Larry McLean

John Bannerman McLean

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 228 lb.

• Debut April 26, 1901
• Final Game June 6, 1915
• Born July 18, 1881 in Fredericton, NB CAN
• Died March 24, 1921 in Boston, MA USA

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Biographical Information

Larry McLean was one of the best catchers in the National League during the Deadball Era. In his peak five years (1907-1911), he accumulated 12.7 Baseball-Reference Wins Above Replacement (bWAR), more than all major-league catchers other than future Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan.

McLean made his major-league debut with the Boston Americans (later Red Sox) on April 26, 1901. In the inaugural game for the Boston Red Sox franchise, McLean's run-scoring double in the 9th inning was the first pinch hit in American League history. Since Boston had two experienced catchers, McLean was sent to the minors after appearing in just nine games. He briefly played for the Chicago Cubs in 1903 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1904 before joining the Cincinnati Reds in 1906, where he spent the bulk of his career.

McLean was known primarily for his outstanding defense. As measured by bWAR, not only was McLean the best defensive catcher in the major leagues from 1909 to 1911, but he was also baseball's best all-around catcher in that three-year period. In 1909 McLean led the NL with 53.9 percent caught stealing and was second among catchers in fielding percentage (.978) and double plays (16). In 1910 he was second in the NL in fielding percentage (.983) and caught-stealing percentage (53 percent), and he tied for the major-league lead in double plays by a catcher (18). In 1911 McLean was tops in the majors in caught-stealing percentage (61 percent) and he tied for the major-league lead in double plays by a catcher (16).

From September 2-6, 1911, McLean had an amazing streak in which he threw out 14 consecutive baserunners trying to steal; he also picked-off two runners during those games. Those games were part of a longer streak, starting on August 28th, during which he threw out 20 of 22 base stealers.

McLean, like many of his contemporaries, struggled to control his alcohol use during most of his career. He wore out his welcome in Cincinnati in September 1912 when he got into a heated argument with manager Hank O'Day after missing an exhibition game in Syracuse. McLean's contract was sold to the Cardinals in January 1913.

In early August 1913, the New York Giants' starting catcher, Jack Meyers, got injured and manager John McGraw quickly traded for McLean. The Giants cruised to their third consecutive pennant before losing the World Series to the Philadelphia Athletics in five games. Myers sustained another injury prior to Game Two and McLean filled in admirably for the rest of the fall classic, going 6-for-12 with 2 RBIs.

McLean's major-league career came to an abrupt halt in June 1915 after a fight with McGraw’s right-hand man, Sinister Dick Kinsella, and several other Giants. McLean was upset at Kinsella for telling McGraw that he had been drinking, which cost him a large bonus in his contract for good behavior. According to McLean, it was “a scheme [for the club] to save $1,000.”

He played in the semi-pro Delaware County League in 1916.

McLean and one of his friends were shot to death by the bartender of a South Boston saloon on March 24, 1921. According to court testimony published in the Boston Globe in late April, McLean attempted to buy a drink for his pal, a known troublemaker at the saloon. The bartender refused to serve his friend and an argument ensued. When McLean’s drinking buddy tried to hop over the bar, the bartender pulled out a revolver and fatally shot him. McLean went to the aid of his friend and the bartender shot and killed him too. The bartender pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of McLean in return for receiving a not-guilty verdict on the second-degree murder charge for killing the other man.

Further Reading

• Gary Belleville: "July 27, 1907: Larry McLean’s arm, bat propel Reds over Giants," SABR Baseball Games Project.
• Gary Belleville: "July 9, 1910: Larry McLean leads Cincinnati to 14-inning win over Brooklyn," SABR Baseball Games Project.
• Gary Belleville: "September 7, 1911: Reds catcher Larry McLean’s caught-stealing streak snapped at 14 baserunners," SABR Baseball Games Project.
• Gary Belleville: "September 7, 1914: Larry McLean leads Giants over Braves in first-place battle before record crowd at Fenway Park," SABR Baseball Games Project.
• Mike Lackey: "Larry Mclean", in Bill Nowlin, Maurice Bouchard and Len Levin, eds.: New Century, New Team: The 1901 Boston Americans, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2013, pp. 114-116. ISBN 978-1-933599-58-8

Related Sites

• Larry McLean at the SABR Bio Project
• Baseball History Daily story on Larry McLean part 1
• Baseball History Daily story on Larry McLean part 2