May 27 - Umpire O'Donnell fined Moorhead's mouthy catcher Tim Keefe $2 in a 12-7 Moorhead win. In the same contest, O'Donnell booted Wahpeton-Breckenridge player/manager Ed Corbett for a tantrum in which he nearly "foamed at the mouth." (Moorhead Independent)
May 28 - O'Donnell fined Keefe again for calling him a "vile name", and the Moorhead catcher cemented his entry into the hall of jerkdom. (Fargo Forum)
May 30 - George Challis, then a league umpire, ejected and fined Fargo's Arthur "Tige" Lyons for "abusive language," according the the Sunday Argus. Lyons was fined $2 and then escorted off the grounds by Grand Forks police chief Ryan.
June 13 - An exhibition game got heated and O'Donnell was the umpire in the middle of the fray again. The Wahpeton-Breckenridge club argued unsuccessfully on a fan interference ("block ball") decision. When the dust settled, Ed Corbett's club refused to retake the field, and the game was forfeited to Moorhead.
June 26 - June was a fairly quiet month for bad behavior until a contest between Fargo and Moorhead on the 26th. A display of atrocious umpiring prompted Fargo fans to rush the umpire Tupper after the game, who luckily escaped physical harm from the angry mob.
July 12 - The Forum reported that three Moorhead players were fined a hefty $25 for appearing to a game either very hungover or very drunk. Team captain Jack Page refused to pay the fine for a time, but apparently capitulated, and rejoined the aptly named Barmaids.
July 17 - "Peaceful Valley" Brown uncharacteristically lost his composure in arguing a call by Tige Lyons, who had migrated to the position of RRVL umpire. Brown, Fargo's reliable and well-respected first baseman, was ejected, but allowed to continue playing at the pleading of team captain George Keas.
July 23 - Umpire O'Donnell ejected Ed Corbett again, this time for calling him "vile names." Corbett responded by ordering his team off the field and forfeiting the game.
July 30 - Immediately after a blowout win for Fargo, Wahpeton-Breckenridge first baseman Hart charged umpire Tige Lyons, assaulting him and knocking him to the ground. The Grand Forks Herald speculated that Hart may have been trying to regain the respect of the W-B fans after the team's twelve run drubbing.
August 1 - In a game between Fargo and Moorhead, umpire O'Donnell took issue with each team's catcher. O'Donnell first ejected Fargo's Hartman and ordered him removed from the grounds by a cop. When Moorhead's Tim Keefe began verbal sparring with O'Donnell, the umpire left the field himself in frustration.
August 2 - Fargo fans tended to enjoy Josh Reilly's personality and flair. That was until the nomadic infielder showed his true colors.
August 7-8 - Hard feelings between three members of the Fargo club results in the most interesting drama of the 1897 RRVL season.
Showing posts with label Hartman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hartman. Show all posts
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Top 5 "Good Guys" from the 1897 RRVL
In a season filled with plenty of bad behavior, here are five of the most gentlemanly personalities from the Red River Valley League of 1897:
1) George Challis - umpire; Fargo manager
It is nearly impossible to find a single bad word written about George Challis. His umpiring work was unanimously considered to be the best in the region. Challis was so respected that after he became Fargo's manager during the 1897 season, he was called upon to finish umpiring one of Fargo's own games after umpire O'Donnell quit the game. A benefit game was played after the season to raise money and show appreciation for Challis.
2) Deacon Phillippe - Fargo's promising young pitcher
Phillippe, on his way to stardom, was by all accounts a humble player during his time in Fargo. His disposition made him instantly popular among local fans, and his work ethic eventually made him a star pitcher in the majors.
3) Umpire O'Donnell - umpire in 1897
O'Donnell regularly had to deal with nonsense while umpiring league games, particularly from Moorhead catcher Tim Keefe. Early in the season, O'Donnell fined but did not eject Keefe in back-to-back games for arguing and foul language. Later in the season, Keefe's antics caused O'Donnell to leave the field rather than finish umpiring a game between Moorhead and Fargo. Earlier in that game, O'Donnell had ejected Fargo catcher Hartman and had a cop escort him from the field. Impressively, O'Donnell didn't respond in anger at any point despite dealing with plenty of reckless behavior.
4) Peaceful Valley Brown - popular Fargo player
Despite an incident in which he vociferously argued with umpire Tige Lyons and was ejected, Charles "Peaceful Valley" Brown generally lived up to his nickname. He was a consistent player, generally considered to be a gentleman, and became a fan favorite after first playing for Fargo in 1896.
5) Sheriff Bodkin - Moorhead manager
The local sheriff and Moorhead team manager was well-respected in the community. A Civil War veteran who fought for the 104th Illinois infantry, Bodkin achieved the rank of sergeant, spent over three months as a prisoner of war, and was wounded on two separate occasions. In 1876, he began the first of two stints as Clay county sheriff. In 1897, Bodkin took on additional responsibility as manager of the Barmaids. In this role, Bodkin was a strong advocate for the RRVL and his team, the pennant winners for the season. (The Record Vol 3 Issue 8 p. 152 Feb. 1898).
1) George Challis - umpire; Fargo manager
It is nearly impossible to find a single bad word written about George Challis. His umpiring work was unanimously considered to be the best in the region. Challis was so respected that after he became Fargo's manager during the 1897 season, he was called upon to finish umpiring one of Fargo's own games after umpire O'Donnell quit the game. A benefit game was played after the season to raise money and show appreciation for Challis.
2) Deacon Phillippe - Fargo's promising young pitcher
Phillippe, on his way to stardom, was by all accounts a humble player during his time in Fargo. His disposition made him instantly popular among local fans, and his work ethic eventually made him a star pitcher in the majors.
3) Umpire O'Donnell - umpire in 1897
O'Donnell regularly had to deal with nonsense while umpiring league games, particularly from Moorhead catcher Tim Keefe. Early in the season, O'Donnell fined but did not eject Keefe in back-to-back games for arguing and foul language. Later in the season, Keefe's antics caused O'Donnell to leave the field rather than finish umpiring a game between Moorhead and Fargo. Earlier in that game, O'Donnell had ejected Fargo catcher Hartman and had a cop escort him from the field. Impressively, O'Donnell didn't respond in anger at any point despite dealing with plenty of reckless behavior.
4) Peaceful Valley Brown - popular Fargo player
Despite an incident in which he vociferously argued with umpire Tige Lyons and was ejected, Charles "Peaceful Valley" Brown generally lived up to his nickname. He was a consistent player, generally considered to be a gentleman, and became a fan favorite after first playing for Fargo in 1896.
5) Sheriff Bodkin - Moorhead manager
The local sheriff and Moorhead team manager was well-respected in the community. A Civil War veteran who fought for the 104th Illinois infantry, Bodkin achieved the rank of sergeant, spent over three months as a prisoner of war, and was wounded on two separate occasions. In 1876, he began the first of two stints as Clay county sheriff. In 1897, Bodkin took on additional responsibility as manager of the Barmaids. In this role, Bodkin was a strong advocate for the RRVL and his team, the pennant winners for the season. (The Record Vol 3 Issue 8 p. 152 Feb. 1898).
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
On This Date: Bad Blood Boils Over
Saturday, August 7, 1897 - Tige Lyons apparently was not satisfied with just arguing with Fargo's catcher Ryan at Haas's saloon in downtown Moorhead Friday night. The Red River Valley League umpire and former Fargo player got into a disagreement with Ryan at the bar, and Ryan (or someone with him) knocked Lyons to the floor. The catcher may have hoped he had seen the last of "Tige", and migrated to Murphy's saloon later that night. But Lyons made an unwelcome appearance again, found Ryan, and knocked him out with a "blunt instrument." Interestingly, if it weren't for a followup confrontation Saturday afternoon between the men, the story may never have surfaced.
At about 2:30pm on Saturday, Lyons found Ryan on Broadway in Fargo. On this occasion, he had former Fargo catcher Hartman with him, who was no doubt recruited due to his reckless nature and the fact that Ryan had displaced him as the Fargo backstop. The two men ganged up on Ryan, and Hartman pulled out a razor while Tige cheered him on. As Hartman chased Ryan into Alex Stern's clothing store, Ryan picked up a brick and hurled it at Hartman in self-defense. By this point, officer Bingham of the Fargo police department was on the scene and arrested Hartman. Meanwhile, Lyons took off towards Moorhead in an attempt to escape arrest, but was chased down near the Great Northern bridge and taken in. Later that day, awaiting their appearance before municipal judge Hanson, Hartman made his own escape attempt, but was tracked down by Bingham in a slough on First avenue north.
The two embittered former Fargo players appeared in court before judge Hanson on Monday, but the bizarre chain of events would have a very anti-climactic ending. The cases against both men were dismissed, oddly, because Ryan failed to appear at the hearings. No reason was given for Ryan's absence, and the specific reasons that precipitated the assault were also unclear. The previous week Hartman had been let go in favor of Ryan. After this, Lyons apparently took a barrage of verbal abuse from the new Fargo catcher at the August 2 game between Fargo and Moorhead. What Ryan specifically did or said to Lyons during the game is unclear, but the Moorhead Independent amusingly observed that "the freak catcher yelled and gyrated like an escaped lunatic." The sole reason given in the Forum for the attack was the fact that Ryan had been bad-mouthing Lyons, who apparently was trying to stir up discord among the Fargo players. Ultimately, the resentment among the men, along with a likely liberal flow of alcohol, played a role in spurring the violence.
Lyons and Hartman left the area, and the following June, the men were said to be trying out for a Seattle club. Tige had not made the team, but Hartman was playing "magnificent ball" and had reportedly quit drinking.
Also on Saturday, August 7, second baseman Breuer's four errors hurt the Divorcees in a loss to the Barmaids. Breuer deserves some sympathy as he was likely a local man, called on to fill in after the release and blacklisting of Josh Reilly. The Forum also blamed poor umpiring as a contributing factor in the loss, though they shouldn't have expected much. The game was officiated by a Western Union operator who hadn't umpired a game all year in the Red River Valley League. The Moorhead nine scored two runs in the ninth inning to give pitcher Pike Mullaney yet another win, which fit the mold of a season in which the Barmaids dominated while Fargo struggled to find consistency. The loss went to Gus Munch, who surrendered just five hits, struck out six, and gave up no earned runs.
Fargo Forum and Daily Republican
August 7, 1897 Front page "Baseballists Scrap"
August 9, 1897 p.3 "City Locals"; p.4 "Saturday's Game"
August 10, 1897 p.3 "City Locals"
June 20, 1898 p.4 "Baseball"
Moorhead Independent
August 6, 1897 Front page "A Battle Royal"
Sunday Argus
August 8, 1897 p. 6 "Two Home Runs"
At about 2:30pm on Saturday, Lyons found Ryan on Broadway in Fargo. On this occasion, he had former Fargo catcher Hartman with him, who was no doubt recruited due to his reckless nature and the fact that Ryan had displaced him as the Fargo backstop. The two men ganged up on Ryan, and Hartman pulled out a razor while Tige cheered him on. As Hartman chased Ryan into Alex Stern's clothing store, Ryan picked up a brick and hurled it at Hartman in self-defense. By this point, officer Bingham of the Fargo police department was on the scene and arrested Hartman. Meanwhile, Lyons took off towards Moorhead in an attempt to escape arrest, but was chased down near the Great Northern bridge and taken in. Later that day, awaiting their appearance before municipal judge Hanson, Hartman made his own escape attempt, but was tracked down by Bingham in a slough on First avenue north.
The two embittered former Fargo players appeared in court before judge Hanson on Monday, but the bizarre chain of events would have a very anti-climactic ending. The cases against both men were dismissed, oddly, because Ryan failed to appear at the hearings. No reason was given for Ryan's absence, and the specific reasons that precipitated the assault were also unclear. The previous week Hartman had been let go in favor of Ryan. After this, Lyons apparently took a barrage of verbal abuse from the new Fargo catcher at the August 2 game between Fargo and Moorhead. What Ryan specifically did or said to Lyons during the game is unclear, but the Moorhead Independent amusingly observed that "the freak catcher yelled and gyrated like an escaped lunatic." The sole reason given in the Forum for the attack was the fact that Ryan had been bad-mouthing Lyons, who apparently was trying to stir up discord among the Fargo players. Ultimately, the resentment among the men, along with a likely liberal flow of alcohol, played a role in spurring the violence.
Lyons and Hartman left the area, and the following June, the men were said to be trying out for a Seattle club. Tige had not made the team, but Hartman was playing "magnificent ball" and had reportedly quit drinking.
Also on Saturday, August 7, second baseman Breuer's four errors hurt the Divorcees in a loss to the Barmaids. Breuer deserves some sympathy as he was likely a local man, called on to fill in after the release and blacklisting of Josh Reilly. The Forum also blamed poor umpiring as a contributing factor in the loss, though they shouldn't have expected much. The game was officiated by a Western Union operator who hadn't umpired a game all year in the Red River Valley League. The Moorhead nine scored two runs in the ninth inning to give pitcher Pike Mullaney yet another win, which fit the mold of a season in which the Barmaids dominated while Fargo struggled to find consistency. The loss went to Gus Munch, who surrendered just five hits, struck out six, and gave up no earned runs.
Fargo Forum and Daily Republican
August 7, 1897 Front page "Baseballists Scrap"
August 9, 1897 p.3 "City Locals"; p.4 "Saturday's Game"
August 10, 1897 p.3 "City Locals"
June 20, 1898 p.4 "Baseball"
Moorhead Independent
August 6, 1897 Front page "A Battle Royal"
Sunday Argus
August 8, 1897 p. 6 "Two Home Runs"
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
On This Date: Hartman Ejected, O'Donnell Quits
August 1, 1897 - Fargo's 7-4 win over crosstown rival Moorhead was only part of the story on this date. Overshadowing Oscar Peterson's great pitching performance for the Divorcees was some extra-curricular nonsense from the game's catchers. Hartman started at catcher for Fargo, and wasted no time getting into trouble. He began arguing with the umpire, O'Donnell, for an unknown reason, and became so incensed that a policeman was called. The cop escorted Hartman, known to be a fan of hard drink, off the field. Hayes finished the game as the Fargo backstop.
In the fifth inning, Moorhead catcher Tim Keefe similarly lost his composure. According to the Forum, Keefe's conduct was even worse than Hartman's (however, bias from the home team's newspaper in its account is a distinct possibility). Again, the precipitating factor for Moorhead catcher's behavior is unknown. The Fargo paper criticized O'Donnell for not ejecting Keefe from the game, as he had with Hartman. At this point, the embattled umpire was fed up enough to quit the game. The well-respected George Challis assumed the umpiring duties for the remainder of the game, despite the fact that he was also Fargo's manager.
Meanwhile, a game was played, and Fargo hit Pike Mullaney hard, tallying 13 hits and five earned runs off the Moorhead ace. The Divorcees were led by center fielder L. D. Hopkins, who went three for four with two doubles and three runs scored. Fargo's starter Oscar "Pete" Peterson surrendered just eight hits and two earned runs to the Barmaids. The rivarly would continue for the next three days, as Fargo and Moorhead were scheduled for three games in Fargo, followed by three games in Moorhead. The Grand Forks-Crookston series of six games was also scheduled to get underway. Only one of these series would be played...
Fargo Forum and Daily Republican August 2, 1897 p. 4 "Easy for Fargo"
In the fifth inning, Moorhead catcher Tim Keefe similarly lost his composure. According to the Forum, Keefe's conduct was even worse than Hartman's (however, bias from the home team's newspaper in its account is a distinct possibility). Again, the precipitating factor for Moorhead catcher's behavior is unknown. The Fargo paper criticized O'Donnell for not ejecting Keefe from the game, as he had with Hartman. At this point, the embattled umpire was fed up enough to quit the game. The well-respected George Challis assumed the umpiring duties for the remainder of the game, despite the fact that he was also Fargo's manager.
Meanwhile, a game was played, and Fargo hit Pike Mullaney hard, tallying 13 hits and five earned runs off the Moorhead ace. The Divorcees were led by center fielder L. D. Hopkins, who went three for four with two doubles and three runs scored. Fargo's starter Oscar "Pete" Peterson surrendered just eight hits and two earned runs to the Barmaids. The rivarly would continue for the next three days, as Fargo and Moorhead were scheduled for three games in Fargo, followed by three games in Moorhead. The Grand Forks-Crookston series of six games was also scheduled to get underway. Only one of these series would be played...
Fargo Forum and Daily Republican August 2, 1897 p. 4 "Easy for Fargo"
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
On This Date: Sporting News Mention and Fargo's Team Leaders
The Red River Valley League received mention on page six of the Sporting News on July 10th. In a dispatch written by W. Cloutier, likely a Fargoan, the sporting weekly mentioned Fargo's signing of pitchers Deacon Phillippe and Fred Steele, and ripped umpire Tupper's work in a June 26 game between Fargo and Moorhead, saying he had made "...one of the rankest decisions ever seen on the Fargo grounds." ("It Was Larceny"). The biased account also belittled the brash Moorhead catcher Tim Keefe as clearly inferior to Fargo's catcher Hartman (who was hitting .130 at the time).
The Forum on July 10th printed batting and fielding statistics for the Divorcees (through about 23 games):
Batting Average (minimum 30 at-bats):
Zink .322
Peterson .303
Brown .242
Hopkins .224
Jahnke .205
Murphy .200
McDonald .186
Hartman .130
Fielding Average (minimum 30 chances):
Brown .972
Hopkins .929
Hartman .914
Zink .892
McDonald .843
Jahnke .826
Keas .818
Murphy .682 (15 putouts , 15 assists, and 14 errors!)
Fargo Forum and Daily Republican - Saturday Evening
July 10, 1897 Front Page
The Forum on July 10th printed batting and fielding statistics for the Divorcees (through about 23 games):
Batting Average (minimum 30 at-bats):
Zink .322
Peterson .303
Brown .242
Hopkins .224
Jahnke .205
Murphy .200
McDonald .186
Hartman .130
Fielding Average (minimum 30 chances):
Brown .972
Hopkins .929
Hartman .914
Zink .892
McDonald .843
Jahnke .826
Keas .818
Murphy .682 (15 putouts , 15 assists, and 14 errors!)
Fargo Forum and Daily Republican - Saturday Evening
July 10, 1897 Front Page
Sunday, July 8, 2012
On This Date: Blowout Win
July 8, 1897 - Fargo continued to crawl up the RRVL standings with a 10-1 win at Grand Forks. Among the stars of the game was the "Norwegian Cyclone" Oscar Peterson, who scattered seven hits over nine innings, surrendering only one run. Shortstop Bill Zink hit a three-run home run, and the normally light-hitting Catcher Hartman went 3-4 with a double, a home run, and three runs scored. Peaceful Valley Brown received credit for impressive fielding at first base despite sloppy ground conditions, and former Fargo player Arthur Lyons, the umpire for the contest, was praised as "...the most satisfactory umpire seen (in Grand Forks) this year."
The game got a late start due to a pre-game downpour - play did not get underway until 6:30 pm. In an era without stadium lights, beginning the game this late meant the possibility of running out of daylight. Despite the 11 runs scored, though, the game still ended at 8:05 pm, well before sunset.
Fargo Forum - July 9, 1897
The game got a late start due to a pre-game downpour - play did not get underway until 6:30 pm. In an era without stadium lights, beginning the game this late meant the possibility of running out of daylight. Despite the 11 runs scored, though, the game still ended at 8:05 pm, well before sunset.
Fargo Forum - July 9, 1897
Sunday, July 1, 2012
On This Date: Second Triple Play in Three Days
Errors hurt both Fargo and Moorhead in a 5-3 Barmaids win on July 1, which dropped Fargo to a league worst record of 7-15. Peterson was on the hill for the Divorcees, while the Barmaids featured twirler Bob Brush. The fatal blow for Fargo was a four-run fifth inning by Moorhead, fueled by a costly error by second baseman Josh Reilly on a play that would have retired the side.
In the sloppy contest, Fargo's shining moment surprisingly occurred on defense in the form of a 2-3-4 triple play, the second in three days for the Fargo nine. With the bases loaded, Fargo's catcher Hartman fielded Frank O'Reagan's weak hit that stuck in the mud just in front of home plate. Hartman quickly touched home, then threw to "Peaceful Valley" Brown at first to retire O'Reagan. Brown then relayed a throw to Josh Reilly at second base, who tagged Pike Mullaney to complete the trifecta.
Despite a combined 19 hits for the two teams, and atrocious fielding to the tune of nine errors (six by Moorhead), the game was over in one hour, thirty-six minutes, a figure unheard of in professional baseball today.
Other news from July 1st-
- Outfielder Charles Jahnke asked for his release from Fargo and it was granted. Jahnke would play for Moorhead later in the season. The Forum lamented the loss of the "gentlemanly" Jahnke, praising his great fielding prowess.
- Lee Roberts pitched the Mandan, ND team to a 5-4 victory over a team from Fort Yates, ND.
- Outfielder Bergstrom arrived in Fargo to make his debut for the Divorcees.
July 1, 1897 and July 2, 1897 Fargo Forum p.4
In the sloppy contest, Fargo's shining moment surprisingly occurred on defense in the form of a 2-3-4 triple play, the second in three days for the Fargo nine. With the bases loaded, Fargo's catcher Hartman fielded Frank O'Reagan's weak hit that stuck in the mud just in front of home plate. Hartman quickly touched home, then threw to "Peaceful Valley" Brown at first to retire O'Reagan. Brown then relayed a throw to Josh Reilly at second base, who tagged Pike Mullaney to complete the trifecta.
Despite a combined 19 hits for the two teams, and atrocious fielding to the tune of nine errors (six by Moorhead), the game was over in one hour, thirty-six minutes, a figure unheard of in professional baseball today.
Other news from July 1st-
- Outfielder Charles Jahnke asked for his release from Fargo and it was granted. Jahnke would play for Moorhead later in the season. The Forum lamented the loss of the "gentlemanly" Jahnke, praising his great fielding prowess.
- Lee Roberts pitched the Mandan, ND team to a 5-4 victory over a team from Fort Yates, ND.
- Outfielder Bergstrom arrived in Fargo to make his debut for the Divorcees.
July 1, 1897 and July 2, 1897 Fargo Forum p.4
Friday, June 8, 2012
On This Date: Sloppy Game Ends in a Tie
June 8, 1897 - The Fargo Divorcees met the Grand Forks Senators in a poorly played afternoon match up. Backed by a seven run 5th inning, Fargo led 12-5 after five and a half. Sloppy defense in the 8th and 9th squandered a certain Fargo victory - Hartman and Reddy Hill had errors in the 8th, but it was Fargo's shortstop Russell whose misplay proved most costly. With two outs in the ninth, Grand Forks right fielder Rudge hit a "little grounder" which Russell couldn't handle cleanly, allowing the tying run to score. With the game tied 12-12, the teams went to extra innings. After neither team scored in the 10th, the game was called a tie at 5 p.m. to allow the Grand Forks team to catch their scheduled train home. The game was slated to be completed at a later date. In all, the game featured four hit batters, two passed balls, and 15 errors, Fargo with seven and Grand Forks eight. Remarkably, only one of Fargo's runs was earned, while Grand Forks tallied six earned runs.
Charles Jahnke homered for Fargo and future major leaguer Joe Marshall went deep for Grand Forks. (Incidentally, Marshall later became known as "Home Run" Joe, despite hitting no home runs in 118 major league at-bats. Marshall earned the nickname for his minor league work, which included a very impressive 25 homers for the San Francisco Pirates of the Pacific National League in 1903.)
Gus Munch pitched all ten innings for Fargo and struck out eleven Senators, but did allow fourteen hits. Grand Forks pitcher Harris went the distance, striking out only three Divorcees, but scattering ten hits over his ten innings of work. In the end, the Senators' miscues in the field sabotaged his solid pitching performance.
Charles Jahnke homered for Fargo and future major leaguer Joe Marshall went deep for Grand Forks. (Incidentally, Marshall later became known as "Home Run" Joe, despite hitting no home runs in 118 major league at-bats. Marshall earned the nickname for his minor league work, which included a very impressive 25 homers for the San Francisco Pirates of the Pacific National League in 1903.)
Gus Munch pitched all ten innings for Fargo and struck out eleven Senators, but did allow fourteen hits. Grand Forks pitcher Harris went the distance, striking out only three Divorcees, but scattering ten hits over his ten innings of work. In the end, the Senators' miscues in the field sabotaged his solid pitching performance.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Research Challenges
For as much as I enjoy this project, and I really do, there are some challenges and frustrations. I'll share a few:
1) No first names - baseball recaps in the late 1900s usually omitted the first name of the player, and not just in the box scores (which still remains common practice today). Typically, a player was referred to by his position and his last name. My most frustrating example of this is "Catcher Hartman". Hartman played for Fargo for the entire 1897 season, yet not one account in either the Forum or Sunday Argus mentioned his first name. This is especially frustrating because I suspect he was from the area. Finding out a player's first name becomes an exciting discovery. Sometimes, even just getting the first and middle initials (as I have found with A. J. Hessler), is a nice accomplishment. First names help greatly in finding different paths for research.
2) No comprehensive index of the Forum - somewhat surprisingly, no useful searchable index of the Fargo paper exists. The Grand Forks Herald does have a searchable index, which is nice. Though the search mechanisms for older versions of newspapers are not always fully reliable, having something would be nice. Instead, I need to go through each individual newspaper edition that may provide some information. This is fun at times, but tedious, too. As it stands, these are the publications I have searched, page by page:
Fargo Forum - daily editions from April 1 - September 21, 1897, along with some of the mid-June to mid- July of 1896 and some of the summer of 1898
Fargo Sunday Argus - weekly editions May - October 1896, April - August 1897
Grand Forks Herald - daily editions May 19 - June 6, 1897 (still in progress...)
The Sporting News - weekly editions March - October 1897
The Sporting Life - several editions from the summer of 1897
The Spectrum - North Dakota Agricultural College's monthly newspaper 1897-1898
St. Paul Globe - just the daily sports page from May 22 - June 15 1897 (still in progress...)
That's over 300 editions of papers. Wow. If I only could get paid for this. (At least the Forum daily was usually just 4 pages!)
There are many more papers I am interested in searching. More to come.
3) My last complaint is similar to #1 and concerns Fargo's baseball park. I have no idea where it was. Well, I have some idea, but the Forum and Argus do not specify its location. Not even reference to nearby landmarks that would help my cause. The papers do call it a "park" and sometimes the "baseball grounds". Based on some vague clues like these and my moderate knowledge of Fargo's history, I do have a theory. I really do think they played at Island Park. However, they also could have played at Oak Grove Park, and possibly could have had a makeshift baseball park somewhere else in the city. I hope it's Island Park - I have always loved that place.
1) No first names - baseball recaps in the late 1900s usually omitted the first name of the player, and not just in the box scores (which still remains common practice today). Typically, a player was referred to by his position and his last name. My most frustrating example of this is "Catcher Hartman". Hartman played for Fargo for the entire 1897 season, yet not one account in either the Forum or Sunday Argus mentioned his first name. This is especially frustrating because I suspect he was from the area. Finding out a player's first name becomes an exciting discovery. Sometimes, even just getting the first and middle initials (as I have found with A. J. Hessler), is a nice accomplishment. First names help greatly in finding different paths for research.
2) No comprehensive index of the Forum - somewhat surprisingly, no useful searchable index of the Fargo paper exists. The Grand Forks Herald does have a searchable index, which is nice. Though the search mechanisms for older versions of newspapers are not always fully reliable, having something would be nice. Instead, I need to go through each individual newspaper edition that may provide some information. This is fun at times, but tedious, too. As it stands, these are the publications I have searched, page by page:
Fargo Forum - daily editions from April 1 - September 21, 1897, along with some of the mid-June to mid- July of 1896 and some of the summer of 1898
Fargo Sunday Argus - weekly editions May - October 1896, April - August 1897
Grand Forks Herald - daily editions May 19 - June 6, 1897 (still in progress...)
The Sporting News - weekly editions March - October 1897
The Sporting Life - several editions from the summer of 1897
The Spectrum - North Dakota Agricultural College's monthly newspaper 1897-1898
St. Paul Globe - just the daily sports page from May 22 - June 15 1897 (still in progress...)
That's over 300 editions of papers. Wow. If I only could get paid for this. (At least the Forum daily was usually just 4 pages!)
There are many more papers I am interested in searching. More to come.
3) My last complaint is similar to #1 and concerns Fargo's baseball park. I have no idea where it was. Well, I have some idea, but the Forum and Argus do not specify its location. Not even reference to nearby landmarks that would help my cause. The papers do call it a "park" and sometimes the "baseball grounds". Based on some vague clues like these and my moderate knowledge of Fargo's history, I do have a theory. I really do think they played at Island Park. However, they also could have played at Oak Grove Park, and possibly could have had a makeshift baseball park somewhere else in the city. I hope it's Island Park - I have always loved that place.
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