Jim McElroy (baseball)

James D. McElroy (November 5, 1862 – February 24, 1889) was an American professional baseball player who played one season at the major league level. He pitched thirteen games for the 1884 Philadelphia Quakers, and one game for the Wilmington Quicksteps.[1] His W–L record was 1–13, and he had an earned run average of 5.12.[1] He attended Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California.[2]

He is first seen on May 2, 1884, pitching for the Baltimore Monumentals of the Eastern League, when he pitched against the Quicksteps.[3] Before the 1884 season, Harry Wright took over as the Phillies manager, and liked McElroy's talent.[3] He threw extremely hard, but was very wild. In his 14 starts, there were seven different catchers who caught him, four of whom claimed that McElroy was the first pitcher they had ever caught at the major league level. In an era when catcher's equipment was still very meager, and with no other catchers willing to work with McElroy, Wright had to release him.[3]

McElroy died in Needles, California[1] of an intentional opium overdose.[4][5]