The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-04

With the Little Rock ball club In
theh Southern league s. a pitcher with
"a remarkable record. His name is wiz
liam Hart, but to an unlimited number
he is known just as plain ''BiIl." Hart
has played ball in nearly every big city
in the country and is as well, il not
better known than any other player in
harness.
Hart has played ball twenty -tiye
years. and although he is AZ years Of
age, he is still winner, and looks good
for many more years. Hart has worn
the uniforms of twenty different clubs
In seven leagues. He was born in
Cincinnati in 1866. In his youth he
was taught the printers trade. a yoca
tion which he still plies during the off
season. But as boy all his spare
time was spent upon the lots of Gin
cinnati, where he gained a considerable
reputation as pitcher.
1t was in 1884 that Bill made his
debut In professional baseball. He was
then sturdy youngster OF is. At thai
time the Union association was In ex-
istence, baseball organization OF
which most of the present day fans
have never heard. 1t was organized
to fight the National league, and, like
it's predecessor, the Brotherhood, IL
was exceedingly short lived.
His professional career really began
in the Southern league. He started
with Chattanooga, and played there II,
1885 and a part OF 1885, when he was
sold to the Philadelphia team. The
Philadelphia management, however.
concluded that the young pitcher need
ed more seasoning, and sent him to
the Lincoln, Neb., team OF the West
ern league. His work attracted SO
much attention that Cincinnati drafted
him at the close OF The season. but
without giving him a trial sent him to
Buffalo In the international league.
In 1889 and 1890 Hart was with Des
Moines. I'm the Western league. and I'm
1894 he helped Sioux city win the PEN
nant In the same league The next
year he signed with the Chicago club
OF the newly formed American asso
citation. When this organization ex-
ploded in the middle OF the season Bill
caught on with the Brooklyn National
league team.
With Brooklyn he pitched the great
est bail OF his whole career. but near
the close OF the season he snapped a
tendon In his pitching arm.
In 1896 Pittsburg drafted him back
into the big league. The following
year the pirates traded him to St
Louis for Fred (Bones) Ely, the short
stop. He remained with st. Louis
through 1895 and 1897, and the follow
ing year another trade sent him back
to Pittsburg
In 1898 Pittsburg traded Hart to the
Milwaukee club of the Western league
for Clarence Beaumont and he re-
manned there until 1901. when he went
to Cleveland In the American league.
In 1902 he went to Peoria as man
ager. and remained there for two years.
Then he was offered position as um-
pire in the American association. and
he worked through the season OF 1905
in that capacity and made big hit.
But the unpire's life did not appeal
to Bill, and In 1906 he accepted an Of
fer to pitch for Columbus. He had 8
great year. He lost his first two games
then won twelve In row, and lost his
last two. his long string or victories
enabling Columbus to win the pennart.
The next year he WI with Indian
apolis. But they decided he was too
old ana turned him loose. Mike Finn
or Little Rock heard that Hart was
free, and eagerly seized the oppor-
tunity 10 grab the old boy
Time has proved the wisdom og his
action Under the bot southern sun
Hart has pitched great bali. RE has
lost his time speed. but his curve
bail lii a thing til marvel at