Jim McGinley

At the turn of the 20th century, baseball truly was America’s game. The Boston Daily Globe put it this way. “Once more baseball is king. From the National League to the [local] nine purchasing uniforms on the instalment [sic] plan, all is bustle. Never was [sic] there so many leagues and independent teams in existence as at present, and the first of May is some way off yet.”1 The Globe described the New England canvas on which the game was painted, noting, “Other games and pastimes flourish for a time, but the national game, with its 50 years of history, grows stronger with age simply because it is, first of all, a boys’ game, and later on only well-trained athletes can play for the entertainment of those who have passed off the diamond as well as those who love the sport for the opportunity it gives for team work and active thinking under trying circumstances.”2

With its ubiquitous presence in cities, towns, and villages throughout New England, how could baseball not attract the attention of a boy with its siren’s song attraction to play for fun, and then for life? Such was the charm for pitcher Jim McGinley, who hurled in four big-league games in 1904-05 but played professionally for 19 years. McGinley was born of an age when baseball indeed was royalty, and he, a willing servant.

James William McGinley was born on October 12, 18783 in the riverside town of South Groveland (part of Groveland), Massachusetts, a place of a couple of thousand inhabitants.4 Haverhill, the nearest big town, was a few miles west on the other side of the Merrimac [now Merrimack] River. John McGinley and Sarah McFadden were his parents, both of whom had been born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States (likely with their families) along with many other Irish around the time of the potato famine5. Census records indicate that John worked in the local woolen mill along the Merrimac and Sarah kept house in a small mill-owned house.6 Jim was the fourth of eight children (six sisters and a brother). Two of his siblings died in the 1880s and his father passed away in 1891, leaving his mother responsible for raising the remaining children7.

Not much is known about McGinley’s childhood and youth in South Groveland. The 1900 US Census lists his occupation at the age of 21 as a carder (one who prepares wool for spinning) in the woolen mill.8 He was probably employed by Groveland Mills in South Groveland, the town’s primary employer, to support his family.9 It is also known that by then he was playing baseball for the Groveland Mills semipro company team. This team became his springboard, first in 1899 to Haverhill in the American Trolley League and then with Haverhill again on its entry into the New England League (NENL) in 1901.10

The American Trolley League (so named because the towns were connected by a trolley network that made it easy for fans to travel to away games) was a blip in the New England baseball world, created to meet the incessant demand for local baseball as a complement to the higher leagues already in place. The Globe reported, “The league embraces clubs in Lowell, Nashua, Haverhill, Amesbury, Newburyport and this city [Lawrence].”11 Evidence of McGinley’s play in the Trolley league comes from the Globe: “McGinley and Sargent of Haverhill, another promising battery, will play upon the team in the opening game.”12

The next sighting of McGinley was in 1901, on the Haverhill Hustlers (NENL). For McGinley, the jump to Haverhill (historically a minor-league team, although in 1901 it had lost that classification and was independent) was a no-brainer, a step up from Groveland’s semipro ball. He was known locally, and his righthanded pitching talent was a saleable asset. He also batted from the right side. He was of average stature: 5-feet-9, 159 pounds. or thereabouts.

Haverhill had been part of the New England League from time to time in the late 19th century. The league was disbanded and created anew after the turn of the century. Haverhill rejoined it in 1901 after a brief hiatus as an unaffiliated, independent circuit, initially with eight franchises.13 League officials realized success depended on getting the schedule right.  “The schedule makers should use great care and deliberation in the making up of the dates before deciding it complete as upon them depends on the entire success or failure of the league.”14 Player recruitment was also important. The Bangor Daily News wrote, “There is little doubt but what the plan of all the managers in the league will be to secure young players—players who, though having considerable ability, have not yet established records but who are ambitious to get ahead, and become stars on the diamond.”15 It was a recipe for success for players like Jim McGinley, seeking to gain a foothold in an established league.

McGinley’s first year with Haverhill was promising. The Lewiston Daily Sun caught wind of him in its July 15 edition. In a home game against Nashua, a contest Haverhill won in the ninth inning, “McGinley, the new find, was in the box for the locals and pitched an excellent game.”16 As the season progressed, McGinley took on more frequent pitching duties for Haverhill. “McGinley Pitches Well for Haverhill Against Manchester” was a Globe headline in late July.17 On July 30, his talents fully on display, the Globe wrote that it was “McGinley’s Day.” “Haverhill defeated Manchester in the best game that has been seen here for years. McGinley was the hero of the day. Besides pitching magnificent ball, he sent in two runs in the seventh inning by a fine two-bagger.”18 In one of the final games of the season, the Sun noted, “McGinley pitched a masterly game for Haverhill, allowing the first hit in the seventh inning.”19 McGinley had shown promise for fourth place20 Haverhill and would be a fixture for the team over the next several years.

In 1902, the NENL was incorporated into the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues and was rated Class B, two rungs below the majors. McGinley returned to the fold, going 14-11 and pitching for a side that edged its way up the standings, finishing second in an eight-team league. In a doubleheader to close out the season, McGinley tossed a 13-6 complete game win versus Nashua in game one and then played right field in the second game, scoring two runs for the victors.21

Haverhill regressed in 1903, finishing last with an abysmal 26-86 record. Pitching totals for McGinley have not yet been located, but a look at a few box scores over the summer suggests that he performed as well as he could on a poor team. An early-season game summary captured the season to come. “McGinley pitched good ball and would have won the game had he received decent support.”22 Indicative that he remained well regarded, the Globe noted in September that “Haverhill…yesterday refused an offer of $400 from the Holyoke nine [in the Connecticut League] for pitcher McGinley. McGinley has been reserved by Haverhill for next season.”23

The 1904 season would be an entirely different story for Haverhill. McGinley himself had his best year with the Haverhill squad.24 With Boston and its National and American League entries nearby, scouts for both the hometown and visiting big-league teams could consider looking at the nearby minor leagues for talent. News traveled by word of mouth as well as the papers, and the likes of McGinley and others in the NENL were sought for their potential. It was McGinley’s turn to be “discovered” in mid-August. The Boston Globe wrote:

“Pitcher James McGinley of the Haverhill New England league club was sold today [August 12] to the St. Louis Nationals. He will not join the team until after the close of the New England league season, one of the terms of the sale being that he shall be allowed to finish the season with the Haverhill nine. Playing manager Charles Nichols of the St. Louis Nationals came to this city [Haverhill] this afternoon from Brooklyn and closed the deal…McGinley has pitched in 29 games in the New England league this season, winning 25 and losing four. He recently made a record by winning 16 straight games. His work has been closely watched by major league managers this season, and the Haverhill baseball association has received several offers for him.”25, 26

Haverhill’s keeping McGinley for the remainder of its season was essential. Manager Billy Hamilton, formerly of the Philadelphia and Boston National League teams and eventually, a Hall of Famer, had his team on the cusp of a championship. McGinley’s last game, another complete– game victory, 5-4, was on September 17 at home against Nashua.27 “The… season closed here with the home team winner of the pennant. Manager Hamilton was presented with a gold watch, chain and charm, a $20 gold piece, and a ring by his friends. Pitcher McGinley was presented with a clock and silver toilet set by his fellow players as a farewell, in view of his departure to join the St. Louis Nationals next week.28

There was one more detail to handle before McGinley joined St. Louis:

“James W. McGinley and Miss Margaret Dooley were married to-day [Tuesday, September 20] at the parochial residence in Georgetown by Rev. Father Slattery, pastor of St. Patrick’s church of South Groveland. This afternoon Mr. and Mrs. McGinley left for Boston, where Mr. McGinley will join the St. Louis Nationals to-morrow.”29

The St. Louis Cardinals, his new team, were languishing in the second division of the National League and would finish under .500 in fifth place at 75-79. Future Hall of Famer Charles “Kid” Nichols, the Cards’ player-manager, was tinkering with his squad to find a winning combination. McGinley’s addition near the end of the season would give him a few games to prove his worth. And he got started right away, two days after his marriage. St. Louis was conveniently playing a series in Boston and McGinley was tabbed to start the second game of a doubleheader on September 22.  The Globe reported, “The interest centered in the appearance of McGinley, a member of the Haverhill team of the New England league who pitched his first big league game and won [4-2].”30 The wire story for the game, captured in out-of-town newspapers, shed more light on McGinley’s performance. “McGinley, a New England league recruit, pitched the second game for St. Louis. Although effective, he lacked control, owing to his nervousness. Boston’s misplays, however, and Irvin] Wilhelm’s bases on balls gave St. Louis the game at an early stage.”31

The Cardinals continued their road trip, traveling to Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New York, and Pittsburgh.32 McGinley pitched again in Brooklyn on September 28, tossing a complete-game 7-3 victory. The game summary suggested a less than stellar performance this time around. “McGinley, a youngster, pitched for St. Louis. He was batted hard , but the wretched support behind [Brooklyn’s] Jack] Cronin more than offset the good work behind him at the bat.”33

St. Louis played another 11 games before Nichols called on McGinley to pitch one more time in the first game of the season-ending doubleheader at home against Cincinnati. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat described the action. “McGinley and Tom] Walker [of Cincinnati] were the pair who twirled in the opening contest, this being McGinley’s first appearance in St. Louis. He was hit a bit freely during the first four innings, and it was during this time that Cincinnati made its three runs. After that the youngster settled down and held Cincinnati safe, but his team was unable to overcome the handicap [3-0].”34

As one of the Cardinals’ pitching prospects, things looked promising for 1905. However, in December, disaster struck. “James McGinley of South Groveland, the Haverhill pitcher bought by the St. Louis Nationals last summer, was stricken with appendicitis Friday and was operated on at the Hale hospital Saturday night. He is reported doing well today, but his physician says it is doubtful if he will be able to pitch ball this summer.”35 By mid-March, the papers were cautiously optimistic. “McGinley is still going slowly on account of his illness last winter, but his control and curves have been splendid, and Nichols is expecting good work of him later on.”36

Meanwhile, the Cardinals were making contingency plans. Their veteran pitching core offered a solid foundation. “Taylor is in grand shape, and Jack will show the fans something when he gets back to St. Louis. Chappie] McFarland is also in perfect condition, and this goes without saying for Nichols.”37 Their offseason recruits offered promise as well. “Of the new ones, Jake] Thielman was the best youngster on the coast [Pacific Coast League] last summer. Buster] Browne [sic], a college man from Omaha, is said to be the marvel of the bunch. Wish] Egan and Billy] Campbell, both from Louisville, are considered good, Campbell being a southpaw—one of two of the entire staff.”38

A recovering McGinley remained on the roster. But with a new rotation substantially in place, McGinley saw no action until the Cardinals’ 16th game of the season on May 5, when he was shelled by the Chicago Cubs, giving up six runs and getting “batted out of the box in the third inning”39 in a 10-6 loss. Joe Tinker’s homer off McGinley in the third frame was the deciding factor.40

Soon afterwards, the Cardinals released McGinley. “It was announced today that Jimmy McGinley, who helped to pitch Haverhill to championship honors, has been released by the St. Louis Nationals, to whom he was sold last fall. He will rejoin the champs [Haverhill] immediately.”41 McGinley himself later reflected that his appendicitis in the winter of 1904-1905 effectively ended his big-league career. 42

McGinley hit the ground running in his first game back with Haverhill. Against Manchester on May 20 he won, 8-5. “McGinley…made his first appearance with the locals, and after the sixth inning pitched an excellent game and was given good support.”43

In August, the Globe proclaimed, “McGinley, the Haverhill pitcher, is now in his old form, and sure to be picked up by some of the big clubs this season.”44 At the season’s conclusion, McGinley’s record was solid, 17-11. Haverhill finished over .500 (53-51) but came in fifth in the eight-team league.45 Unfortunately, his prospects for being picked up by a big-league club may have been thwarted by a late season injury, “McGinley…was reported by the Haverhill manager last evening to have been injured and may be out of the game for the remainder of the season…he is considered by many to be the best pitcher in the New England league.”46

In December 1905, his fate for the following year was confirmed. “Manager Edward Barrow, who will pilot the Toronto team in the Eastern League pennant race of 1906 is…building up his club.… Toronto has…purchased James McGinley from the Haverhill club.”47

Toronto in the Eastern League was in Class A, a step up from the NENL and a consolation prize for McGinley, not having been acquired by an American or National League team. McGinley was a workhorse for Toronto for six full years. In that period, his records were 15-13, 22-10, 15-16, 22-13, 16-19, and 10-7. Only in his last season there, 1911, did he pitch less than 200 innings.

Toronto finished dead last in McGinley’s first campaign with them in 1906, 36 games back of champions Buffalo. In 1908, at the age of 27, he was a fixture in the rotation and had a winning record for the 46-88 team. The following year Toronto flipped the script and finished nine games in front of Buffalo to win the league.

On the heels of his particularly dominant 1907 season for the first place Maple Leafs, McGinley believed he deserved a raise in 1908. The Toronto Star captured the standoff between him and his manager, “McGinley, who was the crack twirler of the Eastern League last season, yesterday, wrote Manager Joe] Kelley, that he would not report unless he got an increase in stipend. Kelley’s reply was ‘Report by April 1 or stay at home all season.”48A week later, the Star provided an update. “Nothing was heard from the recalcitrant pitcher until last night [April 1], when he appeared in person…McGinley’s coming was hailed with delight by all the players. He is popular among his associates as well as being the best slab artist on the circuit.”49

Following his 15-16 record in 1908, there were no rumors of McGinley getting promoted to the big leagues, but there was news of a potential trade involving him with Rochester.50 The deal did not happen, but McGinley regained his form for Toronto, finishing 22-13.

In late 1909, McGinley’s career with Toronto suffered a setback. The Toronto Daily Star reported that the  pitcher was “laid up with typhoid fever at Haverhill, Mass.”51 A month later, reports expressed concern: “McGinley is seriously ill at his home in Massachusetts, and Manager Kelley is worried about him, as he is looking for big things from this twirler next year.”52 The news got even worse—“chances are that he never will don a uniform again.”53

Into the new year, the tone remained gloomy: “His ball playing days are over, it is feared.”54 Fortunately, in February, a local headline proclaimed, “McGinley’s Playing Days are Not Over.”55 Recovered from his illness, McGinley resumed play for Toronto and stayed two more years.

Eventually, the long association between McGinley and Toronto showed its wear. In May 1912, the Toronto Star reported. “pitcher Jim McGinley had been suspended by the Toronto club for ‘not being ready to work.’”56 The Star updated its story on May 6, writing, “Jim McGinley is with the team and in good standing, ready and eager to pitch…The talk of suspension was due to a misunderstanding regarding a contract.”57 It could have been a money issue again for McGinley, that kept him out. By the end of May, it was noted that “Pitcher Jim McGinley will rejoin the Toronto club at Rochester today, the management having decided to give him another chance to ’make the break.’”58 The soap opera ended on June 1, and the Star offered the final word on McGinley and his tenure with the Maple Leafs. “Pitcher Jim McGinley … was released last night by the Toronto Club to Wilkes-Barre of New York State (Class B) League… Always a fan favorite here, McGinley had all the fans pulling hard for him in yesterday’s game at Rochester, and when he failed to make good, general regret was expressed. The Toronto Club acted very fairly with McGinley, in carrying him for two seasons when things were breaking very badly for him.”59

The Wilkes-Barre Record, however, happily acknowledged the move—“with this purchase of Pitcher McGinley [his contract] Manager Bill] Clymer of the Wilkes-Barre team, believes he has made a move which will greatly strengthen his pitching staff.”6061 Appearing in 22 games for Wilkes Barre,62 McGinley went 16-6 for the Barons.63 The Barons came up short, nipped by Utica for the league title.64 But not for lack of trying—toward the end of the season, the Barons won 25 games in a row (including one forfeit). with McGinley pulling his weight, winning five.65

The 1913 season found McGinley pitching for another New York State League team, this time Binghamton, managed by John C. Calhoun (McGinley’s teammate at Haverhill in 1903 and 1904). “Satisfied with the terms of his contract…McGinley,” wrote the Binghamton Press, “should prove one of the best pitchers in the State League the coming season.”66 In a close race, Binghamton won the league with an 84-56 record over Wilkes-Barre (84-56).67 It was their first championship since 1892.68

Binghamton re-signed McGinley for 1914, or it could be said that he agreed to re-up, knowing his options were limited at the age of 36. In April, the Binghamton Press noted his place on the team: “It begins to look as if the staff will be composed of Manser, Smith, Rapp, McGinley, Barberich, Higgins and Bradley at the start-off.”69 But the paper also drew attention to a sideline that year—“McGinley is now coaching the Princeton University [freshman] baseball club and may not report in time to work in the early May games.”70 McGinley eventually surfaced, and at the end of May won a 17-inning duel, 1-0, against rivals Syracuse. He gave up 11 hits, struck out six and walked one.71 By September, McGinley was showing his age, with a 6-13 record near season’s end.72

In 1915, McGinley was back with his former team, Wilkes-Barre. He pitched the home opener on May 6 against Elmira, losing 6-5.73 His first win took place in mid-May against Binghamton, 6-4.74 In early August, McGinley’s record stood at 5-8;75 on August 4, Wilkes-Barre released the righthander.76  

A week later, Manchester (NENL) signed McGinley to finish the season.77 He fared poorly (0-8) for Manchester, which finished seventh in the eight-team league.78

In 1916, Worcester in the newly formed Class B Eastern League (EL) was McGinley’s destination.79 He had worked with Worcester coach Hamilton in 1904 when they took the NENL pennant. Perhaps the signing was for old time’s sake, but the veteran proved deserving. The Day of New London, Connecticut, whose EL entry won the league, carried a full-page spread of league statistics that showed McGinley pitched well for the fifth place (61-60) Worcester side, going 15-12 in 37 games.80

McGinley signed again with Worcester in 1917 and was named manager to succeed Hamilton.81 He led Worcester to a fifth-place (51-55) finish.82 League statistics compiled one week before the season’s end showed that McGinley had pitched a mere 51 innings.83 An end-of-season story hinted at the formation of a “new minor league in New England provided the war is over by that time…Jimmy McGinley is already talked of as the Haverhill manager.”84 The new league did not come to pass and McGinley returned to Worcester in 1918 for one more year. The Union of Springfield described his involvement as “direct[ing] the [Worcester] Boosters from a baseball standpoint.”85 Yet even at the age of 39, McGinley found occasion to pitch, going 0-2.86

The New England League was reformed in 1919 and included a Haverhill franchise.87 The planets had aligned for the seemingly ageless McGinley: he could play in his old stomping grounds. He appeared occasionally in games in June and July, but his success varied.88 When several franchises, including Haverhill, could not remain afloat, the league collapsed.89

By then 41, he stepped back from the game and returned to South Groveland for a post-baseball career. His obituary later described him as “overseer in the Groveland and Pentucket Mills.”90 He served as president and director of the Whittier Cooperative Bank in Haverhill and was chair of the Groveland Water Board for 30 years.91

Yet in 1922, there was yet another baseball sighting. “James McGinley, the old New England and Eastern League pitcher, is the manager of the South Grovelands.92 Two years later, as manager of the Haverhill Pros of the Boston Twilight League, his son Robert (Bob) patrolled the outfield for his father.93

In later years, when his great-niece, Martha, was a child, she remembered that McGinley still loved the game he had played. In her mind’s eye is an image of him in his favorite chair, smoking his pipe, glued to the radio listening to the play-by-play of Red Sox games, comforted to know that he had himself made the big leagues, albeit briefly.

McGinley passed away at the age of 82 on September 20, 1961, and was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Groveland.94 His wife, Margaret, predeceased him by 10 years. They had one son, the previously mentioned Robert J. McGinley.

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Bill Lamb and Rory Costello and fact-checked by Brian P. Wood.

Sources

In addition to Baseball Reference, thanks go to Martha Shanahan, McGinley’s great-niece, who shared family reminiscences.

Notes

1 “Baseball Starts Up Lively; Horoscope of the Clubs in the National League,” Boston Globe, April 24, 1899: 5.

2 “Baseball Starts Up Lively: Horoscope of the Clubs in the National League.”

3 Baseball Reference shows his birthdate as October 2, 1878. Ancestry.com confirms his actual birth as October 12, 1878.

4 https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/mhc/preservation/survey/town-reports/grv.pdf

5 See 1880 US Census records for parents John and Sarah:  1880 United States Federal Census – Ancestry.com and https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/records/14990070. John was born around 1850 and Sarah in 1852.

6 1880 United States Federal Census – Ancestry.com.

7 https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/records/23337697.

8 https://hwlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Mills-history-2.pdf.

9 Groveland Mills – Groveland Historical Society. Last accessed on April 17, 2025. McKinley’s great niece Martha Shanahan recollected that she thought it was Groveland Mills where he worked.

10 “Haverhill vs. Lynn,” Daily Evening Item (Lynn, MA), September 19, 1902: 8. The article announced the Haverhill versus Lynn game that afternoon and remarked, in passing, “McGinley, who made such a good showing against the Boston Nationals in their exhibition game this week, did not like the idea of coming against the Lynns after the defeat that the Groveland Mills team suffered when he did their twirling.”

11 “Trolley League Affairs, Board of Management Completes Details for Opening of Season,” Boston Globe, April 24, 1899: 5.

12 “Amesbury,” Boston Globe, May 9, 1899: 7.

13 “New England League, Organization Effected at a Meeting Held Yesterday in Lowell,” Fall River (MA) Daily Globe, April 5, 1901: 1.

14 “Schedule Meeting This Afternoon, New England League Magnates Will Get Together to Arrange Dates of Games,” Bangor (ME) Daily News, April 20, 1901: 11.

15 “Schedule Meeting This Afternoon, New England League Magnates Will Get Together to Arrange Dates of Games.”

16 “Local Amateur Games,” Lewiston (ME) Daily Sun, July 15, 1901: 8.

17 “Go to Pieces. Manchester Loses Another Game to Haverhill. McKinley Pitches Well for Haverhill Against Manchester,” Boston Globe, July 24, 1901: 2.

18 “McGinley’s Day. He Pitches Finely and Gets in a Timely Hit,” Boston Globe, July 31, 1901: 4.

19 “Haverhill 3, Lowell 2,” Lewiston (ME) Daily Sun, August 29, 1901: 1.

20 “Haverhill 3, Lowell 2,” Lewiston (ME) Daily Sun, August 29, 1901: 1.

21 “Haverhill Beat Nashua Twice, Fall River (MA) Daily Herald, September 8, 1902: 6.

22 “Brockton 5, Haverhill 3,” Boston Globe, May 16, 1903: 5.

23 “Baseball Notes,” Boston Globe, September 16, 1903: 5.

24 “McGinley Sold to St. Louis, Haverhill’s Crack Pitcher Goes to the Cardinals Next Season,” Boston Globe, August 13, 1904: 5.

25 “McGinley Sold to St. Louis, Haverhill’s Crack Pitcher Goes to the Cardinals Next Season,” Boston Globe, August 13, 1904: 5.

26 McGinley’s obituary states he won 17 games in a row. The following reference reiterates 16 as stated in the August 13 Boston Globe: “Minor Keys on The Anvil Chorus,” Meriden (CT) Morning Record, August 3, 1904: 2 and “New Bedford 3, Haverhill 2,” Fall River (MA) Daily Evening News, August 2, 1904: 5 identifies the streak being broken at 16.

27 “Haverhill 5, Nashua 4,” Evening Herald (Fall River, MA), September 19, 1904: 4.

28 Pennant to Haverhill, Gifts to Manager Hamilton and Pitcher McGinley,” Bath (ME) Daily Times, September 20, 1904: 6.

29 “New Cardinal Marries,” St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, September 22, 1904: 7.

30 “Even Break, Boston Nationals Win and Lose; McGinley Takes First Game He Pitches in Big League,” Boston Globe, September 23, 1904: 8.

31 “Boston in Even Break,” Scranton (PA) Truth, September 23, 1904: 11.

32 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1904/VSLN01904.htm

33 “Easy Victory for St. Louis,” Scranton (PA) Truth, September 29, 1904: 12.

34 “Cardinals Lose Final Games; Cincinnati Winds Up Season by Distributing Double Coat of Whitewash,” St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, October 10, 1904:  4.

35 “McGinley in Hospital, St. Louis Pitcher Has Appendicitis and May Be Out for Season,” Fall River (MA) Daily Herald, December 19, 1904: 6.

36 “Cardinals’ Manager Worries Over Absence of Beckly and Shay,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 19, 1905:  31.

37 “Busy Schedule for Cardinals; Nichols Has Hopes of Shay,” St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, March 20, 1905: 10.

38 “Cardinals Off To-night to Train at Marlin Springs,” St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, March 4, 1905: 13.

39 “Sporting Notes,” Daily Globe (Fall River, MA), May 6, 1905: 6.

40 “N.E. League Notes,” Daily Globe (Fall River, MA) (as cited in the Concord (MA) Patriot), May 10, 1905: 2.

41 “Local Lines,” Daily Globe (Fall River, MA), May 11, 1905: 8.

42 Author interview with Martha Shanahan on May 11, 2025.

43 “Haverhill 8, Manchester 5,” Fall River (Massachusetts) Evening News, May 22, 1905: 3.

44 “Baseball Notes,” Boston Globe, August 12, 1905: 5.

45 “New England League Final Standings,” Boston Globe, September 10, 1905: 10.

46 “McGinley Got Hurt,” Biddeford (ME) Daily Journal, September 6, 1905: 5

47 “Interesting Gossip of the Diamond,” Observer (Jersey City, NJ), December 30, 1905: 4.

48 “Pitcher McGinley, Toronto’s Ty Cobb,” Toronto Daily Star, March 26, 1908: 13.

49 “Jim McGinley Came Down; He Reported Yesterday,” Toronto Daily Star, April 2, 1908: 12

50 “Big Trade Between Rochester and Toronto,” Buffalo Times, January 16, 1909: 8

51 “Jim McGinley Ill with Typhoid Fever,” Toronto Daily Star, November 8, 1909: 11.

52 “Kelley Secured Delehan for the Toronto Club; Pitcher McGinley Is Very Ill, and Kelley Is Worried,” Montreal Daily Star, December 18, 1909: 26.

53 “Baseball Brevities,” Buffalo Evening News, December 22, 1909: 12.

54 “Fireside Circuit Baseball Gossip,” Kansas City Journal, January 11, 1910: 6

55 “McGinley’s Playing Days Are Not Over,” Buffalo Commercial, February 26, 1910: 8.

56 “McGinley Suspended by Toronto Club,” Toronto Daily Star, May 3, 1912: 19.

57 “Pitcher Maxwell Joined Leafs at Baltimore and Came Home with Team,” Toronto Daily Star, May 6, 1912: 11.

58 “Notes,” Daily Gleaner (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada), May 30, 1912: 6.

59 “Long Hits Off Jim McGinley by the Champions,” Toronto Daily Star, June 1, 1912: 25.

60 “Clymer to Drop Two Mound Men; Lands McGinley,” es-Barre (PA) Times-Leader, June 3, 1912: 10.

61 “Batting and Fielding Averages of New York State Leaguers,” Tribune-Republican (Scranton, PA), November 26, 1912: 14.

62 “Batting and Fielding Averages of New York State Leaguers,” The Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania), November 26, 1912: 14.

63 “Additional Sports; Nagle and Dowd State League’s Best Pitchers,” Elmira Star Gazette (Elmira, New York), September 27, 1912: 13.

64 “Elmira Fans are Pleased Over Decision by Farrell,” Elmira Star Gazette, September 13, 1912: 8.

65 “Wilkes-Barre’s 25 Unbroken Wins Go Down in History,” Wilkes-Barre Record, September 5, 1912: 15.

66 “McGinley Comes Early in April,” Binghamton (NY) Press, March 22, 1913: 11.

67 “Championship Flag to Fly at Binghamton Mast Peak in 1914–Season is Ended,” Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), September 15, 1913: 16. See also “Final Standings of State League Clubs,” Press and Sun-Bulletin, September 15, 1913: 11.

68 “Bingo Fans Wild With Glee Over Team’s Great Victory,” Scranton Truth, September 15, 1913: 12.

69 “Snappy Sports News, Rain Halts Practice of Bingo Team; Newark Willing to Part with Holmes,” Binghamton (NY) Press, April 21, 1914: 11.

70 “Snappy Sports News, Rain Halts Practice of Bingo Team; Newark Willing to Part with Holmes.” See also, “State League,” Elmira (NY) Star-Gazette, April 24, 1914: 9. McGinley confirmed he would report on May 10, in shape. “Johnson Day Draws Big Crowd to See Clashing of Bingos and Utes,” Binghamton (NY) Press, April 30, 1914: 18. In the April 30 edition of the Press, McGinley “advised Calhoun he could not report until May 23” due to his Princeton coaching duties. McGinley’s obituary later stated that his duties at Princeton were to coach the freshmen.

71 “Unusual Happenings During 1914 Season of State League,” Elmira (NY) Star-Gazette, September 18, 1914: 8.

72 “Pitching Records,” Tribune-Republican (Scranton, PA), September 5, 1914: 12.

73 “Colonials Capture Opening Game of the Season Despite Barons Desperate Ninth Inning Rally,” Elmira (NY) Star-Gazette, May 7, 1915: 8. See also “Barons Lose First Battle of Season to Conroy’s Crowd; McGinley, Signed Yesterday Morning, Hurls Fair Game for Noonanites,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 7, 1915: 16.

74 “Defeat for Bingo, Barons Take the Final Game of the Series,” Wilkes-Barre (PA) Record, May 12, 1915: 9. This was the sixth game of the season for Wilkes-Barre. McGinley lost the opener 6-5 against Elmira before winning his second outing 6-4. Successive issues of the Wilke-Barre Record from May 7 to May 12 tracked the Barons’ progress. “Lose First Game, Barons’ Ninth Inning Rally Fails to Bring Victory,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 7, 1915: 9; “One for Barons, They Turn the Tables on Chesty Elmira Colonels,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 8, 1915: 9; “Colonels Take Final,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 10, 1915: 9; [74 “Defeat for Bingo, Barons Take the Final Game of the Series,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 10, 1915: 9; “Bing Bangs Baron, Meyers is Roughly Treated and Receives Weak Support,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 11, 1915: 9; Defeat for Bingo, Barons Take the Final Game of the Series,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 12, 1915: 9. McGinley appeared in the first and sixth games.

75 “Former Miner Twirler Now Leads League, Brower Has Won Twelve out of Fifteen Games—Fox Leads the Scranton Hurlers,” The Tribune (Scranton, PA), August 56, 1915: 10.

76 “Noonan Releases McGinley, Wilkes Barre Record, August 6, 1915: 9.

77 “Manchester Signs McGinley,” Daily Evening Item (Lynn, MA), August 13, 1915: 8.

78 “Portland Gets Flag,” Springfield (MA) Daily Republican, September 7, 1915: 10.

79 “Around the Circuit,” Springfield (MA) Daily Republican, April 26, 1916: 10. “Manager Hamilton figures these two men [McGinley and Heir] will help his team considerably.” This iteration of the Eastern League was no relation to the previously referenced Eastern League where McGinley pitched for Toronto.

80 “Recapitulation of the Eastern in First Season,” Day (New London, CT), September 18, 1916: 10. See also, “Complete Batting Averages of all New England League Players,” Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), September 9, 1915: 9.

81 “McGinley Appointed Hamilton’s Successor,” St. Louis Star, April 12, 1917: 15.

82 “League Standings,” Springfield (MA) Union, September 9, 1917: 12.

83 “Official Figures in Eastern League,” Portland (ME) Evening Express & Advertiser, September 4, 1917: 10.

84 “Doings in the Sporting World,” Portland (ME) Evening Express & Advertiser, September 11, 1917: 10.

85 “Twombly signs to Pitch for Worcester,” Springfield (MA) Union, May 12, 1918: 13.

86 “Alex Ferguson Best Pitcher in Point of Effectiveness,” Springfield (MA) Union, July 28, 1918: 12.

87 Charlie Bevis, The New England League: A Baseball History, 1885-1949 (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2008) 172-175.

88 “Lucky Bound Turns Tide of Victory to Haverhill in Weird 11 Inning Battle,” Portland (ME) Evening Express & Advertiser, June 4, 1919: 10. See also, “Haverhill Takes Thirteen Inning Game from Red Sox,” Lewiston (ME) Daily Sun, July 3, 1919: 6.

89 “New England League Quits. Haverhill Club Disbands and Forces Action,” Sun (New York, NY), August 3, 1919: 18.

90 “James W. McGinley of Groveland Dies,” Boston Globe, September 22, 1961: 36.

91 “James W. McGinley of Groveland Dies.”

92 “Haverhill Baseball Games Every Day,” Boston Globe, March 15, 1922: 11.

93 “McGinley To Guide Haverhill Pros,” Boston Globe, June 23, 1924: 9.

94 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46315642/james_william-mcginley