The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-19
HART, PIONEER OF
BASEBALL, is DEAD
Former Chicago Club Owner
Framed Many Important
Rules of Game.

CHICAGO, July ls.-James A Hart.
mer president and owner Of the Chicago
National League Club. died at his homo
here to-day
Mr.. Hart was 81 years old Death
was caused by organic heart disease.
He 10 survived by a widow and two
children. The funeral services will be
held Monday.
James A. Hart did much to elevate
baseball to its present standard. He
was regarded as one OF the best in
formed baseball men in the country.
Many rules now deemed indispensable
were championed by Hart The foul
strike rule, one Of the most important,
was his final effort IN rule making. He
was largely responsible for the abolition
Of foul bound. defining the coacher's
box. changing the pitchers box and sub
shutting tho slab, altering the shape Of
the homo plate. requiring the catcher to
play close UP to the plate all the time,
abolishing the foul tip and covering tho
players bench
Quarter Century I'm Game.
He was actively engaged in baseball
for twenty-five years, retiring as presi-
dent of the Chicago Nationals In 1905,
when Charles w. Murphy took over the
club. He was closely identified with the
National League for sixteen years, en-
tering the league in 1889, Just prior to
the brotherhood fight in 1890. From 1891
to the time he retired-almost fifteen
years-he was president of the Cubs,
having succeeded A. G. Spalding. who
resigned.
Hart was born in Girard, Pa, July
10, 1855, and at the age OF is he was
secretary OF his home club. After leaving
school he devoted thirteen years to mer-
camille pursuits, owning stores in Penn
sylvania, California, Illinois and Ken
lucky.
He first connected with professional
baseball in Louisville. KY. The old
Eclipse team before the days OF the as
ISOLATION, attracted him. The team
played Sunday ball with such clubs as
It could find as opponents-Comiskey's
Browns Of st. Louis. the Philadelphia
Athletics and similar organizations.
When the American Association was or
ganized in 1892 he became vice-presl-
dent and a member OF the board of d.
rectors OF the Louisville club. which
succeeded the Eclipse team. He practi-
cally ran the club, the work requiring
so much OF his time that he quit the
mercantile business
Managed "An Americana"
In the winter Of 1sS6-S7 he sold his
interests in the Louisville club and pur-
chased the controlling interest in the
Milwaukee club, then in the old Western
League. He was president and manager
through 1Ss7-Ss, and in the winter OF
1SSs-S9 became American manager OF
the "Chicagoes" and the "All Ameri-
cans" the first baseball teams organ
lied for n 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 Mil
waukee interests.
He returned to Chicago, and while
Spaldng was on the world tour with
the two teams Hart received offers OF
managerial positions from several clubs
including Boston and Washington OF the
National League, He accepted the Bos-
ton offer and became manager in 1889.
The following spring he went to Eng
land and Scotland to introduce baseball
in those countries. When he returned he
devoted most OF his time to pacifying
the factions In the Brotherhood war
acting as a "go-between" for the play
ers and the National League He was
secretary of the Chicago club at that
time and AZ its annual meeting In April
1891, he was elected president.