Robert A. "Maje" McDonnell was an American coach, scout and official with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Until he retired in 2009, McDonnell served for four decades as the Phillies' "goodwill ambassador," and was an employee of the team for five of the seven National League pennants it has won, and both of its World Series championships. A right-handed pitcher who stood 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 135 pounds, McDonnell attended Villanova University, where he played baseball and ? despite his stature ? basketball. He joined the United States Army during World War II and rose to the rank of Major, saw combat in the European Theater of Operations, and was awarded a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and five battle stars. McDonnell joined the Phillies as a batting practice pitcher in 1947, and was serving as a coach when the 1950 "Whiz Kids" won the National League flag ? at that time, only the second pennant in Phillies' history. He was a member of the Phils' coaching staff through 1957, working under managers Ben Chapman, Eddie Sawyer, Steve O'Neill, Terry Moore and Mayo Smith. He was a Phillies' scout from 1958?1960. 

July 20th, 1920 in Philadelphia  /  Died:   Jul 8th, 2010