Fergy Malone

Who was Fergy Malone?

Fergus G. Malone was a professional baseball player in the 1860s and 1870s. He was the catcher for Athletic of Philadelphia in 1871, champion of the first professional league season.

Born 1842 in Ireland, Malone was one of 4 Irish natives to play in the first National Association season and one of five in the first National League season. If we do not count the NA as a major league, he and Andy Leonard share distinction as the first major leaguers born in Ireland, by good fortune that their teams met in the first NL game, 22 April 1876. Leonard is alone first if we count the NA.

Although a left-handed thrower, Malone was mainly a catcher with major teams, both amateur and pro. Physically it was a demanding position, no one using a face mask or regularly using a glove.

Malone was the primary catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics 1871–72, Philadelphia White Stockings 1873, and Chicago White Stockings 1874. In 1873–74, he was team captain, earning manager's credit today. He returned to the Philadelphia Whites and played in eight games in 1875, then returned to the Philadelphia Athletics for the inaugural National League season, catching 20 of 60 games.