This Spat Created a Shower of Controversy

Ninety-five years before Roberto Alomar, there was “Iron Man” Joe McGinnity. In 1996, Alomar spat on umpire John Hirschbeck in a much-discussed home-plate rhubarb.

McGinnity, a Hall of Famer, was pitching for Baltimore against Detroit. During a squabble over umpire Tom Connolly’s calls behind the plate, McGinnity spat in the umpire’s face.

A melee broke out, with punches thrown. McGinnity, two other players and a fan were arrested. Later, a judge--who owned shares in the Orioles--dismissed charges against the players but fined the fan $100.

McGinnity was “permanently suspended” by American League chief Ban Johnson, but after protests by fans, the suspension was reduced to 12 days.

McGinnity already had his “Iron Man” nickname when he went into baseball. He had worked in an iron foundry as a boy. But it fit his baseball career.

In his minor league days, he pitched seven games in six days. He also pitched five complete doubleheaders in his 10-year major league career, during which he won 246 games. Five times he won 27 or more games and he registered 314 complete games in 381 starts.

He also had a richly deserved reputation for throwing at hitters. He averaged one hit batsman for every 19 he faced. He was 58 when he died in 1929.

After his final major league season, 1910, he went back to the minors and continued pitching until he was 54.

Also on this date: In 1931, Babe Ruth hit his 600th home run, in St. Louis. The next Yankee hitter, Lou Gehrig, also homered. . . . In 1982, Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers became the first pitcher to reach 300 saves. . . . In 1975, Rick and Paul Reuschel of the Chicago Cubs combined for a 7-0 shutout of the Dodgers. Rick went 6 1/3 innings and Paul completed baseball’s first shutout by brothers.