The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-25
JACK O'HARA HAD
 COLORFUL CAREER IN EASTERN SPORTS
Springfield Man w ell Known to Waterbury Fans-Played Here in 1911

Well known to Waterbury base ball followers was John F. O'Hara who died in Mercy hospital, Springfield Saturday after a fall down the cellar stairs of his home Friday night. Jack OHara, as he was known to the eastern base ball world, played with Waterbury in 1911. His widow is a sister ot the late Dan O'Neil for many years president of the Eastern League.
 Few men were so widely known in the baseball world as O'Hara during the course of a career as minor league player and man. ager.
 His baseball career began at Nj agara university, where he played on the varsity nine of that college. A teammate was Joe McCarthv, manager of the New York fan- kees.
 O'Eara entered baseball profes- sionally upon leaving Niagara as d third baseman. In 1909 and 1910 he was with Northampton in the old Connecticut league, before that playing in the Tri-State League.
 He Joined the Waterbury club in 1911 and the next year played with Holyoke. He came to the Springfield club in 1913 as an in- fielder and later managed the club, under William E. Carey. From this immediate section he went to the New England League, where he became a prominent figure as player and manager.
 O'Kara returned to the Eastern League in 1919, with Pittsfie.d, which had Just purchased the New London franchise. He got togeth- CT bclub almost overnight. That club won the pennant. The same season O'Hara came to Springfield to manage the Ponies, under Ar thur J. Shean, present owner.
 He turned magnate few years later with T. J. Sullivan. Jr, local coal magnate. They operated the Bridgeport club. O'Hara managing the team and giving it the nick name of Bears which it has car- ried ever since.
 Later he was connected with the Hartford club as a business man. ager under James H. Clarkin. IL was while he was at Hartford that O'Hara induced Leo Durocher, West Side boy. to turn profession al. Durocher is now with the Gin cinnati club of the National League. O'Hara engineered deals involving the sale of score of players to the big leagues, but the Durocher deal to the Yankees was one of his largest.
 He was rated canny judge Of baseball talent, and hustllng, az gressive player and manager. IL was said of him that when he was | actively connected with baseball he | knew as many ball players and | other persons connected with the | game as any man in New England. | His Knowledge of ball players was keen, too, and he could go to a | telegraph office and within few hours have ball club together.
 O'Hara also promoted baseball | For several years he used dia- mond in Windsor Locks as the ]. center of his activities. He brought | college and semiprostars together under the Windsor Locks banner | and directed them against big league teams. Some of the attrac- llOIS tlle uiS" uH iiioHS c" o''0S persons.
 O'Hara had dropped out of base ball of late years, although always maintaining keen interest in the sport. He neve rhad retired from the sport altogether. and had hint ed only recently to friends that he might return to the sport.
 A few years ago he was keenly interested in venture designed to bring professional hockey to the city of Hartford and had accom- plished a great deal of preliminary work before he gave up the ven- ture. He always maintained that hockey was a coming sport and within a few years would be the outstanding winter sport of the country. He also was part owner of a public golf course in northern Connecticut at one time.
 In baseball O'Hara always was rated as good snowman, an ex- ecutive who had vision. He knew. too, the value of publicity
 William F.. Carey, for whom he playe and managed. said of him: Jack O'Hara was the type of bail player and manager who never quit. He fought until the last man was out. He ever was the hustllng type of player, good snowman and versatile chap. He was good student of baseball and he probably knew as many men in baseball as any other man in the cast. He could put together team overnight"