[Ads-l] malarkey--earliest uses in baseball?

[Stephen Goranson]

We have discussed this before; here I (again) pitch baseball as perhaps relevant.

1895, April 6. The Washington Post critiqued a pitcher, John S. Malarkey (1872-1949) as “erratic and flighty,” having “a $10,000 arm and a ten cent noodle."
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-malarkey/

1896. For a winning season he got nicknamed "King Mull," perhaps relevant for Irish pronunciation. Cf. William Sayers, Malarkey and Its Etymology, Western  Folklore (2000) 209-12.

1904, May 19. Reporter O'Laughlin began an article with "Too much Malarkey." And called him "Old 'King Mull'' after a win for Columbus, Ohio. Malarkey was an Ohio native. Minneapolis Journal 14/3. LC newspapers.

1908. John Malarkey left baseball and went to work for the Erie Railroad.

1909, June 12. Another pitcher: Malarkey, Bill Malarkey (1878-1956). Buffalo News 6/1-2. "Too Much Malarkey." Caps and quotes in the original. newspapers.com (His baseball card is reportedly highly-regarded by collectors.)

1914, July 17. "It was simply too much Malarkey." Again, baseball pitching. San Bernadino County Sun 3/2. newspapers.com

Stephen Goranson

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