The Irish American Baseball Society celebrates the impact of Irish immigrants and Irish Americans on the game of baseball in America. We also celebrate the long, often overlooked, history of baseball in Ireland, dating back to 1874.
We are actively working to discover new evidence linking baseball to Ireland and the Irish diaspora through our Irish Baseball History Studies Project.
The Irish Impact on Baseball
Irish immigrants and Irish Americans have had a significant impact on the history of baseball. Irish players, coaches, managers, owners, executives, sportswriters, broadcasters, and fans have shaped the game from its earliest days.
Irish Player Records
Irish players currently hold the following single-season and career records:
- The highest single-season batting average (Hugh Duffy batted .440 in 1894)
- The first perfect game in the history of professional baseball (Pud Galvin, 1876)
- Baseball’s first 300-game winner (Pud Galvin, 1888)
- The first no-hitter in American League history (Pete Dowling, 1901)
- Lowest lifetime ERA (Ed Walsh, 1.79)
Irish Managers and Coaches
Irish managers have also left an indelible mark on the game. Among the accomplishments of Irish managers:
- Most all-time wins (Connie Mack, 3,731 lifetime wins)
- The first Red Sox manage to win consecutive World Series titles (Bill Carrigan, 1915-1916)