player-manager of the pennant-winning Petersburg Goobers of the Virginia League. In 1939 he owned and managed the Utica Braves of the Canadian-American League but got into legal trouble when he signed SS Leo Schoppmyer to two contracts, putting the team over the salary cap. McConnell was fined $250 and resigned as manager. He died of a heart attack in 1942. His widow sold her share in the team the next year.
McConnell also might have managed at Utica in 1916-17 and 1924.
Source: "Baseball's Canadian-American League" by David Pietrusza
