Evening journal., 1907-06-08

lover Of out door sports Of all kinds.
of which be believes baseball to be the
best, and has always impressed upon
the minds OF his sons that an athletic
training TO young men is most bene-
fetal
Since Harry was knee high 20 a
grasshopper. he has always evinced
strong desire to play ball and has
shown a marked capability for work
on the diamond The string ball Is
his own invention and he has used il
successfully on a number of occasions
Starting as a lad and with no aid
he soon became a peer of his older
companions on the ball field. Finally
he entered the Keystone State Nor
NAL School az Kutztown, Pa, from
which he was graduated with honors
in 1905 et the age Of eighteen years.
During his course Of studies. which
covered a period OF three years Hoch
played ball with his school team and
assisted in landing a number of vic
tories to its credit Shortly after
graduation young Hoch was elected
principal of the Camden, Del. public
schools and taught the young ideas
there how to shoot. After two years
as an instructor Harry resigned his
position as teacher and entered upon
the field of baseball as a professional
player In the summer of 1905 Hoch
was the mainstay in the box for the
All-Collegians at Mahonoy City. Pa,
but it was in the spring of 1906 that
he first took up baseball in a pro-
fessional way.
In this year he signed with the Kane.
Pa, team of the Interstate League.
While there he was largely instrument
ia lin bringing the team out Of NTH
place and landing it at the top OF the
list Of clubs. having ten straight vic
tories to his credit. The most note
worthy of these games was ten in
ming contest which resulted in a score
of / to 0 in favor OF the Kane team
While at school during the summers
of 19O5-06 he had a number OF offers
from some OF the largest universities
in the country 60 accept a free course
of education IN return for his services
on the ball field. Before he Joined the
Wilmington team Hoch had five offers
from teams in as many leagues and
had many warm friends who were
willing to assist him in obtaining a
position in one Of the major leagues.
To all Of these Inducements he turned
a deaf ear and finally concluded 10
cast his lot with the Peaches From
his boyhood DAYS up and all the time
he was at school and while at Mahonoy
City and at Kane Il was his younger
brother Elmer who assisted Harry 70
gain the position on the ball field that
he now occupies Elmer is at present
a student at Kane and Is a catcher
for the Normal nine. lie viii graduate
next year and IS undcr contract with
I Manager Connolly 20 play this season
out with the local team. He win re-
I port here TIE latter part of this month.
! Like Harry he has ccol head an
/ is a quick thrower to second. He is
also a hard left hand hitter Walter
| tho third eldest son Of the Hoch fam
I lily is also a pitcher of Harry's type
and il is only a question Of a year OF
/ two when BE viii be seen in the pro-
! fessional ranks. Walter another son
I is also a student az Kane school and
a member OF the class Of 1909. He has
won praise not only as a scholar but
] also as 2 DlltntI OF llt Norman Htnon
club The next Oldest son. Ira is
another catcher and mas engagements
I two or three weeks ahead of time with
nearby towns. He was Harrv's on,y
| catcher with whom De could condition
I himself before he Joined the local tear
and from the way he handle himself
he showed thar he has the materia
necessary TO make n good catcher
Next in order IN tho Hoch family
comes Paul. Ralph and Linford. an,
those who have any doubts as TO theh
abilities 10 play BAN have but to SEE
them IN action az thcir fathers farm
/ While there are other baseball familie.
on record. the Hoch family Of Della
ware neel but watching to demonstrate
! its abilities as players.
Their sober manly habits have mad
them friends where ever they hav
I played ana through their earnest ef
forts. success seems 10 follow them
1t win not be lone before the Hoe
brothers viii he hearl Of in the bi
leagues ami the hest wishes Of Tn
Journal will follow them