This biography traces the hard life and colorful career of “Iron Man” McGinnity from his childhood working the coalfields of Illinois to his death in 1929. McGinnity may have been the most durable hurler in the history of the sport, often pitching both games of a doubleheader. He averaged more wins per season in his 10-year major league career than any pitcher in history, and continued to pitch for two more decades in the minor leagues before retiring at 54.

Don Doxsie lives in Davenport, Iowa, and is retired following an award-winning, 49-year career as a sportswriter.

Don Doxsie
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 224
Bibliographic Info: 22 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4203-4
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5353-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii

Preface      1

Prologue      3

a

1. A Coal Miner’s Son      5

2. Decatur      9

3. Indian Territory      13

4. A New Profession      18

5. Kansas City      25

6. The Nickel Rocket      32

7. Robbie and Mac      42

8. Brooklyn      49

9. A Whole New League      57

10. Back to the NL      63

11. Arm of Iron      69

12. Total Domination      74

13. A World Series      82

14. Comeuppance      91

15. Signs of Decline      95

16. One Final, Wild Season      101

17. Newark      111

18. Tacoma      120

19. Montana.      133

20. Northwest Encore      147

21. Working for Staley      151

22. Back to the Minors      161

23. A New Challenge      166

24. The Final Years      176

25. A Faded Legend      185

Appendix A. Statistics      189

Appendix B. Records Held      190

Chapter Notes      191

Bibliography      203

Index      207

“fills a gap in baseball historiography. All libraries with comprehensive baseball collections should have this”—Library Journal; “as might be expected of a sportswriter steeled in writing on deadline, Doxsie delivers a clear, tightly written book”—Telegraph Herald; “highly recommended”—www.herald-review.com.