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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, June 20, 2025, pg. 5 The McGuire Brothers firm consisted of George W. (1858-1943) and James T. "Deacon" (1863-1936) McGuire. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, George came to Albion in 1878, and was first engaged in the carpentry trade. He also coached baseball for local factory teams in the early 1900s. James followed his brother to Albion to live in 1893, and the duo formed an ice business. At the turn of the century the duo opened up their saloon at 204 S. Superior St. James was a professional major-league baseball player for 28 years, from 1884 to 1912. During the off-seasons James would help his brother operate the partnership, while the rest of the time he was making major-league history holding the record for most consecutive games by a catcher. Nicknamed "Deacon Jim," he was the last of the "bare-handed" catchers and caught balls with a thin, fingerless glove. This was quite evident by his gnarled, broken, bent, split and crooked fingers. His wife, Mary (Huxford) McGuire (1867-1951) once remarked, "The only precaution I ever saw Jim take was to put a piece of beefsteak in the glove when he caught the powerful pitcher Hank O'Day. At game's end it would be hamburger." Such was the type of catching in baseball in those days. "Deacon Jim" began his career in 1884 with the Toledo of the American Association. In 1885 he joined the Detroit Nationals, and then from 1886 to 1888 caught for the Philadelphia Nationals. During most of the 1890s he was a member of the Washington Nationals, and set a major league record in 1895 for catching in every inning of 132 games played that year. In 1902 and 1903 he played for the Detroit Tigers, and from 1904 through one game in 1907 he caught for New York. McGuire turned manager when he signed with the Boston Red Sox during the 1907 and also appeared as a pinch-hitter. This lasted through part of the 1908 when he resigned in a dispute with the president of the Boston team, "Deacon Jim" then succeeded Larry Lajoie as manager of the Cleveland Indians.in August, 1909 which he managed through the 1910 season, occasionally making an appearance as a player. He returned to the Detroit Tigers as a coach in 1912 where he played his last major league game after Ty Cobb was thrown out of a game in Philadelphia. The manager had to field a team the next day when the regular players supported Cobb and refused to play. McGuire was included in the quickly-prepared roster, and ended up getting a hit, although Detroit lost 24-2. Jim subsequently became a scout for the Tigers in 1913 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1924. He did however get one last swing at baseball, and coached the Albion College baseball team to a championship in 1926. He died at his home at Duck Lake in 1936 at the age of 73, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Block 123, Lot 5, Grave 1. The McGuire Brothers moved their saloon to 103-105 W. Porter St. circa 1905 where they operated it until at least 1914 (a purchase receipt exists for that year), but because of "local option" laws taking effect they might have operated it as a restaurant in their final months before closing soon afterwards circa 1915. Brother George, who managed the business while his brother was off playing baseball, subsequently became a projectionist at the local Bijou Theatre for several years until his retirement. His daughter Olga (McGuire) Hicks (1897-1980) was a long-time language teacher in the Albion Public Schools. Geroge died in 1934 and likewise was buried in Riverside Cemetery. James' major league career was part of the décor at the McGuire Brothers Saloon. A large, life-size photograph of him in his Detroit Tigers uniform hung just above the bar in an elaborate frame. From our Historical Notebook this week we present an inside view of the Saloon, showing that photo on the wall of the right. In the foreground is a display case containing Jim's baseball memorabilia. Also pictured this week is an 1887 baseball card featuring Jim McGuire when he was catching for Philadelphia. (No, this isn't in my collection, but I wish it were). The McGuire Brothers also issued several "good for" tokens during their existence which unfortunately we don't have the space to illustrate. Jim McGuire is listed as a "famous person" on the www.findagrave website. Feel free to go to his listing 7099627 and leave "virtual flowers" and view the photos of him, and his tombstone featuring two baseball bats and a ball engraved as part of the design. Play ball!  An inside view of the Saloon
 An 1887 baseball card featuring Jim McGuire catching for Philadelphia
All text copyright, 2025 © all rights reserved Frank Passic
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