Cap McGann

Infobox MLB retired
name=Dennis Lawrence McGann
position=First Baseman


bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=July 15 1871
deathdate=death date and age|1910|12|13|1871|7|15
debutdate= August 8
debutyear= 1896
debutteam= Boston Beaneaters
finaldate=October 7
finalyear=1908
finalteam=Boston Doves
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.284
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=42
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=727
teams=
* Boston Beaneaters (1896)
* Baltimore Orioles (1898)
* Brooklyn Superbas (1899)
* Washington Senators (1899)
* St. Louis Cardinals (1900-1901)
* Baltimore Orioles (1902)
* New York Giants (1902-1907)
* Boston Doves (1908)
highlights=
* Led League six times in Hit-By-Pitch
* Had 106 RBIs in 1898, fifth in NL
* Stole over 400 bases & hit more than 100 triples
* Won one World Series with 1905 Giants

Dennis Lawrence "Cap" McGann (July 15 1871, Shelbyville, Kentucky – December 13 1910, Louisville, Kentucky) was a professional baseball player who played first base in the Major Leagues from 1896-1908. He would play for the Boston Braves, the original Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1910, he would join the American Association team in Milwaukee.

In 1898, he played one year on the original, legendary Orioles teams. McGann finished second on the team in RBIs with 106, behind Joe Kelley. This talented Baltimore club featuring hall-of-famers Wilbert Robinson, John McGraw, Hughie Jennings and Willie Keeler finished second that year and would break up soon after. McGann returned briefly to the Orioles in 1902, but by July Giants owner Andrew Freedman had purchased controlling interest in the Baltimore club and finally broke up what remained of the original club, releasing McGann‚ Roger Bresnahan‚ Joe McGinnity‚ Mike Donlin‚ and Joe Kelley among others. [cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Joe_Kelley_1871&page=chronology|title=Joe Kelley from the Chronology|date=|publisher=BaseballLibrary.com|accessdate=]

Playing under manager John McGraw with the New York Giants for most of six seasons seemed to bring McGann a measure of consistency. He started at first base and was even named team captain on one of the great early dynasties in baseball. The Giants finished in first place two straight seasons and won one World Series, featuring all-time pitcher Christy Mathewson.

Despite McGann's talent as a player, he batted over .300 four times in his career as well as stealing over 400 bases with more than 100 triples, and genuine popularity with his fans, McGann suffered from severe depression. On December 13, 1910, he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at a Kentucky Hotel. At the time of his death, McGann was only 39 years old. McGann's brother had committed suicide earlier in the year. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C03E1DE1530E233A2575AC2A9629C946196D6CF|title=McGann's Brother a Suicide|date=04-29-10|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=] [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C03E3D91330E233A25757C1A9649D946196D6CF|title=Dan McGann a Suicide|date=12-14-10|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=]

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples

External links

*baseball-reference|id=m/mcganda01
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13592680 Entry at Find-a-Grave.com]

References