7. Tony Mullane – The Appolo of the Box
Pat Vandette has earned a great deal of notoriety for being an ambidextrous pitcher, but he was not the first. In fact, that honor may well belong to Tony Mullane.
Mullane has the second highest win total of any pitcher not in the Hall of Fame, having produced a 284-220 record with a 3.05 ERA during his career. He likely would have won over 300 games, but was suspended for the entirety of the 1885 season for signing with the Cincinnati Reds after the St. Louis Browns attempted to retain his rights.
Known for his good looks as well as his mastery on the mound, Mullane eanred his nickname of ‘The Appolo of the Box’ due to his physical attributes. In fact, in an effort to take advantage of those looks, Mullane was often the starting pitcher on Ladies Day at the ballpark, in an attempt to bring more women into the game.
One of the greatest pitchers of the 1880’s, Tony Mullane had a career that would appear to be worthy of the Hall of Fame. His nickname certainly belongs in a Hall of Fame as well.
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