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Gus Mackey was a member of the Potawatomi Tribe in Michigan. He first gained fame in Kansas in the early 1890s pitching for the Haskell Institute (a school for Native Americans), and then Lawrence and Topeka. After starting the 1893 season with Lawrence, he returned to Michigan to play with the Battle Creek club that was reported to be the Michigan State Champions for 1893. The picture of Mackey below comes from a photo of that team printed in the Battle Creek Enquirer on April 12, 1949 (pg. 10). When he was signed by Harrisburg in 1894, the Harrisburg Telegraph stated he was 6' tall, 190 lbs and a right hander. He pitched in the Texas-Southern League in 1895, and in the Atlantic League in 1896. Both seasons he was recruited by Ted Sullivan for those leagues. He retired from baseball after the 1896 season and returned home to Michigan.

"Gus Mackey, the Indian pitcher, has one curve that is especially effective. To all appearances it is about to pass three feet to the left of the plate, but takes a curve and passes diagonally across it. It is never hit, but is hard to throw." (Topeka State Journal, July 8, 1892: pg. 5)

He died February 3, 1958. His obituary gave his brith date as July 4, 1863, but Census records suggest a year of birth between 1864 and 1866.