Art McLarney

Art McLarney
Infielder
Born: (1908-12-20)December 20, 1908
Port Townsend, Washington
Died: December 20, 1984(1984-12-20) (aged 76)
Seattle, Washington
Batted: Both Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 23, 1932, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
September 25, 1932, for the New York Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average .130
Hits 3
Runs batted in 3
Teams

Arthur James "Art" McLarney (December 20, 1908 – December 20, 1984) was an Irish American professional baseball player whose career spanned three seasons, one of which was spent in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the New York Giants (1932). Over his major league career, he compiled a .130 batting average with two runs scored, three hits, one double, and three run batted in (RBIs) in nine games played. Defensively, he played seven games at shortstop. McLarney also played two season in the minor leagues with the Class-A Williamsport Grays (1933), and the Double-A Seattle Indians (1933–34). In his two-year minor league career, he batted .255 with 126 hits, 18 doubles, two triples, and two home runs. McLarney played shortstop, second base, and first base over his career in the minors. After his playing career was over, McLarney coached college baseball, basketball, and football. During his playing career, he stood at 6 feet (180 cm) and weighed 168 pounds (76 kg). He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed.

Early life and college career

Art McLarney was born on December 20, 1908 in Port Townsend, Washington to Edward, and Margret McLarney, both of New York, and Irish American.[1] Edward McLarney was a soldier in the United States Army, and later in life a clerk.[1][2] Art McLarney had four siblings; brothers Douglas, Ralph, and Felix; and sister Ethel.[1] By 1930, Art McLarney was living with his sister, Ethel.[3] In 1930, Art McLarney enrolled at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.[4] While in college, he played basketball and baseball.[5] As a member of the baseball team, he was a two-time letter winner (1930, 1932).[6] During the 1931 baseball season, he batted .320 with 15 runs scored, and 32 hits in 100 at-bats.[7] Playing basketball, McClarney was named first-team All-Pacific Coast Conference in 1930, and selected to the Pacific Coast Conference all-star second team for the 1931–32 season.[8]

Professional playing career

In 1932, the New York Giants signed McLarney out of college.[9] The position on the Giant's roster that McLarney was given became available after Travis Jackson suffered a season-ending injury.[9] The Associated Press wrote that McLarney was a "sensational shortstop [...] brilliant fielder and a consistent hitter".[10] He made his major league debut on August 23 that season against the Pittsburgh Pirates where he was used as a defensive replacement.[11] His first major league hit, which was a double, came on September 20, against the Boston Braves.[12] On the season, he batted .130 with two runs scored, three hits, one double, three runs batted in (RBIs), three strikeouts, and one base on balls in nine games played. Defensively, he made 13 putouts, 17 assists, and he converted three double plays in seven games.

At the start of the 1933 season, McLarney was a member of the Giant's spring training roster.[13] Before the start of the regular season, the Giant's optioned McLarney to the Class-A Williamsport Grays of the New York–Pennsylvania League.[14] With the Grays that season, he batted .237 with 32 hits, five doubles, and one triple in 33 games played. In the field, he played all of his 33 games at second base. Later that year, he signed with the Double-A Seattle Indians of the Pacific Coast League. In 86 games with the Indians, he batted .268 with 85 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, and two home runs. Defensively, he played all of his games at shortstop. In 1934, McLarney re-signed with the Seattle Indians.[15] That year, which would be his final as a player, he batted .209 with nine hits, and one double in 18 games played. He played all of his games at first base that season.

Coaching career

Art McLarney

McLarney served as the assistant coach of the Washington Huskies football team in 1947.

McLarney in 1946 as the assistant coach of the Washington Huskies football team
Sport(s) Football, basketball, baseball
Playing career
Basketball
1930–1932 Washington State
Baseball
1930–1932 Washington State
1932 New York Giants
1933 Williamsport Grays
1933–1934 Seattle Indians
Position(s) Infielder (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1946 Washington (assistant)
Basketball
1946–1947 Washington (assistant)
1947–1950 Washington
1950–1951 Bellarmine Prep (WA)
1954–1955 Portland
Baseball
1947–1949 Washington
1952–1954 Portland
Head coaching record
Overall 58–44 (college basketball)
47–54–2 (college baseball)

After his playing career was over, McLarney was hired as the manager of the Bellingham, Washington semi-professional baseball team, who were members of the Northwest League.[16] He served as the physical education teacher, head basketball coach, head track coach, and assistant football coach for Roosevelt High School in 1946.[17] In 1946, McLarney accepted a job from the University of Washington to be the assistant coach of their football team.[18] He also served as the assistant coach for the school's men's basketball team.[18] Later that year he accepted the position as head coach of their baseball team.[19] He coached them for three seasons (1947–49).[19] In 1947, the University of Washington hired him to lead the men's basketball team.[5] He served as their coach for three seasons (1947–1950).[19] McLarney resigned his position in 1950 due to stress.[5][20]

McLarney was hired to coach the basketball team at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington during the 1950–51 season.[21] In 1951, there was a rumor that McLarney was hired by Gonzaga University to coach their men's basketball team, however nothing ever formed.[21] He was brought in to coach the University of Portland men's baseball team in 1952.[5] He led the team to a 24–32 record in his three seasons at the helm (1952–54).[22] He resigned as the head basketball coach due to health issues.[23] McLarney also coached the University of Portland men's basketball team for the 1954–55 season, compiling a 10–16 record.[24]

During the mid-1950s, McLarney served as a coach for the Pendleton Ranchers, a collegiate summer league baseball team based in Pendleton, Oregon.[25]

Later life and death

In 1959, McLarney was appointed recreational leader of the Fort Worden Diagnostic and Treatment Center in his home-town Port Townsend, Washington.[26] In 1981, he was inducted into the Washington State Cougars athletic hall of fame.[27] McLarney died on December 20, 1984, the day of his 76th birthday, in Seattle. He was buried at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Townsend, Washington.

Head coaching record

Basketball

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Washington Huskies (Pacific Coast Conference) (1947–1950)
1947–48 Washington 23-11 10-6 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1948–49 Washington 11-15 6-10 5th
1949–50 Washington 19-10 8-8 T-2nd
Washington: 53–36 (.596) 24–24 (.500)
Portland Pilots (Independent) (1954–1955)
1954–55 Portland 5-8
Portland: 5–8 (.385)
Total: 58–44 (.569)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. 1 2 3 "1910 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. 1910.
  2. ↑ "1920 United States Census". U.S. Census Burea. 1920.
  3. ↑ "1920 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1930.
  4. ↑ "Washington State University Baseball Players". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Ex-Washington Coach Selected by Portland". Stars and Stripes. Associated Press. 5 April 1958. p. 14.
  6. ↑ "Letterwinners". Washington State Cougars. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Cougars in the Pros". Washington State Cougars. Washington State University. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "All-Star Five Is Selected". Reno Evening Gazette (Reno, Nevada). Associated Press. 10 March 1932. p. 8.
  9. 1 2 "Giants Sign Collegian". The Chronicle Telegram (Elyria, Ohio). 17 August 1932. p. 11.
  10. ↑ "Couger Shortstop Wins Chance With N.Y. Giants". Portsmouth Herald (Portsmouth, New Hampshire). Associated Press. 4 June 1932. p. 7.
  11. ↑ "August 23, 1932 New York Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates Play By Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  12. ↑ "Art McLarney 1932 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  13. ↑ "Rookie Roster to be Clipped". Reno Evening Gazette (Reno, Nevada). Associated Press. 30 March 1933. p. 7.
  14. ↑ "Giants Release One". San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Texas). International News Service. 20 April 1933. p. 13.
  15. ↑ Newland, Russel J. (3 February 1934). "H. Craghead Seattle's Only New Moundman". Fresno Bee Republican (Fresno, California). Associated Press. p. 5.
  16. ↑ Caraher, Joe (1 October 1961). "East Side-West Side". Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, Montana). p. 3.
  17. ↑ "Faculty". Roosevelt High School Year Book (Roosevelt High School): 152. 1946.
  18. 1 2 "Football". University of Washington Year Book (Seattle) 48: 236. 1947.
  19. 1 2 3 "Athletic Department Staff History". Washington Huskies. University of Washington. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  20. ↑ "McLarney Quits Husky Position". Reno Evening Gazette (Reno, Nevada). Associated Press. 14 April 1950. p. 15.
  21. 1 2 "McLarney May Coach 'zaga". Tri City Herald (Pasco, Washington). United Press International. 22 March 1951. p. 7.
  22. ↑ "Coaching Records" (PDF). Portland Pilots. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  23. ↑ "Seton Hall Graduate Coach at Portland U". The Post Standard (Syracuse, New York). Associated Press. 16 March 1955. p. 22.
  24. ↑ "Coaching Records" (PDF). Portland Pilots. University of Portland. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  25. ↑ "College Baseball Summer Quarters". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (Walla Walla, Washington). 4 May 1954. p. 10.
  26. ↑ "Ex-Coach Appointed". Tri City Herald (Pasco, Washington). Associated Press. 10 November 1959. p. 7.
  27. ↑ "WAS Athletic Hall of Fame Members". Washington State Cougars. Washington State University. Retrieved 17 April 2011.

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