Joe McGinnity was initially called the "Iron Man" due to working in an iron foundry in the off-season. It would later become more appropriate to refer to his durability on the mound.
McGinnity debuted in the Majors first with Brooklyn, where he led the league in Wins in his rookie and sophomore years. Jumping to Baltimore Orioles of the upstart American League in 1901, following his Manager John McGraw, he would do so again in 1902, when the Orioles collapsed, and McGraw took over running the New York Giants. This is where McGinnity took his nickname to its logical conclusion.
The right-hander was one of the most dominant forces in the 1900s and certainly one with the highest workload. McGinnity again led the NL in Wins three more times and helped New York win the 1905 World Series. Under the shadow of Christy, Mathewson was still a star in his own right, winning the ERA Title in 1904 (1.61) and appearing in the most Games of any Pitcher five years in a row (1903-07). His 434 Innings Pitched in 1903 set a National League record, which is untouchable.
Declining in 1907, a bad fever took him out for much of 1908. After the season, he returned to the minors as an owner/player/manager. McGinnity left New York with a sweet record of 151-88 and an ERA of 2.38.
The Old Timers Committee selected McGinnity to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.
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