According to Baseball Reference.com, there have been 40 major leaguers born in Ireland, but the last one to play was Joe Cleary who pitched 1/3 of an inning for the 1945 Washington Senators and gave up 7 runs.
Mike O'Neill, born in Maam, Ireland in 1877 hit the first ever pinch-hit grand slam on June 3, 1902. He was one of four O'Neill brothers to play major-league baseball. These are the cool things you find out when you google yourself--it's my name too!
www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/O/ONeill_Mike.stm
The WBC championship will be determined sometime around St. Patrick's Day, March 17. In a blatent effort to exploit another MLB marketing opportunity, Bud Selig has deemed every ballplayer (regardless of their nationality) who has ever worn green, or downed a beer eligible to represent Team Ireland. Sláinte!
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.
www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/O/ONeill_Mike.stm
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.