Evening star., 1909-05-02
PITCHING BASE BALL
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
Brilliant Record of William F.
Hart of the Southern
League.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


LITTLE ROCK, Ask, April IS, 1909.
twenty-five years in organized base
ball. forty-three years of age and still a
winning pitcher in a lCass \ league-such
in brief is the record of William f. Hart.
who in his quarter of a century the
diamond has worn the uniforms cf twenty
different clubs in seven leagues. Father
Time seems to have stayed his ruthless
hand from good old Bill Hart. who in the
few times that he has tested his right arm
this spring has found that it has lost none
OF its strength and cunning. All ndica-
tions point to The veterans being as eff
fective he ever has been throughout
his long career upon the diamond.
Unlike the vast majority of ball players
Bill has aversion TO telling his age
In fact he is proud of the fact that he
was born in Cincinnati in 1866. In his
youth he taught the printers trade,
a vocation which he still plies during the
off season. But boy all his spare
time spent upon the lots of Cincin-
natl where he gained considerable rep
utation as Il pitcher.
1t was in 1854 that Bill made his debut
into professional base ball. He then
sturdy younsSter of eighteen. At that
time the Union Association was in exist
ence. a base ball organization of which
most of the present-day fans have never
heard. 1t was organized 10 fight the Ma
IT,
the Brotherhood, it was exceedingly short
lived.
Cincinnati was one of the cities in the
circuit, and the club maintained a sec
ondary team. on which young Hart was
the leading pitcher. In the middle of the
season. however. the league blew, and
ELL. boldly forsaking his type case. sign
ed up with the Crbana, Ohio independent
team, with which he finished the season.
Started With Chattanooga.
His professional career really began in
the Southern League. He started with
Chattanooga. and played there In 1885
and part of 1856, when he was sold to
the Philadelphia team. The Philadelphia
management, however, concluded that
the young pitcher needed more seasoning,
and sent him to the Lincoln. NeD., team
of the Western League. His work at
tracted much attention that Cincin-
nati drafted him at the close of the sea-
son, but without giving him a trial sent
him 10 Buffalo in the International
In 1859 and 1890 Hart was with Des
Moines. in the Western league and IN
1891 he helped Sioux City win the pen
nant in the same league. The next
Year he signed with the Chicago club of
lie newly formed American Association.
When this organization exploded in the
middle of the season Bill caught ON
with the Brooklyn National League :Sam.
With Brooklyn he pitched the greatest
ball of his whole career. but near the
close OF the season lie snapped tendon
in his pitching arm. Hart then concluded
that his base ball days were over and
returned to his printers case in Cincin-
nati, where lie remained during 1895
The following spring, however. the in
jared member seemedsss strong as ever.
and when the season opened Bill could
resist the call of the diamond no longer.
His old club at Sioux City was only too
glad to offer him berth. lie pitched
great ball that year. his effectiveness
hcinS responsible in no small measure for
Sioux City winning a second pcnnant
Joins st. Louis Team.
in 1899 Pittshurs drafted him back into
the big league. The following year the
Plrates traded him To ST. Louis for Fred
lB"nesD Ely. the shortstop lie remained
with st. Louis through 1896 and 1897, and
the following year another trade sent him
back TO Pittsburg
In 1899 PittsburS traded Hart IN tho
milwaukee, club. of the Western League
for Clarence beaumont and he remained
there until 1901. when he went to (,leye-
land. III the American League
In tHf. he went to Peoria as manager
aud remained there for two years THEN
lie was offered position As umpire in
the American Association and he worked
through the season of 1895 in that capac-
ity. Tie famous battle i'm which he Isid
OUT Manager Ed BatroNS of IndianapOIis
Il sti1l recalled in the American Associa-
tion
But an umpirc'S life did not appeal to
Bin. and In 1909 he accepted an offer 10
pitch for Columbus. lie. had Il great
year. lie lost his first two games. then
Won twelve in row. and lost his last
two. his long string of victories enabling
Columbus TO win the pennant.
The next year he was with Indianapolis
But they decided that he Was too old and
turned him loose. Mike Finn heard that
Hart WAS free and eagerly seized the on
p"rfunitv to grab the old boy.
Time has proved the wisdom of his ac-
ton. Under the hot southern sun Hart
has pitched great ball. lie has lost his
oidtime speed. but his curve bali is a
thing To marvel AT. and no pitcher in any
league has anything the veteran when
II comes to outgnessing the batter.
And. as for cooincSS we'll Bill has been
I'm this business too long To he worried by
the taunts of the hostile bleachers or the
cries of the opposing coachcrs.
1t Is one of the most delightful pas
times in the world for "A lover of the ma
tional game TO get Bill into "A reminiscent
mood and listen to his tales OF old days
OF stars past and present. whom he knew
by aatual contact on the diamond You
cannot mention bis leagne player who
attained any prominence III the good old