Mellie Wolfgang

Meldon “Mellie” Wolfgang pitched five seasons in the major leagues for the Chicago White Sox from 1914 through 1918. He worked primarily in a role that would be considered relief pitching in today’s game. Known also as “Red” (for his hair) and “Wolfie,” the blue-eyed right-hander stood just 5-foot-6½.1 He was consistently judged by his small stature in a sport that has typically favored larger, more imposing pitchers. Despite this, he carved out a place on the White Sox staff, relying on guile and a sharp spitball rather than overpowering speed. However, he was just a fringe contributor in three seasons, despite very good performance in the other two.

Wolfgang’s life off the field also included some difficulty. As a youth and later, he encountered trouble with the law, adding a complex dimension to the story of a pitcher who spent much of his career defying expectations.

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Meldon John Wolfgang was born on March 20, 1890, in Albany, New York. He was the sixth of seven children.2 His father, Otto Wolfgang, was born in 1851 in Saxe-Altenburg, Germany. Otto immigrated to the United States in 1852 with his parents. Meldon’s mother, Wilhelmina “Minne” Wessamüller, was born in Albany in 1856. The couple married there in 1873. Their early family life was marked by tragedy: their first child died at three months old and their second died at the age of three.

Wolfgang’s formal education ended after the eighth grade. At the age of 13, he was arrested for theft along with several other boys after the group allegedly carried out a two-week stealing spree targeting businesses in North Albany.3 However, baseball on the local sandlots helped keep him out of further trouble and quickly brought him recognition in the area as a young player with considerable potential. At age 14, Wolfgang joined a semiprofessional club known as McGeough’s Nine, playing in and around Albany. During his time with the club, his family suffered a significant loss when his mother fell ill and died of bronchial pneumonia on December 9, 1905.

By 1907, Wolfgang had emerged as one of the top young players in the Albany area. He joined Ostrander’s Nine, a semipro club that traveled throughout eastern New York and regularly faced strong competition. The experience provided him with exposure to more seasoned players and helped further refine his skills. When not pitching, he would occasionally play in right field, where he demonstrated reliable defensive ability and a strong arm.

Wolfgang was a fierce competitor, and beyond baseball he developed a strong interest in boxing. In 1908, he tested his skills in the ring against former professional pugilist Charlie McNally.4 The exhibition bout, scheduled for six rounds, ended in the fourth when Wolfgang knocked out McNally. Contemporary reports indicate that he took part in at least two additional exhibition matches in Albany that year against local fighters, though the results of those bouts were not recorded.

In August 1908, Wolfgang’s pitching skills had become even better known around Albany. He earned an opportunity with the Albany Senators of the New York State League, a Class B circuit that operated throughout upstate New York and adjoining regions. Wolfgang made six appearances on the mound, compiling a 4–1 record.5

After the Senators’ season concluded, Wolfgang returned to Ostrander’s Nine and faced the Rensselaer club, its chief local rival, in a three-game series for the championship. He shouldered the entire pitching load, starting all three games—winning the opener, 3–1; losing the second contest, 6–2; and then dominating the deciding game with a 9–0 victory to secure the title. It marked his final season with a smaller semipro club.

In 1909, Wolfgang rejoined the Albany Senators; at age 19, he emerged as the club’s leading pitcher. On May 19, he threw a no-hitter against the Syracuse Stars but suffered a hard-luck 1–0 defeat as Albany committed four errors. Two days later, New York State Senator Thomas F. Grady presented the team’s manager with $206 to award Wolfgang in recognition of his outstanding performance on the mound.7

Wolfgang was enjoying a stellar season with the Senators, and his performances began to draw attention from the major leagues. On September 1, 1909, the president of the New York State League announced that “Little Mellie Wolfgang” had been drafted by the National League’s Boston Doves and would report to the club’s 1910 spring training camp in Georgia.8

Wolfgang capped his standout campaign by taking the mound in Albany’s final game of the season, earning a 2–1 victory that brought his record to 22 wins against 12 losses. The strong finish underscored his emergence as one of the league’s top pitchers and solidified his transition from promising local talent to a player on the cusp of the majors.

In 1910, Wolfgang traveled to Georgia to join the Doves9 for spring training, his first opportunity with a major league club. He appeared both as a pitcher and at second base during camp but was ultimately not retained by manager Fred Lake for the regular-season roster. That set off a dispute among multiple clubs over his contractual rights, a situation that soon escalated.

The Albany Senators sought Wolfgang’s return, asserting that they held first rights upon his release from the Doves’ major league roster. However, Boston president John Dovey informed manager William “Boileryard” Clarke that Wolfgang had been sold to the Lowell Tigers of the New England League.10 The Senators then appealed to New York State League president John H. Farrell, but after reviewing the matter, Farrell ruled that Wolfgang would remain with Lowell. Following the decision, Dovey offered to sell Wolfgang to Albany for $750, an amount the club quickly declined to pay.11

Wolfgang spent the entire 1910 season with Lowell, where he emerged as the club’s top pitcher, compiling a 20–10 record. His strong performance attracted continued attention from major league clubs. At the close of the season, however, the Doves declined to exercise their option on him, leaving his contractual rights solely with the Lowell club and setting the stage for another possible dispute over his baseball future.

Early reports in 1911 suggested that Wolfgang again accompanied the Boston Doves to Georgia for spring training, but if so, he did not make the roster. Either way, he returned to Lowell, which proved beneficial for both Wolfgang and the club. He enjoyed the finest season of his career, compiling a 27–5 record and helping lead the Tigers to the New England League pennant. Mellie capped the campaign by clinching the crown with a victory over Worcester.

During August, Wolfgang had briefly returned to Albany to marry longtime sweetheart Anna Dorothy Redmond, before quickly rejoining his team. His success attracted increasing attention from major-league organizations. During the season, Helen Murray, a female baseball scout12 from Lowell, contacted the American League’s St. Louis Browns, recommending that the club take a look at him.13 The Browns followed up on the tip and ultimately purchased his contract for the 1912 season.

In February 1912, newspaper reports indicated that Wolfgang was dissatisfied with the contract offered by the Browns and was considering holding out rather than reporting to the club. Whatever differences existed were eventually resolved, because Wolfgang arrived at spring training on time. While he was away preparing for a shot at his first major-league opportunity, wife Anna gave birth to the couple’s first child, daughter Mildred, back home in Albany.14

On April 8, 1912, Wolfgang was released by St. Louis and returned to the Lowell club, newly renamed the Grays.15 He resumed his excellent pitching. In mid-September, the Chicago White Sox selected Wolfgang in the minor league player draft. But before he left Lowell, Mellie added another accomplishment to his glowing résumé when he carried a perfect game through 10 innings against the Lynn (Massachusetts) Leonardites. The performance was then believed to be a record. The bid ended in the 11th inning when Wolfgang surrendered a single, but he retired the ensuing batters and kept the game scoreless. In the bottom of the frame, Lowell pushed across the winning run, giving Wolfgang the 1-0 victory.

Wolfgang finished the 1912 season with a record of 22 wins and 12 losses. But Lowell was unable to repeat as league champions, finishing two games behind the Lawrence (Massachusetts) Barristers in final NEL standings.

Prior to the 1913 season, Wolfgang traveled to Paso Robles, California, for spring training with the White Sox. Determined to improve his chances of securing a permanent place on the major league roster, he arrived having added weight to his slight frame.16 He hoped to dispel concerns that his size would prevent him from enduring the rigors of a full season.

Wolfgang initially worked on the first team during spring camp but was soon reassigned to the second squad, where the club believed he would receive additional playing time and further develop his skills. During camp, he also benefited from the tutelage of veteran pitcher Eddie Cicotte, widely regarded as the premier knuckleball pitcher of his era. Cicotte took the young right-hander under his wing and instructed him in the intricacies of throwing the knuckler.

Unfortunately for Wolfgang, he was released to the Denver Bears17 of the Class A Western League in mid-April. Undiscouraged, Wolfgang quickly established himself as one of the loop’s top pitchers, earning a 7–3 victory over Wichita in his club debut. From there, he produced an excellent 23–10 record while also showcasing his prowess at the plate by batting .347 in just over 100 plate appearances.18

On October 19, 1913, Wolfgang took the mound for the deciding game of the Minor League Championship Series against the American Association titlist Milwaukee Brewers. In a hard-fought final-game contest, Milwaukee prevailed 9–8. Although the loss ended Denver’s season in disappointment, Wolfgang’s outstanding performance throughout the year had not gone unnoticed. Shortly after the season concluded, the White Sox exercised their option on his contract for the 1914 season, setting the stage for another opportunity to finally reach the major leagues. More happy news followed on October 22 when wife Anna gave birth to son Meldon Jr.19

In 1914, Wolfgang returned to Paso Robles for his second consecutive spring training audition with the White Sox. That spring coincided with the emergence of the upstart Federal League, which sought to challenge the established American and National Leagues and aggressively pursued players from their clubs. Federal League scouts descended upon the White Sox camp in search of talent and specifically targeted Wolfgang as a potential recruit. While he never denied interest, Wolfgang remained committed to Chicago, remarking that he was “looking to make good in the good old league first.”20

The attempt proved successful: Wolfgang finally earned a place on the White Sox roster. His major league debut came on April 18, 1914, at Comiskey Park. Fittingly, it came against the very club that had released him in 1912, the St. Louis Browns. Entering the game in the top of the eighth inning in relief of Jim Scott with Chicago trailing 2–1, Wolfgang quickly settled in. He retired Frank Crossin on a pop out before recording his first major league strikeout against Earl Hamilton. After surrendering a triple to Burt Shotton, Mellie escaped the inning unharmed when Jimmy Austin grounded out. The White Sox responded with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to give Wolfgang the lead, and he returned in the ninth to retire the Browns in order, earning a victory in his major league debut.

Just over two months later, on July 19, a tragedy marked another significant loss for the hurler’s family. Wolfgang’s father Otto, suffering from depression, was at home under the watch of youngest daughter Margaret. While she was away running errands, Otto located an old rifle and took his own life.21

On August 11, Wolfgang made his first major-league start for the White Sox, against the Cleveland Naps. He turned in a standout performance, pitching a six-hit shutout and striking out three batters on the way to a 2–0 victory. The righty-batting Wolfgang also collected his first major-league hit, beating out a bunt down the third-base line against Cleveland left-hander Willie Mitchell.

One of Wolfgang’s career highlights came on August 29, 1914, when he defeated Walter Johnson and the Washington Senators, 2–1. Mellie not only outdueled the future Hall of Famer on the mound but also got a base hit off him in the eighth inning. Two days later, the two faced off again, each pitching late-game relief. Once more, Wolfgang emerged victorious, capturing a 10-inning, 4-3 decision. Defeating Johnson twice in the span of three days became one of the most memorable achievements of Wolfgang’s major-league career.22

Wolfgang’s rookie season was a success. Appearing in 24 games, he compiled a 9–5 record with a 1.89 ERA and established himself as a dependable member of the Sox pitching staff.

In late February 1915, Wolfgang again traveled to Paso Robles for spring training under new White Sox manager Clarence “Pants” Rowland. A few days after players had completed a conditioning hike, Wolfgang developed a severe case of poison oak. The ailment initially kept him out of action for nearly a month and may have had longer-lasting effects on his career.

The severity of this condition varies, but poison oak could be particularly troublesome for a ballplayer of the Deadball Era. The intense itching and skin irritation was aggravated by the heavy wool flannel uniforms worn at the time, making it difficult to practice or pitch comfortably. In more serious cases, excessive scratching could lead to secondary bacterial infections, a potentially dangerous complication in the years before antibiotics such as penicillin were available. Treatment in 1915 typically consisted of topical antiseptics, lotions, dressings, and rest. A severe outbreak could require weeks for the skin to heal sufficiently.23

The poison oak that disrupted Wolfgang’s spring training likely curtailed his regular-season availability – he suffered from painful skin boils throughout the campaign. In all, Wolfgang made only 17 appearances in 1915, posting a 2–2 record, with a 1.84 ERA in 53 2/3 innings pitched.

Wolfgang returned to the Sox in 1916 and set big-league career highs in games pitched (127) starts (14), and innings pitched (127). He went 4-6 and registered a fine 1.98 ERA for the second-place (89-65-1, .578) White Sox.

In 1917, Wolfgang registered for World War I military service but sought an exemption on the grounds that he was the sole provider for his wife and young children. Wolfgang remained with the White Sox throughout the season but saw very limited action, making only five game appearances. Mellie failed to record a decision while posting a lofty 5.09 ERA in 17 2/3 innings pitched for the new American League champions. For the most part, Wolfgang spent the season serving as a batting-practice pitcher. He continued to fill that role during the 1917 World Series, which Chicago won by defeating the NL champion New York Giants in six games.

Notwithstanding his minimal game action, Wolfgang’s teammates voted him a full World Series winner’s share of $3,669.32, a sum likely well above his regular season salary.24 Upon his return home to Albany, more than 500 well-wishers greeted him at Union Station. He was whisked into an automobile and driven through the city streets as thousands of fans turned out to celebrate their hometown World Series champion. The procession concluded at a banquet held in his honor, attended by approximately 300 people. During the festivities, Wolfgang was presented with a diamond-studded watch fob and a large floral horseshoe. Although never comfortable being the center of attention, the diminutive pitcher removed the horseshoe obstructing the audience’s view of him. When called upon to speak, Wolfgang delivered remarks that were characteristically brief: “I am happy, I’m glad. I certainly thank you all; I don’t deserve this. Thanks.”25

Spring training in 1918 at Mineral Wells, Texas, once again began with health concerns for Wolfgang. Newspaper reports noted that he was suffering from a severe cold and had developed a painful sore on his lower lip that interfered with eating. Though the condition eventually subsided, it continued a pattern of physical ailments that had periodically afflicted the pitcher since 1915.26

The World War I-shortened 1918 season ended on September 2, several weeks earlier than usual. For Wolfgang, however, the abbreviated campaign made little difference: his role on the pitching staff had become negligible. He appeared in just four games, all in relief, posting an 0–1 record with a 5.40 ERA, while continuing to serve as one of the club’s batting-practice pitchers. In a testament to his versatility, he also made a one-inning appearance at third base, having been deployed there previously for an entire game in 1916.

Over the winter, the White Sox traded Wolfgang to the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association in exchange for pitcher Dickey Kerr. Before making his first start for Milwaukee, Wolfgang complained of a sore arm and was sent to Columbus, Ohio, to consult famed osteopath Bonesetter Reese. But the Reese treatment failed to restore effectiveness. Hampered by continued arm trouble, Wolfgang saw little action with the Brewers and left the club in mid-July.

After leaving the Brewers, Wolfgang spent the next several years bouncing among various semipro and amateur clubs. By then, his days as a regular pitcher were largely behind him, and he was more often found playing second base and other infield positions. Although his professional career had come to an end, baseball remained his livelihood and identity. As late as the 1925 New York state census, he still listed his occupation as “ball player.”

At the beginning of 1927, Wolfgang found his name drawn into a baseball gambling controversy. Swede Risberg, one of the players banned from baseball for his role in the Black Sox Scandal, alleged that members of the 1917 White Sox had paid players on the Detroit Tigers to deliberately lose four games during a late-August series, helping Chicago secure the American League pennant. In response, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis summoned 37 former White Sox and Tigers players to his office in Chicago to testify about the allegations. Wolfgang was among those summoned, even though he had not appeared in any of the four games in question. Rather than travel to Chicago, he declined the commissioner’s invitation, and no evidence ever linked him to the alleged scheme.27 In any case, Landis subsequently determined that the money was a “thank you” to the Tigers for defeating the Boston Red Sox in a crucial late-season series rather than a payoff for rolling over against Chicago.

During the 1930s and 1940s, census records and city directories indicate that Wolfgang worked as a stationery salesman and later as a file clerk for a paper company. When he completed his World War II draft registration in 1942, he listed his occupation as “unemployed.”

In 1939, Wolfgang became involved in an illegal gambling operation known as “policy”28 and was arrested. 29 On December 12, 1941, he appeared in Albany Police Court, entered a plea of guilty, and was fined $100. According to the Wolfgang family, Mellie continued selling policy slips until his death in 1947, after which his wife Anna continued the operation. Meldon “Mellie” Wolfgang died of heart disease on June 30, 1947, at the age of 57, and was buried in St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, New York.

Although his major-league career lasted only five seasons, Wolfgang left his mark on the Chicago White Sox record book. He still holds the franchise record for 15 consecutive starts with an earned run average below 2.00, a testament to the effectiveness he displayed early in his career.

Acknowledgments

This biography would not have been possible without the Wolfgang family archives. Meldon Wolfgang III, Mellie’s grandson, was a professional genealogist who devoted many years to documenting his grandfather’s life and preserving the family’s history. Although Meldon passed away in 2013, his wife Pat Wolfgang graciously provided access to his research files and notes. Her willingness to search through boxes of family records, transcribe handwritten notes into Word documents, and answer numerous questions filled critical gaps in Wolfgang’s life that otherwise would have remained unknown. I am deeply grateful to Pat for her generosity, time, and invaluable assistance throughout this project.

The draft was reviewed by Bill Lamb and Rory Costello and fact-checked by Brian Dunn.

Photo credit: Mellie Wolfgang, SABR-Rucker Archive.

Sources

In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author used the US Census and other government records accessed via Ancestry.com . Unless otherwise specified, statistics have been taken from Baseball-Reference.com.

Notes

1 Currently, Baseball-Reference and Retrosheet list Mellie Wolfgang as 5-foot-9, 160 pounds. However, research for this biography found no contemporary source supporting that height. Rather, descriptions published during his lifetime portray him as noticeably shorter. For example, Wolfgang’s TSN player contract card lists him as 5’7” while numerous newspaper accounts, his World War II draft registration card, and a 1916 interview published in the hometown Albany (New York) Argus described Wolfgang as 5-foot-6½ inches or 5-foot-7 inches tall. Newspapers frequently referred to him as “little Mellie,” “the diminutive pitcher,” and the like, further supporting the view that he was considerably shorter than the height listed by modern reference authority.

2 August Ferdinand Wolfgang: 1876-1876; George Washington Wolfgang: 1879-1881; Karl Maximillian (Charles) Wolfgang: 1880-1939; Harris Edward Wolfgang: 1884-1949: Onita Blanche Wolfgang Kelsey: 1887-1969; Margaretha Wolfgang Palladino: 1896-1963. 

3 Per the Wolfgang family archives – “Alleged Young Burglars Arrested,” newspaper clipping from the Albany (New York) Evening Journal dated July 27, 1903.

4 https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/217639 – Charles McNally was a featherweight boxer from 1897-1903; his professional record was two wins, six losses, and one draw.   

5 “Little Mel Wolfgang Shortest Big League Hurler,” Albany (New York) Argus, December 3, 1916: 6. This article indicated that Wolfgang had two wins and two loses.  The author manually reviewed all box scores that Wolfgang pitched and found that he had four wins, one loss, and one no-decision. 

6 Adjusted for inflation, $20 in 1909 is approximately equal to $800 in 2026.

7 “Senator Grady’s Gift to Baseball Players,” Albany Argus, May 21, 1909: 2.

8 “Big Bill and Little Mel Drafted by the Majors,” Albany Argus, September 2, 1909: 2.

9 The Boston Doves were referred to as the ‘Rustlers’ in 1911—a nickname used in contemporary sources but not formally adopted—before becoming the Boston Braves in 1912.

10 “Baseball Notes,” Fall River (Massachusetts) Evening News, April 30, 1910: 3.  Manager James Gray of the Lowell team purchased Wolfgang for $500.

11 “From the Foul Line,” Albany Argus, May 23, 1910: 2.

12 “McCredie’s Crew Has Good Chance to Regain Lost Ground,” Sacramento Bee, August 15, 1911: 12. Several newspapers during 1911 identified Helen N. Murray of Lowell, Massachusetts, as the first “woman baseball scout.”  She mainly scouted for the Washington Senators.

13 “M’Aleer Has Girl Scouting for New Baseball Players,” Washington (DC) Times Herald, July 27, 1911: 10.

14 Mildred Wolfgang died in 1976.

15 In 1912, the Lowell Tigers were renamed the Lowell Grays after manager, Jim Gray.

16 “Sport Comment,” Wilkes-Barre (Pennsylvania) Evening News, March 14, 1913: 13.

17 This team was also referred to as the Denver Cubs in local newsprint.

18 “Western League Averages,” (Denver) Rocky Mountain News, October 11, 1913: 9.

19 Meldon Wolfgang Jr. died in 1961.

20 “Little Mel Wolfgang Shortest Big League Hurler,” above. 

21 “Father of Sox Pitcher Kills Self,” Albany Argus, July 20, 1914: 1.

22 “Little Mel Wolfgang Shortest Big League Hurler,” above.

23 Discussion with Trenton D. Nauser, MD.

24 From the Wolfgang family archives.  Newspapers reported a slightly lower sum being paid out to Mellie.

25 “Albany Honors Mel Wolfgang,” Albany Argus, October 23, 1917: 7.

26 “Dodgers Are Weaker,” Lincoln (Nebraska) Daily Star, March 30, 1918: 7.

27 “Wolfgang Declines Landis’ Invitation,” Ogdensburg (New York) Republican-Journal, January 4, 1927: 1.

28 https://www.lotterygeeks.com/black-market-lotteries-policy-game/ – additional information on the illegal game of “Policy.”

29 From the Wolfgang family archives.