Billy Maharg Biography
- Home /
- Billy Maharg /
- Biography
- Born March 19, 1881
Maharg\'s first appearance in baseball came on May 18, 1912. Three days earlier, Ty Cobb jumped into the stands and attacked a handicapped heckler who had been taunting Cobb, calling him a "half-nigger". The heckler had lost one complete hand and two fingers from the other hand in an industrial accident. When fans yelled that the man had no hands, Cobb shouted back, "I don\'t care if he has no feet!" American League president Ban Johnson witnessed the incident and suspended Cobb indefinitely. Cobb\'s teammates voted to strike in support of Cobb, refusing to play until the suspension was lifted. When Ban Johnson threatened Tigers owner Frank Navin with a $5,000 per game fine if he failed to field a team, Navin told manager Hughie Jennings to find replacement players.\n', '
As the Tigers were on the road in Philadelphia, Jennings recruited eight replacement "Tigers" from a neighborhood in North Philadelphia. Each man was paid $25. Maharg was one of the replacement players. The replacement Tigers lost 24-2 to the Philadelphia Athletics. Maharg played two innings at third base and had two assists and no errors. He failed to reach base in his only at bat in the game. The regular Tigers returned after a one-game strike, and Maharg\'s major league career was over until 1916.\n', '
On October 5, 1916, Maharg resurfaced in major league baseball as an assistant trainer and driver with the Philadelphia Phillies. Maharg was given a chance to bat in the final game of the 1916 season. With the Braves ahead 4-1 in the 8th inning‚ Phillies manager Pat Moran put the pudgy Maharg in as a pinch hitter. Maharg grounded out and then played left field before returning to his real duties as chauffeur for Phillies catcher Bill Killefer.\n', '
Return to Billy Maharg Autograph Profile
Stats
Join the RACC Facebook Group!
The Real Autograph Collectors Club (RACC) on Facebook is the largest community of in person autograph collectors and fans in the world, with 25,000 members and growing!
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Useful Links
WORLDWIDE RACC (Our Top Cities)
New York, NY
USA
Los Angeles, CA
USA
London
United Kingdom
Chicago, IL
USA
Toronto, ON
Canada
