1. Overview
John Phalen "Stuffy" McInnis (September 19, 1890 - February 16, 1960) was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. His nickname "Stuffy" originated in his youth in the Boston suburban leagues, where his spectacular play often prompted shouts of "that's the stuff, kid." During his 19-season career from 1909 to 1927, McInnis played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies. He was a member of four World Series championship teams: the Philadelphia Athletics in 1910, 1911, and 1913, and the Boston Red Sox in 1918. He also contributed to the Pittsburgh Pirates' World Series win in 1925. In the final year of his major league playing career, he served as a player-manager for the Philadelphia Phillies.
2. Early Life and Background
John Phalen McInnis was born on September 19, 1890, in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The enduring nickname "Stuffy" was bestowed upon him during his formative years in the Boston suburban baseball leagues. His impressive and dynamic playing style frequently drew enthusiastic praise from spectators, who would exclaim, "that's the stuff, kid," a phrase that became synonymous with his budding talent and eventually became his widely recognized moniker.
3. Playing Career
John "Stuffy" McInnis enjoyed a notable professional baseball career spanning 19 seasons, marked by his tenures with several Major League teams, exceptional skills as a hitter and first baseman, and a brief stint as a player-manager.
3.1. Philadelphia Athletics (1909-1917)
McInnis began his professional baseball journey with the Philadelphia Athletics, making his debut as a shortstop in 1909. After two seasons, he transitioned to first base, taking over from Harry Davis. At first base, he became an integral part of the renowned "$100,000 infield," a group widely considered to be the highest-priced infield of its time. This formidable unit consisted of McInnis at first base, Eddie Collins at second base, Frank Baker at third base, and Jack Barry at shortstop.
The Athletics, with this core lineup, enjoyed a period of significant success, winning the American League pennant in 1910, 1911, 1913, and 1914. They also secured consecutive World Series championships in 1910 and 1911. However, following their sweep by the Boston Braves in the 1914 World Series, team owner Connie Mack began to dismantle the team. This decision was largely influenced by the new Federal League's attempts to recruit his star players. The "$100,000 infield" was subsequently broken up, with Collins being sold to the Chicago White Sox, Baker moving to the New York Yankees, and Barry being sent to the Boston Red Sox. McInnis was the only member of the original infield who remained with the Athletics until the end of the 1917 season, at which point he was traded to the Red Sox.
3.2. Boston Red Sox and Other Teams (1918-1926)
Upon joining the Boston Red Sox, McInnis played a crucial role in their 1918 World Series victory. Notably, in Game 1 of that series, he drove in the only run in Babe Ruth's 1-0 pitching masterpiece against the Chicago Cubs. After his tenure with the Red Sox, McInnis spent the 1922 season with the Cleveland Indians. In 1923, he moved to the National League, playing for the Boston Braves and later for the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the Pirates, McInnis once again tasted World Series success, being part of their championship team in 1925.
3.3. Playing Style and Achievements
McInnis had a distinguished 19-season career in Major League Baseball. In a total of 2,128 games played, he maintained a career batting average of .307, accumulated 20 home runs, and drove in 1,063 RBI. He was recognized as a skilled contact line drive hitter. Throughout his career, he maintained a batting average of over .300 in 12 seasons, consistently achieving this mark every year from 1910 to 1915. His most productive season at the plate occurred in 1912, when he posted a .327 batting average. He also recorded an impressive .368 average in 59 games for the championship-winning Pittsburgh Pirates team in 1925. McInnis was exceptionally difficult to strike out, fanning only 189 times in 7,822 at-bats while accumulating a total of 2,405 hits. In 1921, he demonstrated remarkable plate discipline by striking out just 9 times in 584 at-bats.
Beyond his batting prowess, McInnis was also proficient at advancing runners, particularly through sacrifice hits. His career total of 384 sacrifice hits stands as the third-highest in Major League Baseball history.
McInnis was equally renowned for his exceptional defensive abilities as a first baseman. For several decades, he held significant major league fielding records for first basemen over a single season. In 1921, while playing 152 games for the Red Sox, he committed only one error in 1,651 chances, resulting in an outstanding .9993 fielding percentage. During the same season, his 1,300 errorless chances also set a season record. Furthermore, between May 31, 1921, and June 2, 1922, McInnis established a third record by accumulating 1,700 consecutive chances without an error over the course of 163 games. He concluded his major league career with an overall .991 fielding percentage.
3.4. Player-Manager Role
In 1927, his final year in the major leagues, McInnis took on the dual role of player-manager for the Philadelphia Phillies. This marked a unique phase in his career, combining his on-field responsibilities with managerial duties.
4. Post-Playing Career
After retiring as a player from Major League Baseball, John "Stuffy" McInnis continued his involvement in baseball through various coaching and managerial roles. In 1928, he managed the Salem Witches, a minor league team. He then transitioned to collegiate baseball, serving as the head coach for the baseball team at Norwich University from 1931 to 1944. Following this, he coached the baseball team at Harvard University from 1949 to 1954, further contributing to the development of young players.
5. Legacy and Records
John "Stuffy" McInnis left a significant mark on baseball history, particularly through his enduring defensive records. For many decades, his achievements as a first baseman set a high standard in Major League Baseball. However, some of his long-standing records were eventually surpassed by subsequent players.
On June 25, 2007, Kevin Youkilis of the Red Sox played his 120th consecutive game at first base without an error, breaking the Red Sox record that McInnis had set in 1921. Youkilis further solidified his place in history on April 27, 2008, when he fielded his 1,701st consecutive chance without an error in his 205th errorless game, establishing a new major league record for first basemen and surpassing McInnis's previous mark of 1,700 chances. Youkilis's remarkable streak eventually concluded on June 7, 2008, after 238 games and 2,002 fielding attempts. Despite these later achievements by Youkilis, McInnis's records remained benchmarks for exceptional defensive play for an extended period.
6. Death
John Phalen "Stuffy" McInnis died on February 16, 1960, at the age of 69. He passed away in Ipswich, Massachusetts.