Player notes: McGinnity's "Iron Man"moniker is one of the best-known nicknames in baseball. He was originally given the name because his father-in-law owned a foundry, but it came to be associated with his ability to pitch many innings. He led the league in games six times, in innings four times, and in complete games twice. He was among the top five or six in those categories every year of his career except 1902 and the finale in 1908. He attributed his success in that regard to being able to throw with a variety of motions: overhand, sidearm, and underhanded.

McGinnity owns one of baseball's most unbreakable records: in August 1903 he pitched three complete double headers for the New York Giants, which is of course a major league record. He also shares the American League record (with Mule Watson) of two complete double headers in one season, a feat he accomplished with Baltimore in 1901.

Bill James tells a story of McGinnity delaying a game in 1902 for ten minutes as he threw a tantrum because the Giants were playing so poorly behind him in the field. The contemporary newspaper account gives a slightly different version of the reason for Iron Joe's anger. According to The New York Times, August 30, 1902: "McGinnity, who pitched for the visitors, became incensed with Umpire Irwin's judgment on strikes and balls in the second inning and refused to continue, but after a good deal of urging on the part of his clubmates, McGinnity went back into the box and finished the game." By all accounts, however, he was temperamental as well as being durable.