 McBride began his professional baseball career in 1889 with the Davenport Hawkeyes of the Central Interstate League, and completed the season with the Greenville representative of the Michigan State League.He played for the Waco Tigers of the Texas League in 1892, and in 1895 he played for both the Rockford Forest City Reds of the Western Association and the Austin Beavers of the Texas and Southern Leagues.On August 14, 1895, following the demise of the Austin team, he was acquired by the Chicago Colts of the National League (NL), and he made his major league debut on May 12, 1896.