Billy Maharg
| Billy Maharg | |||
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Image from Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.
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| Third Baseman-Outfielder | |||
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Born: March 19, 1881 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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Died: November 20, 1953 (aged 72) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| MLB debut | |||
| May 18, 1912, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| October 5, 1916, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
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William Joseph Maharg, also known as William Joseph Graham (March 19, 1881 – November 20, 1953) was a professional boxer that has three distinct historical connections with Major League Baseball—first, as a replacement player in the 1912 Detroit Tigers' players strike; second, for a one-game stint with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1916, and third, for his role in the 1919 Chicago Black Sox Scandal.
Maharg's first appearance in baseball came on May 18, 1912. Three days earlier, Ty Cobb jumped into the stands and attacked a handicapped heckler who had been taunting Cobb, calling him a "half-nigger". The heckler had lost one complete hand and two fingers from the other hand in an industrial accident. When fans yelled that the man had no hands, Cobb shouted back, "I don't care if he has no feet!" American League president Ban Johnson witnessed the incident and suspended Cobb indefinitely. Cobb's teammates voted to strike in support of Cobb, refusing to play until the suspension was lifted. When Ban Johnson threatened Tigers owner Frank Navin with a $5,000 per game fine if he failed to field a team, Navin told manager Hughie Jennings to find replacement players.
As the Tigers were on the road in Philadelphia, Jennings recruited eight replacement "Tigers" from a neighborhood in North Philadelphia. Each man was paid $25. Maharg was one of the replacement players. The replacement Tigers lost 24-2 to the Philadelphia Athletics. Maharg played two innings at third base and had two assists and no errors. He failed to reach base in his only at bat in the game. The regular Tigers returned after a one-game strike, and Maharg's major league career was over until 1916.
On October 5, 1916, Maharg resurfaced in major league baseball as an assistant trainer and driver with the Philadelphia Phillies. Maharg was given a chance to bat in the final game of the 1916 season. With the Braves ahead 4-1 in the 8th inning‚ Phillies manager Pat Moran put the pudgy Maharg in as a pinch hitter. Maharg grounded out and then played left field before returning to his real duties as chauffeur for Phillies catcher Bill Killefer.
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