The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
PIRATES sign
MINSTREL MAN
Charles Hilliard, with Honey
Boy" Evans, to Join
the Pittsburg Club.
IS A STAR OUTFIELDER
Won Fame as Member of the Uni
versity of South Carolina Team
Two Years Ago.

Charles HIliard pcrsonator of an al
Turing, fashionably-gown octoroon. with
George Evans Honey Boy" Minstrels.
who will appear at the Columbia The
ater during the week commen ling Mon
day February 10, will play the outfield
for the Pittsburg National League club
next season. provided, Of course, he
makes good.
This simulator of the gentler sex with
the Honey Boy" Minstrels has just been
added to the roster of the Pirates. the
histrion, according to telegraphic advice.
having yesterday signed the contract
forwarded TO him by Manager Fred
Clarke.
Astonishment is being evinced on all
sides in big league circles over the sign
ing of this actor, as, although frequently
satellites OF the diamond find stage work
most lucrative for them during the time
the stove league is in session, Hilliard
will be the first actor who has ever
been signed by a major league aGgrega-
tion.
Hnliard has acquired in the summer
months almost as widespread a reputa-
ton because of his prOwess at the bat
and his extraordinary ability in the held
AS he has during the theatrical season
in deceIving the patrons of the play
houses over the country with the clever
and artistic manner in which he i'm
pcrsonates members of the Sex opposite
his.
Clarke and several other big league
managers have been angling for his serV-
ices for the past three years. The OBJ
jections Of his mother have in the past
proved the barrier that prevented Hlllaro
from arcepting the contract with its con-
comitaut high salary. These were over
come a few months ago. permitting the
''pretticSt girl Of minstrelsy' TO safe a
Iong-smothyrcd ambition. He looked with
favor on the contracts that had been
danglcd before his eyes. Result: He Is
an embryonic Buccaneer.
Reports in june.
billiard will not, however. join the
Pirates until about the middle of May.
He will then not be in perfect physical
condition. and it will probably be June l
before ne will make his debut Clarke has
expressed a willingness 10 accept these
conditions. as, basinE his opinion on the
raany stories he has heard of the ablllty
OF billiard on the diamond, he thinks
that he can develop him into a valuable
man.
This pretty girl was graduated from
the University Of South Carolina, and
While at that institution he played half
hack on the varsity football eleven. sec
ond base on the ball nine, and was
sprinter on the track team. He was
picked as u member Of the All-Southern
football team.
Hilliard has had always as strong
penchaut for theatricals as for athletics
Frequently ne impersonated college
widow in the productions offered by the
dramatic club of his alma mater. His
fame for his cleverness along this line
spread broadcast. The Honey boy
heard Of him in New York. and when
Julian EltinEe left the Honey Boy
minstrels. the Honey Boy journeyed
TO the University Of South Carolina, saw
and liked his acting and Immediately
engaged HiIIiard
Th,. Honey Boy company boasts OF
a strong bail team, and paradOxical as
it may seem and although the thousands
who have been entranCed with his clever
impersonation Of a girl would b" reluc-
tant to believe it, Hilliard bats in the
.'cleau-up" place on III" team. II is the
custom Of the Honey Boy" minstrels
to play games in the interest of some
worthy charity in the cities they visit
usually with the Elks-and many
game has been won through timely
homer by the impersonator.
Should IIlIiard make gOod-and his
friends and admirers have not the slight
st DOUBT that he will do so-he VIII play
i'm the summer with the Pirates. but will
leave them in time to depart from the
metropolis with the Honey Boy troupe
for its annual trip to entertain the the
atrical clientele of the nation
Honey Boy Coach.
TLrr.. may bc tV" members Of the
v.-iflr he
durin. the coming season, AS the dlmlnh-
live srar and owner Of the company nI
hIsckfir, celebrities has been offered Il
contract hv Fred Clarke who wishes him
10 arpolr Cn the coaching lines. MuGsy
NTcC;,aw manager Of the New York
Giants. hOwcveN- also seeks the services
cf the minstrel star as a coachrr to sue
coed Arlie Latham.
Although the Honey Boy has both
,ortracts n atcyance, he has not as yet
given his, friends the slightest inklinS
as to mis- plans along this line. Naude-
Vile managers are eager to secure MIN
during trr summer months. and the
lrobabla solution Of the problem as 10
whethor he VIII reEale thousands from
The stage or stir up the enthusiasm OF
fans on the coaching lines-emuiating the
clowuiSh antics Of GERMANY SCEaefer and
Nick Altrock. Df the Washington team
will 20 settled by the scale "f
aacendcd by the SaseDail and theatrical
magnat"s 1t is quite probable that al
though the Honey BOY has always had
a desire 20 appear on the coaching lines
instead of hopping about in a coacher's
box. he will dance about behind the foot
lights
Cup TO Batter.
The Honey Boy" has annually,
since 1905. givep a handsome and costly
silver loving cup to the worlds cham
lion hatsman. The initial year it was
won by John "Honus" Wagner, the
stellar shortstop of the Pirates" but
since then It has been annually gar
nered in by Ty Cobb, the famous CEN
terfieIder OF the Detroit (American
IeagUeD team.
The Honey Boy has been eager for
vars to hold a controlling interest in
the stock of a major league club. He
and his good friend, Corbett, headed a
syndicate that sought TO purchase the
Boston Red SoX a few years, ago. but
they were outbid by James a. McAleer
and his associates.
When Horace FoSel put on the mar
ket the stock he was supposed. to hold
as president of the Philadelphia National
League club. Corbett and Evans organ