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Baseball History: Remembering John McMullin

By David Hill

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: A detailed view of a basebal is seen on the mound just prior to the start of the MLB game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The Padres defeated the Dodgers 4-3. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: A detailed view of a basebal is seen on the mound just prior to the start of the MLB game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The Padres defeated the Dodgers 4-3. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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Born on this day in 1849, John McMullin is not likely a name that would be familiar to even the most fervent baseball fans would recognize. However, McMullin made baseball history just by setting foot on the mound.

1871 was a time for a great deal of baseball history to be made. With the National Association organizing as the first major league, a number of amateur legends joined the professional ranks. Every time something happened for the first time, it was a first not only for the league, but for professional baseball.

One of those firsts took place when John McMullin stepped on the mound as the main pitcher for the Troy Haymakers. One of the stars of the amateur Keystone team in Philadelphia, he was a natural fit as a professional. In doing so, he became the first full time left handed pitcher in baseball history. He was not the only left handed pitcher in the NA that year, as Charlie Pabor also pitched in seven games. However, The Old Woman in the Red Cap as Pabor was called, primarily played in left field.

Despite the peculiarity of seeing a lefty on the mound, McMullin did not have success in that first season. He posted a 12-15 record, but had a 5.53 ERA and a 2.028 WHiP. Over the course of his 249 innings, McMullin allowed a league leading 430 hits, 153 earned runs, and 75 walks. Somehow, he managed to strike out 12 batters as well.

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Those statistics do not tell the full story of McMullin’s struggles on the mound, or the defense behind him. In those 249 innings, he allowed a total of 362 runs, meaning that he gave up an incredible 209 unearned runs that year. McMullin also threw 44 wild pitches, and was said to have fired ten wild pitches in a single inning that year.

That year would be McMullin’s only season as a primary pitcher. He would appear in eight more games on the mound over the course of his major league career, with a lot more success. He was 2-0 with a save in those eight contests, posting a 4.72 ERA and a 1.864 WHiP. In his 34.1 innings, he issued only four walks while recording three strikeouts. Those numbers may not have been great, but they were better than how he preformed for Troy.

Instead, as he was decent with the bat, McMullin spent the rest of his major league career as an outfielder. He produced a solid .284/.310/.349 batting line, good for an OPS+ of 103, during his five year career. McMullin was tenth in the league in singles in 1874, and his .346 batting average was third best in the NA. He had a solid batting eye as well, finishing in the top three in walks twice. However, when the National League was formed in 1876, signaling the end of the NA, McMullin never played another game in the majors.

Whether or not McMullin’s career ended due to his declining performance in 1875 is uncertain. It is possible that he was struggling with his health at the time, as he did not outlast the National Association by that long. McMullin passed away in 1881, just ten days after his 32nd birthday.

Next: Top ten Negro League players

John McMullin did not have a long career, nor did he find much success on the mound. Nonetheless, he made his mark on baseball history, by virtue of being left handed.

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