Emmett McCann

Who was Emmett McCann?

Robert Emmet McCann was an American professional baseball player and manager. He was shortstop in Major League Baseball who appeared in 71 games for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1920–1921 and Boston Red Sox in 1926. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 150 pounds, McCann batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

McCann was 18 years old when he entered the majors in 1920 with the Athletics, thus becoming the youngest player to appear in the American League that year. In parts of three seasons with Philadelphia and Boston, he was a .227 hitter with 18 RBI in 71 games. In 57 fielding appearances, he committed 16 errors in 251 chances for a .936 percentage.

Following his playing career, McCann managed in the American Association for the Indianapolis Indians and St. Paul Saints, as well as for the Little Rock Travelers of the Southern Association and Elmira Pioneers of the New York - Penn League.

McCann died in his hometown of Philadelphia at age 35, a suicide by gunshot.

McCann was named for the Irish martyr Robert Emmet, thus the single "t" in his middle name, by which he was called. However, the name has often been misspelled in the media, using two t's.