Mike Loan

American baseball player (1894-1966)
Baseball player
Mike Loan
Catcher
Born: September 27, 1894
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: November 12, 1966(1966-11-12) (aged 72)
Springfield, Pennsylvania
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 18, 1912, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
September 18, 1912, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Batting average.500
Hits1
Runs scored1
Teams
  • Philadelphia Phillies (1912)

William Joseph "Mike" Loan (September 27, 1894 – November 12, 1966) was a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was officially listed as standing 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) and weighing 185 pounds (84 kg).[1]

Early life

Mike Loan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 27, 1894. He was a student-athlete at Villanova University, 1 of 49 from the school to play in Major League Baseball.[2]

Baseball career

Loan got a "cup of coffee" with the Philadelphia Phillies in September 1912, appearing in a single game. He was the National League's second-youngest player that season, behind Frank O'Rourke of the Boston Braves.[3] He was one of six players to appear at catcher for the Phillies in 1912, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate.[4] Appearing in the majors for the only time at age 17,[5] he played against the St. Louis Cardinals,[6] recording one hit, a single, in two at-bats, for a career batting average of .500.[7] He also scored a run in his only game.[7]

Loan later appeared in the minors, a member of the Eastern League's Bridgeport Americans. In 1919, he batted .149 with 11 hits in 74 at-bats over 28 games. Two of his hits went for extra bases: one double and one triple. He slugged .189 and collected 14 total bases. In the field, he had the Americans' second-most appearances at catcher (Bill Skiff) and made 84 putouts, 24 assists and 1 error, amassing a .991 fielding percentage.[8]

After baseball

Loan died on November 12, 1966, in Springfield, Pennsylvania, at the age of 72. He was interred at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Mike Loan". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  2. ^ "Villanova University Wildcats (Villanova, PA)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  3. ^ "1912 National League Awards, All-Stars and Other Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  4. ^ "1912 Philadelphia Phillies". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  5. ^ "Events of Wednesday, September 18, 1912". Retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  6. ^ "The 1912 Philadelphia Phillies Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "Mike Loan Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  8. ^ "1919 Bridgeport Americans". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2011.

External links

  • Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)