Mike Kahoe
From BR Bullpen
Michael Joseph Kahoe
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.
- Debut September 22, 1895
- Final Game August 12, 1909
- Born September 3, 1873 in Yellow Springs, OH USA
- Died May 14, 1949 in Akron, OH USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Mike Kahoe was a weak-hitting catcher who lasted many years in the majors.
Kahoe was born in Yellow Springs, OH, north of Cincinnati. He made his major league debut at age 21 with the 1895 Cincinnati Reds, although he went back to the minors for most of 1896-99.
He came up at age 26 with the 1900 Reds as a back-up for Heinie Peitz. In May 1901 the Reds released him and the 1901 Chicago Orphans picked him up to back up Johnny Kling. The next year he jumped to the 1902 St. Louis Browns of the young American League and backed up Joe Sugden.
In 1903 Kahoe appeared in a few more games at catcher than Sugden did, while in 1904 Sugden was in more games at catcher than Kahoe. Sugden stayed one more season with the Browns, 1905, while Kahoe was sold to the 1905 Phillies, for whom he appeared in 16 games.
1906 was spent with the minor league Indianapolis team, a team which also featured the 22-year-old Eddie Cicotte. Kahoe came back to the majors with two teams the following year, playing for the 1907 Cubs and the 1907 Senators. The Cubs were a great team, going 107-45 to win the pennant, and Kahoe backed up Johnny Kling again. The 1907 Senators were awful, going 49-102, but featured the 19-year-old Walter Johnson.
Kahoe stayed with the Senators in 1908-09.
After baseball Kahoe did some scouting, and among others scouted the minor leaguer Casey Stengel.
The book Baseball in Baton Rouge contains a photo of the 1903 Browns while at spring training, and includes Kahoe, Bobby Wallace and Jesse Burkett.
Kahoe was apparently an early experimenter with protective equipment. He tried cricket shin guards and also pads.
