Matty McIntyre

Matthew Martin McIntyre (June 12, 1880 – April 2, 1920) was an American baseball outfielder and manager. He played professionally from 1901 to 1917, including ten seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers (1904–1910), and Chicago White Sox (1911–1912). He was also a player-manager for the Lincoln Tigers (1915) and the Mobile Sea Gulls (1916–1917).

The leadoff hitter on the Detroit Tigers teams that won three consecutive American League pennants from 1907 to 1909, he led the league in 1908 with 105 runs, 131 singles, and 258 times on base, and ranked among the league leaders with a .295 batting average (fifth).392 on-base percentage (second), and .383 slugging percentage (fifth). He was also known for his defensive skill, leading the league's left fielders in fielding percentage (1905-06, 1908-09), assists and double plays turned (1905, 1906, and 1908).

Early years McIntyre was born in Stonington, Connecticut, in 1880.

Professional baseball Augusta and Philadelphia McIntyre began his professional baseball career with the New England League club in Augusta, Maine. He appeared in 23 games in May and June 1901, compiling a .292 batting average. In addition to his batting, McIntrye won praise for his play in left field, one Maine newspaper in June 1901 describing how he robbed a batter of a likely triple: "But the fleet footed McIntyre was after it at a 10 second gait. He was nearly there. He can't reach it: yes, he has it. It was a phenomenal catch, the ball striking in McIntyre's right hand about a foot from the ground. A beautiful one hand catch."

In June 1901, McIntyre was signed by the Philadelphia Athletics of the newly-formed American League. He made his major-league debut on July 3, 1901; he was the seventh-youngest player in the league at the time. He appeared in 82 games as the Athletics' starting left fielder in 1901 and ranked fifth in range factor among the league's left fielders.

Newark and Buffalo McIntyre signed with the Newark Sailors in 1902. As of August 9, McIntyre had appeared in 85 games for Newark, compiling a .261 batting average.

At the end of August 1902, McIntyre was sold by Newark to the Buffalo Bisons for a purchase price reported to be $1,000. He finished the 1902 season with Buffalo and in 1903 had a breakout season with Bisons. By mid-May 1903, he was leading the Eastern League with a .417 batting average. He appeared in 121 games and compiled a .342 batting average and .465 slugging percentage with 11 triples and 90 RBIs. McIntyre was unable to return to the team in 1907.

1908 to 1910 seasons McIntyre returned from the injury with the best season of his career in 1908. He helped lead the Tigers to the World Series and was the second-best hitter in the American League (behind teammate Ty Cobb). In 1908, McIntyre was first in the American League in several categories: plate appearances (672), times on base (258), runs (105), and singles (131). In 1908, he was also among the leaders in almost every other offensive category: No. 2 in on-base percentage (.392), fifth in batting average (.295), fifth in slugging percentage (.385), fourth in OPS (.775), third in hits (168), fourth in total bases (218), ninth in doubles (24), fifth in triples (13), third in bases on balls (83), third in runs created, and seventh in extra base hits (37). He appeared in 146 games for the White Sox in 1911, including 112 games in right field and 31 games in center field. He also had a strong season at the plate, compiling a .323 batting average and .397 on-base percentage. He ranked fifth in the league with 153 singles, sixth with 184 hits and 64 bases on balls, and eighth with 102 runs scored. He appeared in 41 games for San Francisco, compiling a .382 batting average and .a 559 slugging percentage. Despite his success in San Francisco, McIntyre declined a contract offer to return to the club in 1913.

In March 1913, McIntyre signed with the Providence Grays of the International League. The Providence team was owned by Detroit owner Frank Navin and managed by McIntyre's former Detroit teammate Bill Donovan. McIntyre's career was revived in Providence. He appeared in 151 games in 1913, compiling a .285 batting average and .364 on-base percentage.

McIntyre was hired in August 1916 as a player-manager for the Mobile Sea Gulls of the Southern Association. McIntyre was unable to revive the Gulls who were in last place when he took over as manager. The team opened the 1917 season with only eight wins in 28 games played. In mid-May 1917, the club forfeited its Southern league franchise and cut McIntrye's pay by half. McIntyre refused to accept the pay cut, severed his connection with the club, and returned to his home in Detroit.

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Later years After his professional baseball career ended, McIntyre continued to play semi-pro baseball with clubs in Detroit. He also operated a pool hall and was also a member of the Elks and Knights of Columbus. McIntyre died in April 1920 at St. Mary's Hospital in Detroit following a week's illness with influenza and an attack of Bright's disease. He was 39 years old at the time of his death.