Major League Baseball Player. Grafton, Ohio native Ed McKean was one of the premier hitting shortstops during his 13 season Major League career. Starting his big league career in 1888 with the Cleveland Blues of the American Association. he batted a steady .286 with 2 homers and 54 RBI with 76 stolen bases, although his season was tarnished as committed an astonishing 99 errors. Miscues aside, newspapers of the time applauded his hustle and enthusiasm. McKean stayed with the Cleveland franchise when it moved to the National League in 1889, changing its name to the Spiders. He eventually became an essential component of what was to become one of the powerhouse teams in the National League. Though the Spiders, like their main rivals of the time, the Baltimore Orioles, were known for rough house tactics on the field, McKean was known for playing clean and hard. An excellent hitter, he drove in 100 runs or more and batted .300 or more four straight years from 1893 to 1896. From 1894 to 1896 the Spiders participated in the Temple Cup Series, the equivalent of the modern day World Series. Cleveland won their only Championship in 1895, by which time, despite his error totals, he was considered to be the premier shortstop in the National League. His stay in Cleveland would eventually end in rather strange fashion in 1899. In the Spring of 1899, the owners of the Spiders, who also owned the St. Louis Browns, decided that it was more financially lucrative to have a winning team in St. Louis. They thus began assigning the best Cleveland players to the St. Louis roster. McKean became one of the 'Cleveland Casualties' when his contract was sent to the newly renamed 'Perfectos' on March 29, 1899. At St. Louis he was supplanted at shortstop by future Hall Of Famer Bobby Wallace. 1899 would prove to be his last year in the Majors Leagues, as he batted a career low .260 in just 67 games. Over the course of his career, Ed McKean accrued a lifetime .302 batting average with 66 homers, 1124 RBI and 323 stolen bases in 1654 games.
Major League Baseball Player. Grafton, Ohio native Ed McKean was one of the premier hitting shortstops during his 13 season Major League career. Starting his big league career in 1888 with the Cleveland Blues of the American Association. he batted a steady .286 with 2 homers and 54 RBI with 76 stolen bases, although his season was tarnished as committed an astonishing 99 errors. Miscues aside, newspapers of the time applauded his hustle and enthusiasm. McKean stayed with the Cleveland franchise when it moved to the National League in 1889, changing its name to the Spiders. He eventually became an essential component of what was to become one of the powerhouse teams in the National League. Though the Spiders, like their main rivals of the time, the Baltimore Orioles, were known for rough house tactics on the field, McKean was known for playing clean and hard. An excellent hitter, he drove in 100 runs or more and batted .300 or more four straight years from 1893 to 1896. From 1894 to 1896 the Spiders participated in the Temple Cup Series, the equivalent of the modern day World Series. Cleveland won their only Championship in 1895, by which time, despite his error totals, he was considered to be the premier shortstop in the National League. His stay in Cleveland would eventually end in rather strange fashion in 1899. In the Spring of 1899, the owners of the Spiders, who also owned the St. Louis Browns, decided that it was more financially lucrative to have a winning team in St. Louis. They thus began assigning the best Cleveland players to the St. Louis roster. McKean became one of the 'Cleveland Casualties' when his contract was sent to the newly renamed 'Perfectos' on March 29, 1899. At St. Louis he was supplanted at shortstop by future Hall Of Famer Bobby Wallace. 1899 would prove to be his last year in the Majors Leagues, as he batted a career low .260 in just 67 games. Over the course of his career, Ed McKean accrued a lifetime .302 batting average with 66 homers, 1124 RBI and 323 stolen bases in 1654 games.
Bio by: Frank Russo
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