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.\n', '

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. (Doug Allison used buckskin mittens in 1870, but gloves and masks were only adopted for regular use by some catchers beginning in the late 1870s.)\n', '

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.\n', '

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