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"Iron" Joe McGinnity: Hall of Fame New York Giants Pitcher (1902-1908)

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Joseph Jerome McGinnity was born March 20, 1871 in Cornwall, Illinois to Peter & Hannah McGinnity. Although he stood at five foot eleven he was one of the biggest players of his day. In 18979 his father was crushed to death by a load of coal working in a coal mine. Eight year old Joe & his two brothers had to work to support the family. Iron Joe:  Joe earned his nickname of "Iron Man" due to the fact he worked in an Iron foundry in the off seasons.  In the late 1880's McGinnity's career began pitching in Georgia with the Decatur Coal Mining Company. As his family was on the move again heading west his Aunt struck gold in the soon to be named  Oklahoma which was Indian territory at the time. It was there he became a local favorite & was discovered Joe pitched six minor league seasons getting noticed discovered by the owner of the Brooklyn Grooms & Baltimore Orioles teams of the day. Joe was also one of the most durable pitchers in baseball history, h...
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Starling Marte- The Mets Years: (2022 - 2025)

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Starling Jaavier Marte was born October 9th, 1988 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. At age nine, his mother passed away & he was raised by his grandmother. In 2007 he was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marte would play eight seasons with the Pirates (2012-2019) hitting .287 with 108 HRs & 420 RBIs in those years. He stole 239 bases, coming in the league's top ten seven of those nine seasons.  Marte also was in the top ten in triples twice, batting once & made an All-Star team. In the outfield he won two Gold Gloves with the Pirates as well.  Trivia: Marte hit a HR off the Astros Dall Keuchel in his first MLB at bat on the first big league pitch he saw. He was the third Pirate in team history to homer in his first at bat. It had not been done since Don Leppert in 1961. In 2020 he was traded to Arizona then to the Marlins in the Covid shortened season.  In 201 he was sent to the Oakland A's for Jesus Luzardo. Overall, in 2021 he batted .310 with 12 HRs ...
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Al Jackson: Original Met Pitcher With A Lifelong Association To the Team (1962-1965 / 1968-1969)

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Alvin Neil Jackson was born December 25, 1935, in Waco, Texas.  He was the captain of his baseball & football high school teams in Waco. In high school he tossed three no hitters & was All State for two seasons. The five-foot ten-inch left hander was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955, while attending Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. In 1956 while pitching in the Mexican League, Jackson went 14-10. He was soon back at A ball Lincoln in 1957 where he won 18 games which got him pushed up to the AAA level.   In 1959 he was 15-4 at Columbus which got him called up to the big leagues by the end of the season.  MLB Career: Jackson made his MLB debut pitching two innings of relief on May 3rd, 1959, finishing a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was back in the minors over the next two seasons making three appearances with Pittsburgh in 1961 earning his first career victory. Mets Career: By 1962, Al Jackson became an original Met when he...
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