The Cordova daily times., 1919-07-19
WIDELY KNOWN
BASEBALL MAN
CALLED HOME;

CHICAGO, July IS (by Associated
Press) James A. Hart, pioneer base
ball magnate, and former owner of the
Chicago Nationals, died here today.
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 indispensable
were championed by Hart. The foul
strike rule, one of the most impOr-
tant, was his final effort in rule-mak-
ing. He was largely responsible for
the abolition of foul bound, defining
the coachers' box. changing the pitch
ers' box and substituting the slab, al
tering the shape of the home plate, re
quiring the catcher to play close up 20
the plate all the time, abolishing the
foul tip and covering the players
bench
He was actively engaged in baseball
for twenty-five years, retiring as presi-
Ident 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, entering the League in 1889, just
prior to the Brotherhood fight in 1890.
From 1891 to the time he retired-al-
most 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 was
secretary Of his home club. After
leaving school he devoted thirteen
years to mercantile pursuits, owning
stores in Pennsylvania, California IL
linois and Kentucky.
He first connected with professional
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-CO mis-
keys Browns of st. Louis, the PhiIa-
delphia Athletics and similar organ
izations. When the American Assoc
citation was organized, in 1882, he be-
came 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 bust
ness.
In the winter of 1886-1887 he sold
his interests in the Louisville club
and purchased the controlling interest
in the Milwaukee club, then in the
old Western league. He was president
and manager through .1887-1888, and
in the winter of 1888-1889 became
American manager of the Chicagos
and the All-Americans, the first base
ball teams organized for tour of the
world. He handled the business af-
fairs 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 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 go
between for the players and the Ma
tional League. He was secretary of
the Chicago club at that time, and at
Its annual meeting in April, 1891, he
was elected president.