Cornelius McGillicuddy (“Connie Mack”), Pittsburg Pirates
Image Source: Unknown, but assumed to be in the Public Domain
Photo Subject: Portrait of Hall of Fame catcher, manager and team owner, Cornelius McGillicuddy, better known as Connie Mack. From 1891 to 1896 he played catcher for the Pirates, and from 1891 to 1896 was the Pirates manager. Note that Pittsburgh was spelled without an “h” from 1891 to 1911.
Fun Fact: I find this image of Connie Mack, wearing a baseball player, so out of character with the image I have of him as baseball’s grand old gentleman. As described by Doug Skipper in a SABR blog, Connie Mack was:
“Statuesque, stately, and slim, he clutched a rolled-up scorecard as he sat or stood ramrod straight in the dugout, attired in a business suit rather than a uniform, a derby or bowler in place of a baseball cap. He carried himself with quiet dignity, and commanded the respect of friend and foe. Widely addressed by players and other officials as Mr. Mack, he and the Philadelphia Athletics were so closely linked for 50 years the team was often dubbed “the Mackmen.”
Regarding his quiet, unassuming personality, Bill James retells a story about an interaction Connie Mack had with his ace pitcher Lefty Grove after experiencing a tough loss in 1932. As the story goes:
“Grove was a loudmouth and a hot-head. His manager, Connie Mack, was a quiet, soft-spoken man who didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, swear, or raise his voice. In 1932, after a tough defeat, Grove was in the clubhouse raising Cain, throwing chairs, screaming at people and menacing lockers. Finally, Connie Mack came out to try to quiet him down. Grove was having none of it. “The hell with you, Mack,” he screamed. “To hell with you.” To which Mack responded quietly, as Grove stormed off to the shower, “And to hell with you too, Robert.”
I guess Mack told him off.
Painting Detail: Printed on 8½” x 11” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details were made using Prismacolor pencils.
Acknowledgement:Connie Mack,Doug Skipper, SABR.org