Al McBean
Al McBean | |
---|---|
Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands | |
Died: January 31, 2024 United States Virgin Islands | (aged 85)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 2, 1961, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
Last MLB appearance | |
May 10, 1970, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 67–50 |
Earned run average | 3.13 |
Strikeouts | 575 |
Saves | 63 |
Teams | |
Alvin O'Neal McBean (May 15, 1938 – January 31, 2024) was a professional baseball player from the United States Virgin Islands. He played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher, most notably for the Pittsburgh Pirates with whom he played the majority of his career.
St. Thomas tryouts
McBean grew up playing
Breaking in with the Pirates
After three seasons in the Pirates'
In his next 6 appearances, McBean pitched 10.2 innings without surrendering a run, and earning the first two wins of his career.[4] His first career start also came against the Giants on September 11. He allowed three earned runs over nine innings, and left with the game tied for the no-decision.[5] For the season, he went 3–2 with a 3.75 ERA & 49 strikeouts.
McBean was converted into a full-time starting pitcher in 1962, and won his first three decisions. He finished with a 15–10 record & 3.70 ERA over the full season.
Latino All-Star
McBean was 2–1 with a 3.46 ERA when he was converted into a reliever in May 1963. He was dominant in that role, going 11–2 with a 2.12 ERA and earning eleven saves out of the bullpen. After the season, he joined Roberto Clemente's National League Latino All-stars for a game at the Polo Grounds on October 12. McBean followed Juan Marichal's four scoreless innings pitched with four scoreless of his own, and drove in a run with a sixth inning triple to lead the NL to a 5–2 victory.[6]
Sporting News Fireman of the Year
McBean was even more dominant in 1964. Following a June 27 victory over the
With Roy Face returning in 1966 from an injury plagued 1965 season, he resumed the closer role. Meanwhile, manager Harry Walker relegated McBean to mop up duty. He appeared in 32 of the Pirates' 70 losses; the Pirates were 15–32 in games he appeared.
Return to starting
Walker was fired midway through the 1967 season, and replaced by his predecessor,
1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft
McBean was the 50th player selected in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft by the San Diego Padres.[7] He made just one appearance with the Padres before being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers for shortstop Tommy Dean & pitcher Leon Everitt. Again a reliever, McBean went 2–6 with a 3.91 ERA & four saves out of the Dodgers' bullpen. After just one inning pitched with the Dodgers in 1970, McBean was released, and he returned to Pittsburgh. He would make seven appearances, all in relief, before his May 18 release. He would pitch in the Philadelphia Phillies' system into the 1971 season before retiring.
Career statistics
W
|
L | Pct | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO
|
SV | IP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | K | WP | HBP | BAA | Fld% | Avg. |
67 | 50 | .573 | 3.13 | 409 | 76 | 22 | 5 | 63 | 1072.1 | 1058 | 373 | 430 | 63 | 365 | 575 | 35 | 30 | .262 | .931 | .197 |
McBean was a decent hitting pitcher. He had three career home runs, one of which came in his second career at bat.[8] He also hit a grand slam off the St. Louis Cardinals' Larry Jaster.[9]
Personal life
On August 27, 1962, McBean married Olga Santos Negron of
Upon retirement, McBean returned to the Virgin Islands, and joined the St. Thomas Housing, Parks & Recreation Department. Moving up to deputy commissioner, he chartered the Little League program & beautification projects. He also had a landscaping business.[2] He also opened the Alvin McBean Recreation Complex on St. Thomas.[12]
McBean died on January 31, 2024, at the age of 85.[13]
References
- ^ "#25 Al McBean". 1965 Topps Blogs. January 20, 2009.
- ^ a b Rory Costello. "Al McBean". Society for American Baseball Research.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates 7, San Francisco Giants 6". Baseball-Reference.com. July 2, 1961.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Milwaukee Braves 4". Baseball-Reference.com. July 9, 1961.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants 4, Pittsburgh Pirates 3". Baseball-Reference.com. September 11, 1961.
- ^ Adrian Burgos (July 2017). "The Forgotten Story of a 1963 Latino All-Star Game". La Vida Baseball.
- ^ "1968 MLB Expansion Drafts". Baseball-Reference.com. October 14, 1968.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates 11, Cincinnati Reds 7". Baseball-Reference.com. August 5, 1961.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates 7, St. Louis Cardinals 1". Baseball-Reference.com. July 28, 1968.
- ^ "Pirate Wedding". The Pittsburgh Press. August 27, 1962.
- ^ Wagenheim, Kal. Clemente!. New York: Pocket Books. 1973.
- ^ "Born Learning". Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. 2016. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ Perrotto, John (February 2, 2024). "Former Pirates Pitcher Al McBean Dies in Native Virgin Islands". Pittsburgh Baseball Now. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet