MLB Star Mike Donlin’s Questionable Strategies for Gaining an Edge
The former outfielder had a whole bag of tricks to get an advantage during his baseball career
Baseball has always been a game of tricks and playing outside of the rules. In the earlier days of the game, this could particularly take the form of much more underhanded and dirty techniques than what’s seen today. Former New York Giants’ star outfielder Mike Donlin shared some insights about some of his favorite things to do to gain an edge against opposing teams.
Donlin was one of baseball’s most interesting characters. He was flamboyant and brash, making him one of the biggest stars in baseball during his career. He also struggled with alcoholism and dabbled in acting on stage and later in films, which all put a dent in how much time he spent playing.
A left-handed hitter, Donlin played in parts of 12 seasons (1899–1906; 1908;1911–1912; 1914) with six teams, most notably the Giants. He was a terrific batter, combining for a .333 batting average, 51 home runs and 543 RBIs. However, he played in only 1,049 total games.
Donlin was a performer and a big talker. That fit perfectly with the gamesmanship he liked to employ against opponents. In the April 23, 1910 issue of the Kansas City Star via the…
