The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-07-28

Hart for many years intimately con nected with big league baseball died at his home in this city this evening For several years he was president of the Chicago National club. The fun eral arrangements have not yet been made.
 James A. Hart did much to elevate baseball to it's present standard. He was regarded as one of the best in formed baseball men in the country Many rules now deemed indispens able, were championed by Hart. The foul strike rule, one of the most i'm portant, was his final effort in rule making. He was largely responsible for the abolition of foul bound, de. fining the coachers' box, changing the pitchers box and substituting the slab, altering the shape of the home plate, requiring the catcher to play close up to the plate all the time abolishing the foul tip and covering of the players bench.
 He was actively engaged in base ball for twenty-five years, retiring as president of the Chicago Nation als in 1905 when Charles w. Murphy took over the club. He was closely identified with the National league for 16 years, entering the league in 1889, just prior to the Brotherhood fight in 1890. From 1891 to the time he retired-almost 15 years-he was president of the Cubs, having suc- ceeded A. G. Spalding, who resigned.
 Hart was born in Girard, Pa., July 10, 1855, and at the age of I5 was secretary of his home club. After leaving school he devoted 13 years to mercantile pursuits. owning stores in Pennsylvania, California, Illinois and Kentucky.
 He first connected with profession. at baseball in Louisville, Ky. The old Eclipse team, before the days of the association, attracted him. The team played Sunday ball with such clubs as it could find as opponents Comiskeys Browns of St. Louis, the Philadelphia Athletics and similar or. ganizations When the American as sociation was organized in 1882, he became vice-president and a member of the board of directors of the Louis vile club, which succeeded the Eclipse team. He practically ran the club, the work requiring so much of his time that he quit the mercantile business.
 In the winter of 1886-1SS7, he sold his interests in the Louisville club and purchased the controlling in terest in the Milwaukee club, then in the old Western league. He was president and manager thru 1887. 1888, and in the winter of 1888-1SS9, became American manager of the "Chicagos" and the "AllAmericans, '' the first baseball teams organized for tour of the world. He handled the business affairs of the clubs on their way from New York to San Francisco, in the meantime disposing of his Milwaukee interests.
 He returned to Chicago, and while Spalding was on the world tour with the two teams, Hart received offers of managerial positions from several clubs, including Boston and Washing ton of the National league. He ac cepted the Boston offer and became manager in 1889. The following spring he went to England and Scot land to introduce baseball in those countries. When he retured he de voted most of his time to pacifyine the factions in the Brotherhood war acting as a "go-between" for the players and the National league. He was secretary of the Chicago club al that time and at it's annual meeting in April, 1891, he was elected presi