Dave Skeels

Dave Skeels pitched one game for the 1910 Detroit Tigers.

David Lloyd Skeels was born December 29, 1891, in Addy, Washington, a small town in the northeastern part of the state. His father, George Skeels, was from Illinois; his mother, Anna Stensgar Skeels, was one-half Native American and was born on the Colville Reservation, which Addy is near. David had an older brother, Johnny, who died in 1895, though I could find no details.

David grew up on the reservation. In 1901 his father, working for a smelter, was killed by a train. His mother remarried in 1907.

In 1908 Dave won the shotput event at a field day at the Stevens County Fair in Colville, with a distance of 33 feet, 7 inches. He then attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, where he was the ace of the pitching staff in 1909.

That June he participated in an intramural track meet, where he won the 50, 100, and 220 yard races and the shotput, and finished second in the high jump. That fall he went out for the football team. Colville Examiner, October 16, 1909:

David Skeels, the idol of the sporting population of Chewelah and the upper Colville valley, has been chosen to represent Gonzaga as fullback on the football team. Skeels is a wonder, and the papers of Spokane are proclaiming his merits almost every week.

In January 1910 it was reported that he had left college, and in March that he had signed a contract with the Moose Jaw Robin Hoods of the Western Canada League, often referred to as the Twilight League. At some point in the season he moved to Regina of the same league. Manitoba Morning Free Press, August 24:

REGINA TWIRLER JUMPS TO DETROIT

D. Skeels the Sensational Young Indian Pitcher Leaves to Join American Champions.

Pitcher Dave Skeels, the sensational Indian twirler of the Regina team of the Western Canada Baseball league, will not likely be seen in action in this league again. At any rate not this season, as yesterday he quietly packed his baggage, and with two scouts from the Detroit team of the American league, he left his former team mates to join the champions of the American league. It was all done so quietly that Tom Letcher, the manager of the Regina Orphans, did not know a thing about it until after Skeels had got away on the train.

It will be remembered that the Indian was purchased by the Detroit club early in the season for $1,200, but their option expired on August 15, so that when they failed to come forth with the money by the stated time, they lost their right to the player. But the Detroit management evidently thought that they wanted the promising youngster, after it was too late, so sent two of their scouts up here to hold him up. These men appeared Monday and made themselves known to the Regina manager, claiming that they were here to look over Sage and McIntosh, but at night they interviewed Skeels at the Strathcona hotel and persuaded him to leave Monday night to join the Detroit team…

When Dave reached Detroit the team management expressed some doubt over the legality of his contract, so he appealed to baseball’s National Commission. The ruling was handed down on September 8, as described in the October 1 Sporting Life:

THE SKEELS CASE.

In the last issue of “Sporting Life” appeared a short editorial note to the effect that the National Commission had awarded the Western Canada League pitcher, David Skeels, an Indian, to the Detroit Club, of the American League. The case is of sufficient interest to warrant further details. It appears that Skeels was a member of the Regina Club, of the Western Canada League, this year. He played with that team up to August 22, although on August 4 the franchise and team were thrown on the hands of the league. When this happened the club was indebted to him for nineteen days’ salary. In addition to this hardship he received no salary after the club was taken over by the league, and neither he nor the team manager could get any satisfaction on this point from the president of the league, Mr. Eckstrom, of Lethbridge, Alta. He therefore signed a Detroit Club contract through that club’s representative, but when he reported to the Detroit Club, the president of that club informed him that his status would have to be determined before his services could be used. Skeels therefore appealed to the National Commission to be declared a free agent. In reply to a request for the facts, President Eckstrom, of the Western Canada League, informed the National Commission that “while waiting for a report from the Regina Club’s secretary as to the amount due the players turned over to the league, he sent a check for $50 to each player, but that Skeels had left for Detroit before his check arrived in Winnipeg.” President Eckstrom admitted that the league owed Skeels 28 days’ salary, but that they had reserved him, sent him notice to this effect, and enclosed his full salary with the reservation notice. The National Commission decided that under the conditions the request of the player to be declared a free agent could not be granted, but that the Detroit Club’s draft for him was legal, and that the Western Canada League would be required to pay the player salary for the period he was idle.

Dave’s Western Canada stats included a 10-14 record in 178 innings in 47 games.

On Wednesday, September 14 in Detroit, Dave, just 18 years old, made his major league debut against Cleveland, as the starting pitcher. Sam Crawford was in the lineup for the Tigers (Ty Cobb was out with an injury) and Nap Lajoie played for Cleveland. Dave had an 8-3 lead after two innings and 9-3 through six, but he was taken out with nobody out in the seventh and the Naps in the midst of a rally that would come up just short; the Tigers won the game 9-8, but the win was awarded to reliever Ed Summers.

This was Dave’s only appearance in a regular-season game for the Tigers, and in his major league career. There would be various references in the papers to his having pitched in a couple more, though, so perhaps he appeared in some exhibition games. This is from the October 11 Seattle Times:

SPOKANE BOY MAKES GOOD WITH DETROIT

SPOKANE, Tuesday, Oct. 11.—Dave Skeels, last year a star pitcher for Gonzaga College, and during the last summer a brilliant performer in the Twilight League, is back in Spokane visiting with friends. Skeels is now the property of the Detroit Club and after the close of the Twilight season was called up for a tryout by Manager Jennings. Skeels worked in one game against the White Sox and won it, and was leading in his second game, when taken out to try another twirler. He lost his third game.

Skeels will go back to Detroit next spring, Jennings having pronounced the Spokane boy a “comer.” Skeels formerly lived at Chewelah, Wash., where he was a sensation. He has some Indian blood.

“It looks all Philadelphia to me in the world’s series,” Skeels told a lot of enthusiasts at Gonzaga last night. “The ‘dope’ in the East is all in their favor, at least in Detroit, which of course, is an American League stronghold.”

The Athletics did beat the Cubs, in five games. Seattle Times, January 9, 1911:

SEATTLE LANDS PITCHER SKEELS

Tighe Makes a Good Deal With Detroit—Bill Carrey Says New Flinger Struck Out Twenty-Two Men in Ten Innings—Los Angeles After Seaton

By Portus Baxter

Seattle has purchased the release of Pitcher David Skeels from the Detroit club of the American League. The deal was put through by Manager Jack Tighe and finished last evening when President Dugdale wired his acceptance of terms.

While Tighe had not explained how he got the new flinger, President Dugdale believes it was through his close connection with Manager Hugh Jennings, of the Detroit club. “Jennings and Tighe are close personal friends,” said Dug last evening, “and I imagine that this explains how Tighe got on the inside track.

“Some time ago I had a letter from Tighe, in which he said that there was a chance to buy the release of Skeels from the Tigers. From what he had heard it was his impression that Skeels was a good man, but he thought I might be able to learn more about him here.

“Skeels was with Regina in the Western Canada League part of last season. His record was not imposing, as it stood ten victories and fourteen defeats, giving him a percentage of .416. Players from Canada, however, said he was a corker and advised me to grab him if I got the chance. I wrote to Tighe that he had better go through with the deal if he could.”

Yesterday afternoon Dug received a letter from Tighe stating that everything was fixed up and inclosed [sic] a contract from the Detroit club. Dug said that the purchase price was a private matter, but lost no time signing his name and wiring his acceptance.

“When Skeels’ fast ball is working right,” said Bill Carney, manager of the Calgary club, “He is unbeatable. Don’t pay any attention to his record, because he was with a tail end club. At that, he shut us out twice in three days and I did not get as much as a foul off him. The first day we got three hits and the second five. In one game of ten innings he struck out twenty-two of the Winnipeg batters. His curve ball is also good. He is slow in rounding into form, however, so he may not be a phenom in the early spring. I consider him very promising.”

…Skeels is an Indian, about 5 feet 10 inches tall [seems unlikely, given how often he was described as “big,” “tall,” or “giant”] and will weigh close to 175 pounds. Spokane has been his home more or less in recent years, and he was introduced to baseball at Gonzaga college, Spokane, When last heard from a couple of weeks ago he was in Spokane.

The sale included an option for the Tigers to reclaim him (again). On March 28 the Times reported from spring training:

Dave Skeels, the big Indian pitcher, has not tried to curve the ball yet. He is following the instructions of Manager Tighe and has simply been using some steam and a slow ball. The Indian has the benders when he wants to cut ‘em loose, so the Twilighters say. He watches the bases nicely and every time he has been on the mound he has caught one or more runners moving the wrong way. If he gets off well Matt Stanley and the bunch who saw him up North predict that he will make good in this league.

Same paper, April 7:

DUGAN DECLARES SKEELS WILL DAZZLE WITH SPEED

“Wait until the weather gets hot, and Dave Skeels will show you as much speed as any pitcher who ever worked out here,” said Clarence Dugan, the well-known Seattle ball player, today. “I have seen Rube Vickers and Gus Thompson going at their best, and I used to play with “Speed Marvel” Emerson down in California, so I have seen some fast pitching, but this big Indian can shoot that pill over as fast as any of them. He was with a weak club last year, when I was with Calgary. We were supposed to have the best-hitting club in the Twilight League, yet twice in one week he made us look like a lot of town lot kids, and then it was that Detroit grabbed him. Skeels is only a boy, a bright boy at that, so if he gets off right, he ought to come like a cyclone this year under Tighe. He wants the hot weather, though, before he uncovers that dazzling speed.”

And two days later:

INDIAN PITCHES FIRST NO-HIT GAME OF LOCAL SEASON

Skeels Has Artillerymen Swinging Like Hammock

DAVE SKEELS PITCHES FIRST NO-HIT GAME OF LOCAL SEASON

Dave Skeels, our large Indian pitcher, was feeling fine and frisky yesterday, so he delivered the first no-hit, no-run game of the Seattle season. A lot of healthy, husky young guardsmen of the peace representing the First Artillery District were his victims.

Only three men reached first base on the Indian during the melee. Sim Thomas, who once played a brief engagement as a pitcher for Butte, was the lucky man two of the three times. The first time he struck at a wild pitch for his third strike and scooted to first. The next time he got the only pass issued by Skeels when it looked as if he was struck out, but Umpire Dudley could not see it that way. Thomas got to second base on his first trip, stealing because neither Raymond nor Leard covered the bag when Danny Shea had his arm cocked all ready to throw. But the next time he reached first Shea threw him out by a country block when he tried to steal. Manning got to first on Raymond’s error, but Skeels fanned the next man who faced him.

When the ninth inning opened, Skeels knew that he had a no-hit game in sight so he turned on a full head of steam and struck out at first. Dave had a lot of smoke on the ball and he switched in with it a cute curve and a tantalizing slow one that had the gunners biting like hungry trout.

Of course, hitters like Emil Frisk and Pug Bennett and that kind are not going to bite at some of the wide ones the soldiers took a punch at, but the control of the Indian was pretty good at that, and he seemed to improve with age, like good whiskey. Ed Roys looked him over carefully from the press box and voiced the opinion that David can tarry around quite a while..

Times again, April 22:

The debut of Dave Skeels in a regular game in the Northwestern league yesterday was satisfactory in every way, both to the fans and himself. He looked like the goods from gong to gong and the regulars will have confidence in him his next time out. This big, quiet Indian lad has the markings of a great pitcher. He may come through this year and it may take a year in the minors to fit him for faster company, but unless he meets with an accident he is slated for the big brush sure. Skeels has some things yet to learn about pitching, but he is an intelligent young man who is willing to learn and an improvement may be expected in his work with every game. He is fast on his feet, so he will not have any trouble about fielding his position. When he learns to put his body into his swing, thus taking some of the strain off his arm, he is going to be some speed merchant and no one with any sense is going to do the Mike Lynch stunt of running up to meet the ball when he cuts it loose.

On April 29 the Spokane Press reported that Dave had had his nose broken by a line drive in batting practice and would “be out of the game for some days to come,” but on May 1 he struck out 15 in 11 innings. On May 7 he pitched a shutout, then on the 10th the Seattle Times reported:

Dave Skeels, the hope of the red race [the Times had started calling him that pretty much every time they mentioned him], reported sick yesterday. David has tonsilitis and his throat feels as if a dam made of reinforced concrete had been built in it. As David could swallow neither food nor drink, he came to the conclusion that he must be sick. He is too weak to try to pitch now, but a few days’ rest may fix him up all right.

That day Dave was sent home to Seattle from Tacoma, and the word was that he would likely be out a week. He returned to the mound on May 19, when he walked seven and lost 14-2. He then straightened out again, pitching a shutout on the 28^th, and striking out 15 on June 19. In the latter game, though, he injured his arm. Times, July 9:

Dave Skeels was sent to an osteopath yesterday to find out what is wrong with his salary arm. Three weeks ago Dave pitched a swagger game against Spokane. He finished the game all right, and if there was anything the matter with his arm he did not know it. Two days afterward he complained that his right arm was sore between the elbow and the shoulder, and he has not pitched since. Manager Tighe is waiting for him to get right before starting him again. The Indian was going good when he hurt his arm.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 10:

Dave Skeels, who has been out of the game with a sore arm since he struck out thirteen [sic] of the champions, may be able to pitch the latter part of this week. He took a trip to Tacoma Saturday afternoon and had Dr. Burritt look him over. The trouble proved to be on the under side of his arm, a ligament being out of place. The doctor shoved it back and Skeels was feeling fine yesterday.

But he wasn’t fine, and he continued to stay on the sidelines, other than a pinch-running appearance on July 18. On the 29^th it was reported that Dave would be back the following week, and it was also reported that Detroit had exercised their option on him, intending for him to report to them when Seattle’s season ended. But he did not get back to the mound that season for either team, and finished with a 10-5 record—and a .319 batting average. On September 30 the Tigers optioned him to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class A Eastern League, one step up from the Northwestern and one step below the majors.

On October 15 the Seattle Times reported that Dave had refereed a high school football game, and on the 27^th the Spokane Chronicle, in its “Personal Notes of Addy People” column, reported that “Dave Skeels, business man and baseball player, has purchased a half interest in the grain and feed store of J.S. O’Brien [his stepfather].” And from the December 5 Spokane Spokesman-Review: “Dave Skeels has purchased a driving horse.”

Seattle Times, December 9:

Dave Skeels, the Indian pitcher, who looked like the real thing last spring, but who got a kink in his arm early in the season, lost a case he took before the national commission. Dave belonged to Detroit and was loaned to Seattle. He was suspended by Seattle because he could not pitch. He thought either Seattle or Detroit should pay him for the time he was suspended. The commission thought otherwise and dismissed his complaint. Dave said his suspension was unjust.

Spokane Chronicle, January 29, 1912:

SKEELS TO PLAY ON SEATTLE CLUB

Former Gonzaga Twirler to Join Dugdale in Spring—Buffalo Deal is Off.

Dave Skeels, the former Gonzaga college pitcher, who has had a taste of big league work, will pitch for Seattle again this season. Skeels was loaned to Seattle by Detroit last year, but recalled and turned over to Buffalo later in the year.

A deal was arranged, however, between Buffalo, Detroit and Seattle whereby the tall Indian would come to the northwest again this spring. Skeels did good work in the early part of the year of 1911, but was forced to lay off on account of a lame arm and never did get back.

The former college lad is some hitter in addition to being a bang up player in the outfield. He is, without doubt, one of the fastest runners in the game.

Seattle P-I, February 4:

DAVE SKEELS’ ARM IN SHAPE

Giant Indian Pitcher Signs Seattle Contract—Hankers for Chance in Outfield.

Dave Skeels, the big Indian who was the sensation of the Seattle pitching staff last season until he dropped out of the running on account of trouble with his arm, has signed his contract for 1912, and writes President Dugdale that he is ready to report on short notice.

Dug has great confidence in David and believes he will be one of the leading twirlers in the Northwestern League this coming season. Skeels says that his arm appears to be all right, and that he is in good physical condition. He has a hankering, however, to tackle the outfield. I do not know what [new manager John] Barry will do about it, but Dave is a mighty good hitter and when it comes to speed he is a wonder. At the present time Skeels is living in Addy, Wash.

Dave reported to spring training with Seattle, but was sent home in late March to give his arm more rest. On May 25 the Colville Examiner ran an article on him, recounting his career and then continuing:

Skeels is now at his home in Addy, conducting a feed store business. Some six weeks ago his services were secured by Manager Joe Julian to play in the outfield on the Colville team. When it was learned that the big leaguer was playing amateur ball for the Colville team a protest was made by neighboring towns. In a game here two weeks ago with Marcus the visitors refused to go on the diamond if Skeels was not put on the bench, consequently Skeels did not play in this game. The management of the Colville kids however declares that if Skeels desires he will play with the Colville team throughout the present season.

Mr. Skeels, who is as quiet and unassuming today as he was when a school boy in Addy, says that he does not want a dollar for playing ball with Colville this season for the reason that he considers that his services are not worth anything to a ball team. He further states that it is very doubtful if he will ever again play professional ball, and is sure that he will never again occupy a pitcher’s box.

Spokane Chronicle, June 21:

DAVE SKEELS TO QUIT PITCHING

Big Youngster Will Report to Dugdale as a First Sacker.

Dave Skeels, the youngster who is under contract to pitch for the Seattle team, is through with the pitching game and, when he breaks in again, it will be as a first sacker. Skeels took part in the track meet at Gonzaga Thursday and the way he stepped off the 50-yard and 100-yard dashes stamps him as plenty fast for an infielder’s job.

“I am going to be a first sacker,” said Skeels. “I am playing with the Chewelah team now at that position and, with a little more experience, I will be ready to try out with the Seattle team as contender for that position.”

Skeels always was a great hitter for a pitcher and with his speed there is not reason why he should not make good as a first sacker when he gets next to the job.

The Spokesman-Review of the same day had a very different take:

Skeels Still Seattle Property.

Dave Skeels remarked to a baseball admirer at the Gonzaga track meet yesterday that if he got $1000 a month he’d never play in Seattle again. Dave is still the property of the Seattle club. He says Dugdale did him dirt.

Dave moved from the outfield to first base for Colville. On September 7 the Colville Examiner reported:

Manager Graham has announced that Dave Skeels’ arm has entirely recovered and that he would send Dave in the box against Fort Wright. Skeels has been trying his curves out lately and says they are working better now than when he pitched the no-hit game for the Detroit Americans.

Obviously he never pitched a no-hitter for the Tigers, and if he did pitch for Colville it was not reported on in the Examiner.

In February 1913 Dave signed a contract with the Spokane Indians of the Northwestern League, which suggests that Seattle had released him at some point. It was reported that he was boxing at the Spokane YMCA to get in shape. The 1913 Spokane city directory shows him living at E406 10^th Avenue. From the February 15 Colville Examiner:

Dave Skeels, in answer to an inquiring letter from Colville, writes, “Yes, I have signed up with [Spokane owner Joe] Cohn, but I believe I am too fast for this bunch and would like to be drafted or bought outright by the Colville club.”

He thinks he’s too good for a Class B professional team so he wants to play for an amateur town team?

Dave did go to spring training with Spokane, which took place in Boise. The Spokesman-Review reported on March 22 that “Harry Melchior claims the checker championship of the club, while Dave Skeels, the Colville Indian boy, is chesty over his cribbage playing.” Same paper, March 24:

Dave Skeels, the young Indian from Addy, Wash., well remembered with the Seattle team of 1911, expects a good year. He did not pitch a ball all last season, owing to that twisted ligament in his elbow, incurred in a collision at the plate with Harry Ostdick in a game at Seattle in the middle of the 1911 season [that’s a new theory!]. He has been throwing steadily for a week or more, and says he hasn’t a trace of the old pain, and apparently the arm is good as ever. Dave won 10 and lost 5 in 1911 and hit .319. It may not be generally known, but this tall, trimly built young [racial slur removed] is probably the fastest straightaway runner in the squad. He was good for 10 1/5 at Gonzaga two years ago. He is even now only 20 [21] years old.

Despite that optimism, on the 28^th Dave was conditionally released to the Edmonton Gray Birds, sending him back to the Western Canada League. Edmonton Journal, April 28:

Red Raymond Redmond, acting as chaperone for Dave Skeels, arrived in our fair city on Saturday night, and both ex-Spokaners will be at the park this afternoon, if they have to make the journey on a dog sled. Red is the same old pepper pot and will look good on that old second sack. He will captain the team. Skeels, who looks even bigger than when in Regina in 1910, will hold down the left field position, and as he is a left handed hitter with the happy faculty of slamming the ball a mile, he should make a splendid gardener. Skeels is fast on his feet, and along with Rochon, Reddick, Redmond, Povey and Whisman will give the Gray Birds a bunch of speed merchants.

Dave started the season in left field and batting seventh, but was soon moved to cleanup, hitting three home runs in the first two weeks. On June 20 he was the starting pitcher, striking out ten in eight innings and winning 9-1. Edmonton Journal, June 30:

Dave Skeels is beginning to worry about the toe he had spiked in a game a week ago, and says that if it does not start to respond to treatment pretty soon, he will return to his home in Seattle, as he does not wish to run any chances of blood poisoning.

On July 4 Dave was traded to the Calgary Bronchos of the same league. Not because he wasn’t doing well; stats published on August 1 showed him second in the league in average at .364 and in homers with five. He continued playing left field with Calgary, though he pitched on August 6 and lost 8-2. On August 25 the option on him held by Spokane expired, making him Calgary’s property. He finished the Western Canada League season hitting .307 in 361 at-bats in 104 games; his power fell off with Calgary and he ended up with just seven home runs, though that was tied for third in the league.

Meanwhile, for the third time Dave had filed an appeal with baseball’s National Commission, this time to get some money that he felt Edmonton owed him, but it was rejected on September 10. Colville Examiner, December 27:

Among those who arrived in Colville on Christmas eve to spend the holidays with relatives and friends were…Dave Skeels came up from Addy to talk baseball with the local fans.

On January 27 it was reported that Calgary had given Dave his release, making him a free agent. I found no explanation for this; it seemed like he had had a good year. Examiner, February 28:

Dave Skeels of Addy, who was with the Edmonton club of the Twilight league last season, states that he will not play ball in the north again but is negotiating with a Texas league. Dave states that if he does not go to Texas he will be on the job with the Colville team.

March 14:

Dave Skeels, who was ticketed to play ball with either the Twilight or Texas league this season, was in Colville on Monday and made the statement that he had made business arrangements in Addy, and will not play professional ball this season but will lend his assistance to the Colville team.

May 30:

COURTHOUSE AND COUNTY NEWS

David Skeels and Miss Hilda Pearson, both of Addy, were married in Spokane last week Friday by authority of Justice Hyde. They will make their home in Addy. Mr. Skeels is associated with his father in the feed business. He is also a substantial member of the Colville ball team. Many friends join in wishing them a happy destiny.

Dave was still just 22 years old; Hilda was 21 and the daughter of Swedish immigrants. Two months later, on July 17, she gave birth to daughter Lorraine. Dave was then absent from the newspapers until March 27, 1915, when he got a mention in the “Jim’s Dope” column of the Examiner:

Dave Skeels, one of the most popular ball players ever on the Colville lineup, was in town the first of the week. Dave, who has always considered the Colvilles his home, started his baseball career in Gonzaga University and later in the Twilight league, was then grabbed by a Detroit American scout, transferred to Seattle, pitching Manager Dugdale out of a bad hole, where he threw his arm away and returned to Colville. Dave is still a ball player and likes the game, but states that he is now married and will devote more of his time in the future to farming and stock raising on his ranch on the Columbia river.

Examiner, May 1, 1915:

COURTHOUSE AND COUNTY NEWS

John Collins of Valley has brought suit against J.S. O’Brien and David Skeels, proprietors of the Addy Feed Store, and the Falls City Mill and Feed Co. of Spokane to recover $956.48, alleged to be due for 166,345 pounds of hay sold this spring. It is stated in the complaint that O’Brien contracted for the hay, which was delivered to the Falls City Mill and Feed Co., the Addy Feed Store being given credit on account. The plaintiff states that he has not received any part of the purchase price.

The wheels of justice turned slowly even in those days, and over a year and a half later the case was mentioned in the Examiner again, on December 2, 1916:

COURTHOUSE AND COUNTY NEWS

Four cases set for trial during the November jury term were postponed until the next jury session. The cases are:…In the case of John Collins of near Valley versus J.S. O’Brien and David Skeels, as partners in the Addy Feed store, plaintiff alleges that he negotiated with O’Brien on January 18, 1915, for the sale of hay, cash to be paid within thirty days, which he claims has not yet been paid. The action involves five separate claims: John Collins, seven cars of hay, $956.48; Charles Stephens of Bluecreek, one car, $164.74; C.P. Cecil, Bluecreek, two cars, $281.24; Frank Goodman, Bluecreek, one car, $159.85; Mrs. M.A. Kuehn, Gess’ Spur, two cars, $246.60. The latter four claims were assigned to Mr. Collins, who is represented by Attorneys Albert I. Kulzer and E.D. Germain.

February 23, 1918:

The case of John Collins versus J.S. O’Brien, which has occupied the attention of the superior court for the past two years, was dismissed by stipulation of all parties at interest last Saturday.

We shall probably never know what happened. Meanwhile, daughter Evelyn had been born on September 29, 1916, and Dave had filled out his draft registration card on June 5, 1917. The card shows his address as Meteor, a town on the reservation, and his occupation as farmer. It also says he is ¼ native American, tall, medium build, with gray eyes and black hair.

On June 8, 1918, daughter Louise was born. From the Summit Valley News, December 14: “August Pearson [Hilda’s father] and his daughter Esther and Miss Lillian Helen with Gus Hoffman visited Mr. and Mrs. David Skeels at Meteor Sunday.”

Same paper, January 11, 1919: “Mr. and Mrs. David Skeels and children from Meteor spent the Christmas vacation with August Pearson family.”

January 3, 1920: “Mr. and Mrs. David Skeels and children of Meteor, spent Christmas with her parents Mr. and Mrs. August Pearson.”

That month the US census was taken on the reservation. The family’s address is simply Meteor, on a grain farm which they own. Dave and the children are all identified as Indians.

Summit Valley News, May 8: “Mrs. Pearson was called to Meteor Sunday by the illness of her daughter Mrs. David Skeels.”

Colville Examiner, April 16, 1921: “Report has it that Dave Skeels wants to play on the Colville team this year, and that he would be good material to add to the team.” I found no indication that he did play for them that season, though he did umpire one of their games in May. On September 5 Hilda gave birth to son George.

The May 6, 1922, Examiner identified Dave as the captain of the Colville team, but then his health began to deteriorate. Examiner, December 2:

TAKES TREATMENT AT SANATORIUM

Well Known Ball Player Takes Immediate Steps to Retain Health

David L. Skeels of Addy, left last Saturday for Woodmen, Colorado, to enter the Modern Woodmen sanitorium.

Mr. Skeels worked with the dredging crew on the Colville river near Addy last summer, and contracted pneumonia, from which he did not make a satisfactory recovery. Examinations by Addy and Spokane physicians indicated tubercular trouble, with one lung affected, and he took advantage of his membership in the M.W.A. to receive expert treatment at the Woodmen sanitorium. It is expected that the trouble will be arrested within a few months by reason of starting treatment immediately. He is entitled to remain there as long as may be necessary without cost to him, as this sanitorium is maintained by the society by each member paying into the general fund five cents a month.

Mr. Skeels was formerly the best amateur pitcher in the county, and later joined professional baseball in Seattle and in Detroit. He is only about 30 years of age. He had been a member of the Addy camp of Woodmen for about a year. He has a wife and four children.

Things did not go nearly as well for Dave as hoped. Seattle P-I, December 4, 1926:

Former Seattle Baseball Player Dies in Spokane

David Skeels, Once With Detroit Tigers, Passes As Result of Tuberculosis

SPOKANE, Dec. 3.—(A.P.)—David Skeels, formerly a member of the Detroit American League and the Seattle Northwestern League baseball teams, died yesterday at a tuberculosis sanitarium here, it was announced today.

The Sporting News ran an obituary in their December 9 issue:

David Skeels, a pitcher, who was with Detroit, Moose Jaw, Seattle, Buffalo, Oakland [?], Spokane, Edmonton and Calgary a decade ago, died in a tuberculosis sanitarium in Spokane, Wash., December 3. Skeels, who was an Indian, was 34 years old at the time of his death.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/Pskeed101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/skeelda01.shtml

Rickey Keeton

Rickey Keeton pitched for the Brewers in 1980-81.

Rickey Keeton was born March 18, 1957, in Cincinnati. He pitched for Western Hills High, where in 1975, his senior year, he went 10-0 and was named to the Cincinnati Post Metropolitan Cincinnati AAA All-Star second team. He was drafted by the Expos in June, but didn’t sign, choosing to go to college. He signed a letter of intent with Gulf Coast Junior College in Florida, but changed his mind and went to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Rickey made a quick impression in his freshman year. Effingham Daily News, March 25, 1976:

SIU-C In Key Baseball Games

CARBONDALE, Ill.—Sporting a fancy .320 team batting average, Southern Illinois travels to Oklahoma this weekend for what could be an early-season preview of the Midwest Regional playoffs.

The Salukis compiled a 4-3-1 record on their spring trip to Miami, Fla., last week, but coach Itchy Jones had much praise for this team…

“We are definitely ready to play,” Jones said. “All our pitchers showed fine stuff for periods of time, but, for the most part, they weren’t ready to go more than five innings at a time.”

An exception to that five-inning stretch is freshman righthander Rickey Keeton from Cincinnati, Ohio. Keeton compiled a 2-0 record in Florida including a complete-game victory over Miami, 9-2, in the first competition of his college career.

“Rickey did an excellent job,” Jones said. “He looked in mid-season form and it wasn’t a fluke because he did a fine job every time we called on him whether as a starter or in relief. I can’t remember when we have had someone throw as well as Rickey did on the spring trip.”

Rickey had an 8-0 record until losing 3-0 to Bob Welch of Eastern Michigan in an elimination game in the NCAA Mideast Regional in May.

In 1977 SIU advanced to a regional again, this time the Midwest, which they won as Rickey was named to the all-tournament team. The Salukis advanced to the College World Series and were eliminated in the semifinals; Rickey finished with an 8-2 record. Then he went to Alaska, where he pitched for the Kenai Peninsula Oilers in the Alaska Baseball League, a summer collegiate league, where he went 5-2 with a 2.45 ERA and pitched in the all-star game. The Oilers then traveled to Wichita and won the National Baseball Congress amateur tournament.

In Rickey’s junior year, 1978, he pitched a no-hitter in the regular season and a three-hitter in the Midwest Regionals, and was named to the Missouri Valley Conference all-conference team for the second time. In June he was drafted in the third round by the Brewers, and this time he signed a contract.

The Brewers sent Rickey to the Holyoke Millers of the Class AA Eastern League, skipping over two levels. He debuted on June 18 and on the 28^th got his first victory. From the Jersey Journal, June 29:

Indians fall to cellar

By George Korologos

“I hope it’s the beginning of a good thing,” said a smiling Rick Keeton last night after posting his first professional pitching victory.

The 21-year-old righty scattered four hits over nine innings to pave the way for the Holyoke Millers’ 3-0 triumph over the Jersey Indians at Roosevelt Stadium. The win was the Millers’ second in six outings, while the loss dropped the 1-4 Tribe into the Eastern League cellar.

“I was changing the pitches I threw,” explained Keeton, the Milwaukee Brewers’ third pick in the draft two weeks ago. “I throw a lot of different stuff. The two strikeouts were on changeups and the fast ball was working well.”

Other than that game he struggled early on, and had a 1-4 record until July 19, as reported in the following day’s Springfield (MA) Daily News:

Keeton Finally ‘Above Ground’

By Don Conkey

HOLYOKE—If Rick Keeton is ever going to make it in professional baseball, he’ll have to learn how to pack a suitcase.

Oh, when the high Milwaukee Brewer draft choice arrived here a few weeks ago from the Southern Illinois campus, he had the customary toothbrush and change of socks. But he completely forget his ground balls.

“That is the type of pitcher I’ve always been,” Keeton pinpointed the mysterious affliction Reading’s bats were hit with Wednesday night—a disease that forced balls leaving them to hurl themselves into the ground. Through seven innings of his 5-3 victory for the Holyoke Millers, 16 of Reading’s 21 outs were either ground balls or strikeouts. Miller outfielders may sue for prevention of their right to earn a living.

“I was warming up in the bullpen Sunday,” Keeton, his first ever pro season now off to a 2-4 start, was exhaling confidence, “and I found out what I was doing wrong. I wasn’t pushing off correctly to the plate: putting my body ahead of my arm. I couldn’t wait to get out there again and try it.”

Rickey pitched in 15 games for Holyoke, all starts, and had a 4-8 record and 4.88 ERA in 96 innings. On December 22 he filled out a questionnaire, in which he stated that his nickname was Buster, he was 6-2 190, he was unmarried, and his hobbies were music, football and basketball.

In 1979 Rickey was invited to spring training with the Brewers. Milwaukee Journal, March 6:

Batting Practice a Swinging Part of Spring Training

By Mike Gonring

Sun City, Ariz.—You’ve never seen Rickey (Buster) Keeton, 22, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and neither had Sixto Lezcano, until he stepped into the batting cage here the other day.

“That guy out there is really wild,” said catcher Charlie Moore of Keeton, a nonroster pitcher who was getting ready to pitch batting practice. “He’s all over the place.”

That was the last thing Lezcano wanted to hear, and he took a quick step back, eyes wide, before Moore could tell him he was kidding…

(This was the first newspaper mention of him as “Buster” that I found.)

On March 16 the Journal ran a report on the Brewers’ five non-roster pitchers, saying this about Rickey: “Keeton is an excellent fielder and a gutty pitcher, with a good sinker and slider.”

Rickey spent the season with the Vancouver Canadians of the Pacific Coast League, where he was the opening night starter. Daily Sitka Sentinel, June 28:

Error Gives Game To Tucson In PCL

By The Associated Press

If Vancouver pitcher Buster Keeton had thrown a no-hitter instead of a one-hitter, he’d still have lost the game.

Keeton lost his bid for a no-hitter in a Pacific Coast League game against Tucson when Gary Gray hit a double in the second inning, but it was a passed ball and an error on a double steal in the third inning that resulted in a 1-0 victory for the Toros…

With one out in the third inning, Keith Chauncey struck out but made it to first with one out in the third on a passed ball by Vancouver catcher Ned Yost. Chauncey moved to second on an infield out, Mike Hart drew a walk and the two tried a double steal, with Chauncey scoring as Yost’s throw was bobbled by third baseman Juan Lopez.

Yost got redemption a few weeks later. Sporting News, August 11:

Buster Keeton’s act was anything but funny, at least for Portland July 16. The lanky righthander limited the Beavers to five hits to catapult Vancouver to a 3-1 victory. The 22-year-old Keeton was helped by the fact four Portland base-runners were thrown out, three by catcher Ned Yost. Keeton also spun a seven-hitter to defeat Albuquerque, 7-1, July 25.

Sporting News, September 1:

Vancouver is home, sweet home for Canadian pitcher Buster Keeton. Keeton rang up his sixth consecutive complete-game victory there August 11 when he stopped Hawaii, 8-0, Keeton, who has struggled on the road, had allowed just 21 earned runs in 102 innings of work at Bailey Stadium. During his six-game streak, Keeton had an 0.29 earned-run average, having allowed just two untainted tallies.

Rickey went 15-14 with a 3.77 ERA in 203 innings in 32 starts, 12 of them complete games. In 1980 he was again invited to major league spring training as a non-roster player. He was sent to Vancouver again, where he again started the opening game. Sporting News, May 17:

Vancouver’s Rickey (Buster) Keeton won his first two starts of the season. He toiled eight innings in his debut as the Canadians spoiled Phoenix’ opener, 7-4, then came back four nights later with a complete game 7-2 decision over the same club.

On May 25 Rickey was called up and on the 27^th he made his major league debut. Milwaukee Sentinel, May 28:

Keeton’ first victory keeps Brewers rolling

By George Sauerberg

They call him Buster Keeton, like the old-time comedian. But he didn’t leave the Seattle Mariners laughing Tuesday night.

Rickey Keeton made his major-league debut, holding the Mariners to three hits in seven innings as the Milwaukee Brewers got their fifth straight victory, a 4-1 decision at County Stadium.

“I used to clown around a lot,” said the 23-year-old right-hander who said he picked up the nickname from his best friend after his senior year in high school in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Used to, huh? So you’re more serious now? “A lot more,” Keeton asserted after getting his first victory.

“He’s a bear-down pitcher,” said Brewer acting manager Buck Rodgers whose club jumped three games over the .500 mark.

Bear down is what Keeton did after giving up a run on two hits in a shaky first inning.

Julio Cruz had led off by reaching second with a hit and an error when second baseman Paul Molitor stopped his grounder up the middle but threw wildly to first. Cruz was sacrificed to third and Bruce Bochte’s two-out single drove him in.

“In the first inning, when I saw Cruz on base, my knee was shaking,” Keeton admitted. “I didn’t want him to score. But I threw a bad pitch (to Bochte).”

General Manager Harry Dalton said Keeton, called up from the Brewers’ Triple-A Vancouver farm club Sunday, has “the intangibles. He’s extremely competitive. He’s got a strong stomach and a good makeup. He could have folded after that first inning.”

But Keeton wasn’t about to give up.

“At the end of the national anthem, when they got to ‘the home of the brave,' I looked at the scoreboard, and it said ‘brave.’

“I said just be brave tonight.

“All I had on my mind out there was trying to throw my game,” he continued. “I wanted to keep my composure, keep calm, keep the ball down and make them hit it on the ground.”

Keeton said that after the first inning, “the guys in the dugout said, ‘Don’t worry about it. You hold them there and we’ll score some runs,’ and they did.”

In the Brewer first, Robin Yount hit a run-scoring single and Sixto Lezcano smashed a two-run double. Keeton wasn’t used to that kind of productivity from the Vancouver Canadians.

But he added that it probably made him a better pitcher because “you’ve got to pitch then.”

Keeton had come to the Brewer spring training camp as a non-roster player after going 15-14 at Vancouver last season, his second following his collegiate career at Southern Illinois University.

“He was flat in spring training,” Dalton said. “He had pitched a lot of innings (203) last year, and his arm was dead.”

But Keeton told the Brewers his arm would be all right in a couple of weeks, and he was right. He had a 6-1 record with a 1.97 earned run average when the Brewers called him up.

He worked on two things this season, he said—changing speeds on his pitches and concentrating more between pitches.

The Mariners fouled off quite a few pitches, and Brewer catcher Buck Martinez had an explanation.

“He (Keeton) kept them off balance all night,” said Martinez. “He was pushing them back in the hitting zone. They couldn’t get their bat head out in front.

“He utilizes all four of his pitches. He throws a sinker basically, and he has a lot of movement on his ball.”

Rodgers added that Keeton “goes up and in enough to keep them honest.”

Keeton got a brief rundown on the Seattle hitters in the clubhouse before the game, but Rodgers didn’t want him to dwell on that.

“I told him, ‘I want you to pitch just the way you did in Vancouver. I don’t want you to change anything as far as your repertoire of stuff goes,’” Rodgers related.

“I wanted him to use the stuff that got him here,” the Brewer skipper added. “He’s not the type pitcher who pitches the corners a lot. He’s not a strikeout pitcher.

“Keeton’s beating them down at the bottom of the strike zone.”

Keeton said his mental game received a boost this spring from Brewer pitching coach Cal McLish.

“I used to get going too quick and lose concentration,” the rookie explained, “At Vancouver (this year), on each pitch I would take my time. I would concentrate on every pitch.”

Which is something hitters might have trouble doing because of his motion, which is a little herky-jerky.

“He’s got a unique pitching motion,” Martinez said. “He hides the ball a long time, and he throws all of his pitches off the same motion, which is a plus.”

Keeton’s parents came from Cincinnati Tuesday—it was the first time they had seen him pitch as a professional. His fiancée, Gina Roberts of Van Nuys, Calif., also was in the crowd of 11,904 spectators.

Rodgers took Keeton out because “he gave us a super seven innings and it looked to me like he was getting a little tired in the seventh. That’s as far as I wanted him to go.

“He pitched like a veteran tonight.”

Rickey got four more starts, winning one, 5-3 over Jack Morris and the Tigers, and losing two before losing his spot in the rotation to Reggie Cleveland and then being sent back to Vancouver in late June. He had a 4.76 ERA in 28 1/3 innings. Sporting News, July 26:

Pitcher Buster Keeton’s wedding plans had to be changed when the Brewers sent him back to Vancouver (Pacific Coast) in early July. Keeton and his fiancée, Gina Roberts, had planned to be married in Milwaukee during the All-Star break. “I’ll just have to make some other plans,” he said. Keeton, who had a 2-2 record with the Brewers, wasn’t upset when he was sent down. “I got a taste of it,” he said. “Now I know what I have to do to win up here. I know I can win up here. I’m not disappointed.”

A September 6 Sporting News article referred back to Rickey’s June victory over the Tigers:

Gibson Career Threatened by Freak Injury

By Lynn Henning

DETROIT—Before he tried to check his swing on a Buster Keeton changeup June 7, Kirk Gibson’s rookie season was unfolding nicely…

Now it appears that Gibson has played his last baseball until sometime in 1981, if he makes it back to the major leagues at all.

The 23-year-old rookie underwent surgery August 22 to repair torn triangular fibro cartilage in his left wrist…

(Spoiler—Kirk Gibson did make it back to the major leagues.)

Rickey’s Vancouver totals for the season included a 10-4 record and 3.31 ERA in 136 innings in 20 games. The Brewers players voted him a one-quarter share of their third-place playoff money, which gave him $154.90.

Rickey spent the off-season on the major league 40-man roster, so when he went to spring training 1981 he was no longer a non-roster player. The Milwaukee Sentinel reported on March 24:

The pitching has been remarkably good, particularly the showings of rookies Rickey (Buster) Keeton and Frank DiPino. They’ve offered enough competition to make veterans Jerry Augustine and Paul Mitchell sweat a little more for the jobs they had last year.

But Rickey was sent back to Vancouver just before the season started; he pitched well in two appearances, one starting and one in relief, then was called back up. This time the Brewers used him exclusively in relief. Between April 30 and June 10 he pitched in nine games, with a 5.32 ERA and no decisions. On June 12 the major league players went on strike; the strike was settled on July 31. That day the Sentinel reported that Rickey had been working out with Augustine, Pete Vuckovich, Cecil Cooper, and Jim Gantner.

The season resumed on August 10, and that day Rickey pitched a scoreless final four innings in a 13-inning victory in Cleveland. The next day’s Milwaukee Journal reported:

“That’s the way Rickey Keeton threw two years ago,” said Rodgers. “He has been throwing awful good, ever since the exhibition. He worked out for those eight weeks during the strike, and his arm got rejuiced, rejuvenated.”

That’s more than Rodgers can say for most of his other pitchers. And Keeton worked hard to make sure Rodgers would notice.

“I told my wife that I was going to work out, that when we got back, I wanted to be able to go nine,” Keeton said. “And I hope I can go in tough situations—that’s when I feel best.”

It is a feeling that Keeton has seldom experienced. In his nine previous appearances this year, one came at the end of Augustine’s 11-0 victory over California, and the other eight came when the Brewers were hopelessly behind. Keeton said that he hoped that had changed Monday.

“Him putting me in there with the game on the line, that has got to help my confidence,” Keeton said.

Rodgers admitted that Keeton got leftovers and scraps in the first half of the season. “I used him as a mop-up pitcher, basically because he wasn’t throwing like he did in the exhibition against Atlanta or in the intrasquad game,” Rogers said. “He’s throwing better now, better everything.”

Sporting News, August 15:

A Great Relief

MILWAUKEE—The good news came just in time for Buster Keeton.

The Milwaukee Brewers rookie righthander hadn’t had to go to work during the baseball strike, but it was just about time to start looking for a job.

“I was getting close,” Keeton said. “I was about ready to head for California, thinking about getting a job driving a beer truck.”

Keeton was saved by an early morning phone call July 31. A few hours later, he was one of 10 Brewers working out in County Stadium under coach Larry Haney.

Most of the players were back the next day, but General Manager Harry Dalton figured that since there were several Brewers in town, he would find out if any of them wanted to start working out right away. The answers were: “You bet!”

Rickey made seven more relief appearances in August, then didn’t pitch after that, though I didn’t find any references to an injury. He finished the season with a 5.09 ERA in 35 innings in 17 games. On October 4, the final day of the season, he was dropped from the major league roster, and on the 23^rd he was traded to the Astros for Pete Ladd.

During spring training 1982 Rickey was sent to the Tucson Toros of the Pacific Coast League, where he split time between starting and relieving. He got a mention in the June 10 Milwaukee Journal, which said: “Rickey Keeton, dumped by Milwaukee after last season, also is struggling, and is now 3-5 for Tucson (Astros AAA).” He wound up with a 7-13 record and 5.19 ERA in 161 innings in 40 games, 15 of them starts.

He started 1983 back with Tucson, where he had a 10.17 ERA in 13 relief appearances before being traded to the Kansas City Royals’ organization for a player to be named later, on June 11. Kansas City sent him to their AAA team, the Omaha Royals of the American Association. Omaha World-Herald, August 7:

Royal Keeton Puts Faith In Ability of His Infielders

By Steve Pivovar

Rickey Keeton’s faith in his teammates was well grounded.

So were many of the pitches he threw to the Louisville Redbirds Saturday night.

Keeton and the Omaha Royals bounced back Saturday night by handling all of the bounces in a 4-1 victory over the Redbirds at Rosenblatt Stadium. Guilty of seven errors in Friday’s 11-4 loss, the Royals played mistake-free baseball before a crowd of 2,780.

Keeton makes no secret that his success is tied to the ability of his infielders to make the plays behind him.

“I’m no Nolan Ryan,” Keeton said. “I’m a ground-ball pitcher, and I’m not going to strike out too many guys. My type of game is to let them hit the ball and let our guys make the plays.”

That’s the way it worked out against Louisville. Keeton struck out just two and got 14 of the 24 outs in eight innings on ground balls. He surrendered five singles before turning matters over to Mark Huismann, who picked up his eighth save in a month by setting the Redbirds down in order in the ninth.

Six of the seven errors Omaha committed Friday night were charged to Royal infielders. That did little to shake Keeton’s faith in his teammates.

“We have a good infield,” said Keeton, who two summers ago was pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers. “They knew last night was more or less a fluke. They’re better than that, and they know it.

“I figured after last night, everyone pretty much got it out of their system. I knew it wasn’t going to happen again tonight.”

…Keeton is 3-3 since being traded to the Royals from the Houston Astros’ organization on June 11. A reliever most of the past three seasons, Keeton has started nine of the 12 games he’s pitched for the Royals. He hasn’t completed one, though he came close against the Redbirds.

“I really wanted to go out and try for the complete game,” Keeton said. “I was hoping Joe [Sparks] would let me go out and pitch the ninth. But he told me he wanted to get Mark some work.”

Rickey did get a complete game in his next start, which was a seven-inning game due to its being part of a doubleheader. He gave up five hits, struck out a career-high nine, and won 6-1. But for some reason that was his last start; he pitched six more times in relief and finished the Omaha part of his season with a 6-3 record and 4.09 ERA in 88 innings.

On February 18, 1984, Rickey filled out another questionnaire. He was still 6-2 190, was now married with a 3-year-old son, had the off-season occupation of tool salesman, and mentioned his younger brother Garry, about to begin his second year in the White Sox organization. Garry was also mentioned in the March 28 Boulder Daily Camera, in a preview of the Denver Bears’ season:

One long-shot candidate is Garry “Buster” Keeton, a brother to Kansas City Royal farmhand Rickey Keeton, a pitcher who went 6-3 with a 4.09 earned run average. Garry Keeton was an emergency second baseman for the Bears last September in the Triple-A World Series held in Louisville...

Garry did not make the Bears, instead spending the season, his last as a professional, with the Appleton Foxes of the Class A Midwest League. Rickey was with Omaha all year, and had a 4.11 ERA in 65 2/3 innings in 25 games, five of them starts. From Tom Faherty’s “Baseball” column in the November 4 Milwaukee Journal:

Remember Rickey (Buster) Keeton, the pitcher who the Brewers traded to Houston for Pete Ladd? Keeton was re-signed by the Kansas City Royals’ organization after becoming a minor-league free agent.

Rickey went to spring training 1985 with Kansas City, but was sent to their minor league camp on March 19. He wound up back with Omaha, where he went 8-4 with a 4.96 ERA in 98 innings in 24 games, 11 of them starts. This ended his professional career.

Rickey became a minor league pitching coach. In 1991 he was with Augusta in the Class A South Atlantic League, in the Pirates’ system; the next year the Pirates moved him to Salem of the Carolina League, Class Advanced A. On May 16 of that year Rickey (now known as Rick) and Carolina manager John Wockenfuss signed autographs at a card show in Roanoke, Virginia, raising money for the Roanoke Valley SPCA.

In 1993 Rick moved to the Royals’ organization and the Eugene Emeralds of the Class Short-Season A Northwest League. In 1995 he was still with the Kansas City organization, but I’m not sure where; in 1996 he went to the Spokane Indians, now the Royals’ Northwest League affiliate. In 1997 they moved him to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League. This was the last reference to him as a minor league coach that I found.

The March 31, 2004, edition of the Cincinnati Post included a classified ad for an auction which named the auctioneer as Rick Keeton, but I have no idea whether this was him. The website for Champions Baseball & Softball Academy in Cincinnati currently shows Rick as the Director of Pitching and says:

Buster’s twenty years of professional baseball experience and his strong interest in youth baseball has allowed him to develop the reputation as one of the top pitching instructors in the tri-state area. Buster’s approach focuses on working on a good pace, throwing strikes by hitting location, and changing speeds. Buster will develop your young pitcher into recognizing the “pitcher must command the game.”

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/K/Pkeetr101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/keetori01.shtml

Theo Conover

Theo Conover pitched in one game for the 1889 Cincinnati Reds.

Theodore Conover was born March 10, 1868, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Charles and Mary Conover. In the 1870 census the family lives in Lexington. Charles is 60 and keeps a wagon yard; Mary is 36. Oldest daughter Rebecca, 19, lives there with her husband, William Arnold, no occupation listed; then there’s Anna, 16; Minerva, 14; Mary, 12: Alonzo, 10; Nannie, 5; William T., 4; Theodore, 2; and Lena, three months. Plus two boarders, both young men in their 20s who work as rope spinners.

Charles passed away in 1872. In the 1880 census Mary and several of her kids are living on West Main Street in Lexington; Mary is listed as 44, just eight years older than ten years ago, and is a housekeeper; Rebecca, 28, is without William, is back to her maiden name, and is listed as a boarder; Mary is 22; Alonzo, 18, a laborer; Nancy (Nannie) is 16; Todd (William Todd) 12; Theodore 10; and Lena 9.

The 1883 Louisville city directory shows Theo living there with brother Alonzo and their mother, at 945 Milk Street. Theo and Alonzo are both listed as ropemakers, for two different companies.

Theo started playing amateur baseball as a teenager. One story said that in 1888 he pitched for the Paris (Kentucky) Blues, while this story, from the May 28, 1889, Cincinnati Post, announcing his signing of a major league contract with the American Association’s Reds, gave this account:

Theodore Conover, the Reds’ new pitcher, is 20, and is a native of Lexington, Ky.

He began his baseball career as a pitcher three years ago with the Lexington Reds. About a year ago he signed with the Kentucky Centrals, of Covington, and for a year has been a terror to all the local amateur baseball clubs. He has averaged 15 strikeouts and the opposing clubs seldom hit him safely more than three or four times. With Conover in the box victory seemed so certain that other clubs became disgusted and refused to make dates with the “K.C.’s.” Conover, like every other young player, is inclined to be rattled in the presence of a big crowd, but it will no doubt pay the Cincinnati management to hold him on the reserve list.

From the Cincinnati report in the next day’s Sporting Life:

Conover, who has been signed, used to play in the Blue Grass League. He is a young fellow with speed enough to make even that veteran Jim Keenan wince as he shot them right at him. When President Davidson was here a few weeks ago Conover was recommended to him, but he missed the chance. He has been pitching for the K.C.’s (Kentucky Centrals), and that club has been defeated very few times by any crack amateur team.

Three days before the date on that issue, Theo had made his major league debut, in the second game of a home doubleheader against Louisville. From the game report in the June 5 Sporting Life:

In the afternoon the Reds had a genuine walk-over. Ehret pitched for Louisville. The Reds sized him up for fourteen singles, three doubles and two home runs. Duryea held the visitors down to four hits in the first seven innings, when Conover, a local amateur, was substituted. His pitching was hit very hard.

The Reds were ahead 13-0 through seven, when Theo was brought in, and they won 16-4. In two innings he allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits and two walks, and was retroactively credited with a save. His teammates in the game included Tony Mullane, Bid McPhee, Bug Holliday and George Tebeau; the Louisville lineup included Pete Browning, Guy Hecker, Chicken Wolf and Farmer Weaver. The game was not only his major league debut, but his swan song. From the June 26 Connecticut Western News:

Theodore Conover, who has enjoyed the sensation of being on the bench and the Reds’ pay roll as a pitcher for the last month, was released by the Cincinnati Club. He had but one trial, and he was so nervous that Louisville rattled him in two innings.

Theo signed with Springfield (Ohio) of the Tri-State League. Sporting Life, July 17, Cincinnati report:

Springfield has found Theo. Conover a prize, and let it be remembered that one year ago “Darby” O’Brien was a Tri-State Leaguer at Lima…Conover has not lost a game since Cincinnati released him. He is hitting just as well as he is pitching—an admirable trait in a twirler.

I found no pitching stats for the 1889 Tri-State League, but in 27 games Theo hit .194 in 103 at-bats, with 11 sacrifice hits and seven stolen bases. Sporting Life, October 16:

Theo. Conover, the ex-Red who made such a great record at Springfield, is pitching for the Ludlows over in Kentucky. Many great players have been associated with ball in that hamlet.

Soon after that it was reported that Theo would sign with Baltimore, and soon after that it was reported that he had signed with Louisville, both of the American Association, but neither happened. Sporting Life Cincinnati report, January 8, 1890:

Theo. Conover is the mildest-mannered boy in the business hereabouts. If he had as much ambition as he has talent he’d do wonders. He is putting on the winter working for the Kentucky Central Railroad in Covington. Manager Powell recently asked for his terms. [Don’t know where Powell managed.]

The 1890 Covington city directory shows Theo as a base ball player, boarding at 606 Washington Street.

Sporting Life, April 2: “The Cincinnati Club [moved to the National League this season] is to give pitcher Theodore Conover another trial.” Apparently SL changed the day of the week it was published just then, as the next issue was dated April 5, and its Cincinnati report included:

George Nulton has signed to cover third base for the Texans and he started South night before last. Theo Conover left this evening—he having signed to pitch there. They wanted Theo to return to them up in the champion city, but he is young and wants to see the country. In Texas he can gaze upon cacti, green lizards and horned frogs.

Theo and Nulton had signed with the Austin Senators of the Texas League. From the June 7 Sporting Life:

One of the greatest “phenoms” of the season is young Conover, pitcher of the Austin Club. He is a slender built youth and weighs about 135 pounds. He has good speed, curves and wonderful endurance. He has been doing all the work in the box for Austin, pitching about twelve straight games and winning a majority of them.

That last part seems to have been an exaggeration, but when the team folded after its June 1 game Theo had pitched in 26 of its 42 games, starting 22 and completing all of those. He had a 1.82 ERA but an 8-13 record, allowing just 40 earned runs but 135 overall. He batted .165, with all of his hits being singles. From the Cincinnati report in the June 14 Sporting Life:

Rumblings from Texas affect the local world of players, for there are several Cincinnati and Covington boys down in the Lone Star State. Theo Conover, “Rodie” Carey, Auberger and Ed Reeder, of the defunct Austins, have reached home…The death of the two Northern boys, Harry Elliff and Billy Mussey, had a tendency to scare the clan back, and it was that spectre of the dread fever which prevented Conover from accepting Galveston’s offer.

“That’s a great country down there and I rather enjoyed the experience,” said Conover to me, “but I wouldn’t be an umpire for all of Texas. Poor Hengle was badly treated and he was afraid to speak lest he lose his life. Galveston is playing splendid ball and the Sand Crabs had a pretty sure thing on the pennant.”

That same issue reported that Theo was negotiating with Indianapolis of the Interstate League, but instead he signed with the Akrons of the Tri-State League. He played there from June 18 through the end of the season August 3; no pitching stats were published, but he played in 20 games and had an .830 fielding percentage in 17 games on the mound.

Back in Kentucky, Theo got into at least one amateur game. Lexington Leader, August 7:

DEFEATED THE DEPPENS.

The Lexington Boys Put Up a Good Enough Game of Ball to Defeat the Amateur Champions.

The Lexington club played a good enough game of ball with the Louisville Deppens, the champion amateurs of Kentucky, to win by a score of 14 to 13.

Theodore Conover returned home Tuesday and made his first appearance in the points after a considerable absence in the North. He was heartily welcomed by his old admirers, and when he hammered out a clean home run the first time at bat the enthusiasm of the spectators knew no bounds.

Conover’s pitching was the feature of the game, and he struck out about one-half of the Deppens.

From the Cincinnati report, dated August 19, in the August 23 issue of Sporting Life:

Another raid on Tennessee has been planned and to-night Manager Harry Baumgartner gathered around him a dozen idle players and moved, via the Queen and Crescent, to Louisville. “Bummy’s Professionals” will be pitted against the flower of Tennessee’s mountains in four games. In his team were Charley Bell, late of Kansas City; Jake Stenzel, Theo Conover, Rod Bittman, Al Hungler, George Proesser, Sam Black, Jack Shoupe, Ed Cline, Lucky and Higgins. They represent the “exes” of the National, Texas, Tri-State, Interstate and North Pacific Leagues. Verily the woods are full of unemployed talent in this year of “the elevation of the game.”

Cincinnati report, December 13 Sporting Life:

Aleck Voss, Theodore Conover and Jones form a trio of tossers who are wintering over in Covington without the aid of any advance. They are all open for offers. Conover made quite a hit at Knoxville late in the season. [I don’t know when he might have been in Knoxville.]

On March 18, 1891, it was announced that Theo had signed with Portland of the Pacific Northwestern League. The next day’s Oregonian reported that: “He is said to be a pitcher who plays with his head as much as his hands, and if he is put in the box for the Portlands he will not let the home team lose for the want of good pitching.” However, a few days later it was reported that he had signed with the Spokane Bunch Grassers of the same league, and that was true. On April 8 the Spokane Chronicle reported that he had arrived in town the night before, and added:

Theodore Conover said: “I first played with the K.C. nine when I was employed in the Kentucky Carshop at Covington, Ky., but my first professional season was year before last when I pitched for the Cincinnatis. Last season, I played in Austin, Texas. That local league breaking up, I went to Akron, where I finished the season.”

In the May 2 Sporting Life their Spokane correspondent stated: “If Klopf keeps up his good work we will be the strongest team in the League in the box with Klopf, Lawson and Conover to draw from.” From the same writer, May 30:

Klopf and Conover each pitched two games and both did great work. In those two we have without doubt the best in and out men in the League in the box.

Portland Oregonian, June 21: “The very fact that Manager Barnes’ star box rustler, Mr. Theodore Conover, was batted out of the box yesterday is sufficient to demonstrate that the Portlands had a walkover.” Also on June 21, Theo umpired the next game in the Spokane at Portland series; Spokane won 6-5, and Sporting Life reported: “Conover, of the Spokane team, umpired, and failed to give satisfaction to the local patrons.”

In the August 8 Sporting Life, in the Spokane report, dated July 29: “George Nulton has been laid up with erysipelas for a week and Conover is suffering with an attack of typhoid fever; luckily it is only a slight one, and he will be all right again soon.”

By the time that issue appeared, though, Theo had been released by Spokane and signed by Tacoma, also of the PNL. He made his debut at home on the 8^th, beating Seattle, 6-3. He pitched for Tacoma through September 21; on the 26^th he was back pitching for Spokane, where he stayed through the end of the season on October 4. Between the two teams he appeared in 43 games, 34 as a pitcher and 12 as an outfielder. He hit .199 in 131 at-bats, and had a 14-15 record and 2.37 ERA in 240 innings, starting 26 games and completing 19 of them. He spent the winter in Cincinnati and on the Spokane reserve list.

Lexington Leader, February 2, 1892: “Mrs. Mary Conover, who resides on West Short street, and mother of Mr. Theodore Conover, the base ball player, is very ill and there is no hope for her recovery.” Fake news! She lived another six years.

Theo started the 1892 season without a team. He was mentioned in the June 25 Sporting Life as having been made an offer by a team in Quincy, Illinois, but he ended up with Nicholasville, Kentucky, in a short-lived, marginally professional league called the Blue Grass League. Sporting Life, July 23:

BLUE GRASS LEAGUE.

A successful League in Kentucky—The Record, Etc.

DANVILLE, Ky., July 19.—Editor SPORTING LIFE:--There has been a hot fight for the championship in the Blue Grass League, of Kentucky, between Danville and Nicholasville. The latter club is now in the ascendancy by only one game, and, as all the clubs are putting up a star game, there is no telling how the two leaders will stand at the end of a week.

The League was organized on June 1 with Danville, Shelbyville, Nicholasville, Stanford and Harrodsburg, but before the opening game, on the 7^th of the month, Shelbyville dropped out, and it was decided to play the season of twenty-four games with a four-club league. The teams are all close together, and on the guarantee of $20 the visiting club always makes more than expenses.

The standing of the teams at this time is as follows:

Nicholasville 9-2

Danville 7-3

Stanford 2-7

Harrodsburg 1-8

[Which totals 19 wins and 20 losses.]

The by-laws of the League only admit of employment of two hired men. Danville was represented by their battery, Ralph Elting, of Huntington, W. Va., and Paul Jones, of Covington, Ky. Conover, of last year’s Spokane Falls team, pitches for Nicholasville, and Pat Reaman is doing the receiving…

But three weeks later the league was no more. Sporting Life, August 13:

GONE UP.

The Blue Grass League, of Kentucky, Disbanded.

DANVILLE, Ky., Aug. 10.—Editor, SPORTING LIFE:--The last ten days has seen the sun set on the little League that was formed of the four leading towns of the blue grass section of the grand old commonwealth. The League has gone and busted. In the first place, Stanford was handicapped by a too heavy salary list and was forced to the wall by the demand of the players for their money. The club had been losing right along, and the backers thereof were nothing loth to let go the hot end of it. The Nicholasville Club, who were in the lead for the pennant by one game, also dropped out, and Danville and Harrodsburg were forced to quit…

The Danville team left Sunday for a trip through West Virginia, playing three games at Charleston and at Ironton, O. The team is made up of Jones, catcher,…of the Danvilles; Vetter, short stop, of the Harrodsburgs; Rieman, Conover, Goss and Duncan, of the Nicholasvilles, and one or two other players. The boys expect to return with three of the games to their credit.

From an August 20 report from Danville in the September 3 Sporting Life:

The Danville team returned yesterday from a trip through West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. While absent the club played seven games, and although they won but two of them they have no cause for complaints…

The Danville professionals leave for their homes today. Jones and Conover going to Newport…

In 1893 Theo caught on with an independent team in Lexington. Sporting Life, August 26:

THE BLUE GRASS REGION.

Base Ball Booming Down in the Old Bourbon Country.

LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug. 12.—Editor SPORTING LIFE:--Base ball in the blue grass region is enjoying quite a healthy boom at the present. Lexington, Frankfort, Danville and other points have teams and the rivalry between them is very keen. The idea of a Blue Grass League was suggested, but it was not organized…As the clubs are now constituted the highest salaries are about $75.00. In two of the best teams the writer knows the above to be a fact. Three games are played in each of the towns a week, and so far I have not heard of any big losses. Strong, semi-professional clubs in Louisville and Cincinnati have found the Kentucky clubs “good money” this year.

The local club has played about twenty-seven games this season, and have lost about seven or eight. The Frankfort Club has defeated them the greatest number of games. The club has several well-known players on the pay-roll now. Joe Sommer, of Barnie’s old Orioles, etc., is captain and plays at short. Joe is putting up a rustling game. Jack Keenan, who pitched awhile for Ted Sullivan’s Nashvilles, and Theo. Conover, who has played in the Texas and other minor leagues, attend the pitching for the club. Both have been doing gilt-edged work…

Theo made his way back to organized baseball in 1894, being picked up by Atlanta of the Southern Association. Lexington Leader, February 26:

Paul Jones, the base ball player, who was run over by a fire engine in Danville on Saturday and badly hurt, notice of which appeared in Sunday’s LEADER, is a Lexington boy and is engaged to catch Theodore Conover’s balls with the Atlanta, Ga., team this coming season.

Theo signed an Atlanta contract in early April, during spring training. From the April 20 Lexington Leader:

Theo Conover is rapidly getting into form, and the Atlanta people like him. Though he was lined all over the lot by the Charlestons, he went in a day or two afterward and held the Macon team down to one solitary base hit. It is the best pitching yet done in the Southern Association.

Atlanta Journal, April 26:

While Pitcher Theodore Conover, of the Atlantas, was mowing down New Orleans Tuesday [24^th], his sister died in Lexington. From some cause the news failed to reach him until last evening, after the young lady was buried. He is badly broken up over the sad event.

This was sister Minerva. Sporting Life, May 12:

As for pitchers, Teddy [Sullivan] is now well supplied. Conover doing the best work to date, closely followed by Chard and Keenan. Conover is the speediest twirler in these regions, and if some of the Rules Committee of the National were ever fortunate enough to see him slap ‘em over the plate they would mentally cuss themselves for not putting the pitcher nearer the centre of the diamond…

Theo was described as “under the weather” in the May 26 SL, and the June 9 issue reported “Conover is suffering from heart trouble and cannot do himself justice in the box. This will necessitate the signing of a new twirler…” He came back soon after that, as described in the Atlanta report, filed June 18 and appearing in the June 23 SL:

After Graves’ Giants had whipped our boys two straight, Manager Sullivan kept awake nights thinking out some scheme, to turn the tide and drown out these land-lubbers before they left town. At last a happy thought struck him clean across the tip of his top-knot and but one word, CONOVER escaped his lips as he slumbered sweetly and smiled contentedly while dreaming of triumphs new and fast approaching. So when the Atlanta public greedily devoured the columns of the Constitution the next morning, their eyes were greeted with the startling intelligence that Pitcher Conover, who had so long been out of the game, owing to sickness in his immediate neighborhood, would officiate in the box in the afternoon’s game, and would do his level best to make some of those haughty Memphians bow before him. Well, they bowed, and did it with grace and frequency. Not only did they do that, but they even tied themselves into several bewildering knots in their anxiety to show Conover how much they thought of him, and how they hated to see those pretty balls he was sending in so sweetly pass them by without their share of recognition. Batter after batter wrenched his spinal column in a furious but futile endeavor to annihilate that ball, but the only thing they did annihilate was space. That’s why there was such a wind storm here the next day—and that’s why Teddy smiled so blandly for 24 consecutive hours. It was one of those refreshing contests which acts upon the tortured feelings of the jaded fans who have rooted the very hair from their heads without avail, trying to pull out a victory for their champions. Conover simply outwitted the sluggers from Graves’ yard and had them hypnotized. They were the pigmies and he the giant.

The same issue included this news item: “First baseman Ryan and pitcher Conover, of the Atlanta team, had a fight with the result that Ryan got a knife wound in the wrist, which will prevent him from playing ball for the balance of the season.”

The July 7 SL reported on a Southern Association league meeting which resulted in the Mobile team moving to Atlanta and the previous Atlanta team disbanding; Theo went home to Kentucky. He wound up with a team in Paris, where he got involved in his second knife incident of the summer. The Paris Bourbon News reported on it on August 21:

While Johnnie Hileman and Theodore Conover, two popular members of the local team, were engaged in a friendly wrestle for the possession of a knife, Sunday, Conover was accidentally cut on the left wrist. Three stitches were taken in the cut.

The next day the Paris Kentuckian-Citizen gave its version:

Theodore Conover was accidentally cut across the back of his left hand Sunday afternoon by Johnnie Heilman. The accident happened in the office of Hotel Windsor. They had both started to get a drink of water, and when Conover reached up for the cup he struck his hand against a knife in Heilman’s hand, cutting the skin for about an inch and a half. Conover will not be able to play for at least ten days.

Paris played their last game on September 12, and Theo went home to Lexington. In early 1895 there was speculation that he would be playing in Virginia with Roanoke or Richmond, but he went with the Canton (Ohio) Deubers in the Interstate League. Canton Repository, April 14:

LOCAL BASE BALL

Manager Goble Signing Players for the Canton Team—Two Good Ones Accepted Saturday.

Manager Al Goble has lines out after two well-known ex-Tri-State club players, with good prospects of getting them. Theo. Conover, a pitcher, who last season shut out the New Orleans team of hard hitters without a hit in one game and only two hits in the second, sent his terms Saturday to Manager Goble. Conover, in the days of the old Tri-State league, played with the Springfield team, and is well known in Canton. He played last season with Atlanta, Ga. He is a great pitcher, hard hitter and excellent fielder.

Before heading to spring training with Canton, Theo worked out with the University of Kentucky team, which I think is what this item from the April 20 Cincinnati Post is alluding to:

Theo Conover is now posing as a student at the Kentucky University at Lexington. He is taking a course in curves and inshoots and shot a few into the vitals of the University of Cincinnati boys. The ratio of woe from the crimson and black warriors under Captain Richards was 10 to 4.

A May 26 article in the Canton Repository on the players on the team had this to say about Theo:

Theo. Conover, is an experienced pitcher, having played with Springfield old [sic] Tri-state league team, and since then has played with Spokane in Pacific league, Green Bay, Wis.[?], Macon, Ga.[?] and Atlanta, Ga. He is pitching his old time game and will prove a winning pitcher. Conover is twenty-seven years old, height five feet ten inches and weighs 145 pounds.

On June 7 it was reported that the Canton team had disbanded, and Theo was picked up by the Columbus Statesmen of the same league. The league folded completely in mid-July, and Theo caught on with Wheeling, one of two Interstate League teams that were absorbed by the Iron and Oil League. Before the various Statesmen left town they played a game against the National League’s Brooklyn Grooms, winning 15-11 as Theo started on the mound and later moved to right field.

Wheeling Register, July 20:

This morning a force of men armed with hatchets will start to work on the outfield, and the weeds will be conspicuous by their absence this afternoon. There will be no more stretching of scratch singles into home runs. Theodore Conover, the Kentucky phenom, who defeated Brooklyn at Columbus this week, will twirl the ball for the home club.

Theo pitched that afternoon and lost, 2-1, though the next day’s Register had this to say about him: “Theodore Conover, a product of the State of blooded horses, beautiful women, and good whisky, put the sphere over the plate like rifle balls, and twisted it about the necks of the batters.”

On August 13 the Register published a strange account of the previous day’s strange-sounding game:

THE TWINS DEFEATED

In a Close and Interesting Game Yesterday Afternoon.

Captain “Jack” Glasscock appeared yesterday afternoon in the role of a conjurer. He brought to the ball park a little cabinet of tricks with which to deceive the Unheavenly Twins. They were distributed to the players before the game, and they succeeded in mystifying the visitors. Broncho Jack was conspicuous by his absence. He stopped off at Steubenville to spend the day with his best girl. Myers filled his position at second very well, so far as playing is concerned, but he fell short on mouth. The Twins found a very life-like portrait of the prince of kickers in front of their bench. It was drawn with whitewash, and represented the Liverpool lad astride a Texas mustang. It was so true to nature that at several stages of the game the spectators almost expected the capacious vocal organ to open in protest against some of the decisions of Umpire Kelly.

Captain Glasscock needed all his powers of prestidigitation in the ninth inning. He had placed in Kane’s hand a rubber band labeled “Optical Illusion.” “Tolly” was instructed to touch the ball with it every time he delivered it. It worked all right for awhile, but it became detached, and “Tolly’s” arm lost its cunning. It was at this stage that Glasscock called that king of twisters, Theodore Conover, into the box. “That ole gem’men” had been dreaming of a blue grass belle who had failed to write as usual, and he was a trifle nervous. The Twins needed two to tie and three to win. “Sweet Violets” stepped up and Theodore smote him on the leg. “Hopper” Gallagher, who is not related to “Let ‘er Go,” gave the sphere a weak little punch, and the Violets withered and died at second. Pritchard got a life on Ball’s bad throw, and “Hopper” went around to third. Two strikes were called on “Dummy” and he made a face at Conover, whereupon Theodore became wrothy and smote him with the ball. Shaw bumped the sphere gently. It was gathered up in right garden, after Gallagher had crossed the plate. One to tie, now, and the rooters did everything but breathe. Briggs came up with an air of confidence and popped up a nice little sky-scraper. The gentleman with the Hibernian name started to sprint for it, and it dropped into his mitten over by the bleacher fence.

Glasscock’s box of tricks did very effective work, turning probable defeat into victory. There was one little ash stick which was designed especially for bunts, and it was used with good results. Ball and Kerr each wore spectacles which came from the little cabinet. Ball got three free passes to the initial bag, and the Canuck reached the same bag an equal number of times on nice clean singles. In the fourth inning, with Shaw on first, Briggs drove the sphere on a line right into Ball’s hands. Ball juggled it, and then dropped it purposely in order to execute a double play. It was a neat piece of head work, and he was warmly applauded.

Hawley pitched with an “I-want-my-salary-or-my-release” air. ‘Twas an off day for the Hawleys. His illustrious namesake struck a Waterloo at Cincinnati. But the Twin City Hawley is not so much pumpkins at best. He would be more of a success as a contortionist. That twist of the leg is intended to strike terror to the batter, but Notorious Pastorious can give Hawley cards and spades and a shot gun, and beat him out at that game. Violet and Myers are substitute kickers on the Uhrichsville team, but they need practice. Broncho will probably be in the game today, as the following message from Steubenville would seem to indicate:

“She said ‘yes’ to-night. Will be down in the morning. BRONCHO.”

Pittsburgh Post, August 23:

…When Theodore Conover went to the bat in the third inning yesterday he was presented with a handsome gold watch by a number of his Wheeling friends. Conover has won eight of the ten games which he has pitched in the Iron and Oil league for Wheeling, and has further endeared himself to the local “fans” by declining an offer from Evansville at twice the salary he is now receiving.

Theo returned to Lexington after the season. I have no stats for him from either of his 1895 leagues, except that a November 28 item in the Maysville Bulletin credited him with 14 complete games and 11 wins with Wheeling.

In February 1896 Theo signed with the Dallas Navigators of the Texas Association. He had an 11-12 record there in 23 games, and hit .198, but left the team in July. 

Lexington Leader, July 12:

Theo Conover returned from Dallas, Texas, Saturday and was at once signed by Manager Brown. “Huck” is in fine form and left Dallas because of the continuous changes in the management of the team. He pitched some great ball for Dallas.

Sporting Life had this to say on July 18: “At Dallas on the 8^th Conover and Bastian became mutinous and deserted the team.”

The Lexington team seems to have been an independent town team, probably amateur or semi-pro. Lexington Herald, September 11:

The strong team from Versailles will be here today to tackle the locals. “Huck” Conover will be in the box and as this is the last game for this week a good crowd should be present and show that Lexington appreciates the good work its ball team is doing.

For 1897 Theo signed with the Nashville Centennials of the Central League, but it was another gig that didn’t last long. From the June 11 Lexington Leader:

CONOVER RETURNS HOME.

Theo Conover, the well known ball player, returned home today from Nashville. Conover was pitching for the Nashville team in the Central League, when the manager, Billy Work, skipped out and left the team high and dry. Conover was offered a berth at Decatur, Ill., but decided to come home. He says he got a very rough deal.

On July 31 the Russellville (Kentucky) Ledger reported that Theo had signed with the Russellville team, seemingly another independent team, but I found no more about him that season.

Lexington Herald, December 29:

CHARLESTON WANTS CONOVER

Theodore Conover, the local base ball pitcher, has received inquiries from the manager of the Charleston, S.C. base ball team, asking his terms for the coming season. The Charleston team will be a member of the new Southern League, to include Atlanta, Chattanooga, Birmingham and other cities. Conover’s many friends hope to see him land a good job for the coming season and play the game of his life.

However, the only indication I found that Theo played baseball in 1898 was a July 6 item in the Herald saying that: “’Huck’ Conover, the old Lexington stand-by, will probably be secured to pitch.” This was from an article on an attempt to re-establish a Blue Grass League.

Theo appeared in the Lexington city directory in 1898, listed as a boarder at 18 Woodard Avenue. Brother Alonzo is shown as a rope maker at 239 South Broadway, and brother Todd a carriage painter at 13 Montmullin.

The June 9, 1899, Herald named Theo as one of the new members added at a meeting of the Goebel Club, an organization of supporters of William Goebel for Kentucky governor. Goebel would be elected under shady circumstances, assassinated, sworn in on his deathbed, then serving for four days.

The August 31, 1901, Sporting Life listed Theo as one of 13 players the Cincinnati Reds had released that season, which I cannot explain. The other players named all actually played for the Reds in 1901. Herald, October 6:

BALL GAME TODAY

There will be a game of base ball at the Belt Line park this afternoon. The contesting nines will be the Lexington Reserves, managed by Robert Hughes, and the Lexington Browns, managed by Dan Moynahan. The latter team has played fourteen games this season, all being victories. The Reserves will have Theo Conover, a New England League man [?], in the box and Jeff Brown, formerly of the Texas League. Ladies will be admitted free.

Same paper, October 13:

GAME OF BASE BALL TODAY.

The last of the season will be played this afternoon between the Lexingtons and Manhattans at Belt Line Park. The game will be a hotly contested one, as both sides will do their utmost to win this, the last game. The Lexingtons have two old base ball players—Conover and Brown—both of whom have played in the National League, and they feel sure of winning, while the Manhattans have such good amateurs as Galvin, Allen, Llyod, Darnaby and Hilman. The game will be called promptly at 2:30 p.m.

In the 1906 Lexington city directory Theo is living at 632 Patterson with Alonzo, both of them listed as laborers. In the 1909 directory he is a clerk living at 411 Hayman Avenue.

The 1910 census was taken in Lexington on April 21. Theo, a laborer of odd jobs, Alonzo, also a laborer of odd jobs, and Todd, a house painter, all live with their sister Mary “Mollie” Geers, whose husband Franklin had died in 1907, at 451 Chair Avenue. Three months later, on July 27, Theo passed away. From the July 29 Paris Bourbon News:

Old Paris Ball Player Dead.

T.C. [actually NMI] Conover, aged 43 [42] years, died Wednesday afternoon at his home in Lexington after a brief illness and was buried in that city yesterday. “Huck” Conover, as he was familiarly known was at one time one of the best pitchers in Central Kentucky. He stood at the head of the pitchers during the time of the old Blue Grass League was in existence [sic] from the years of 1892 to 1896 and for four years was the mainstay of the Lexington club. In the year of 1888 Conover pitched for the independent club in Paris and in the year of 1894 when Paris was a member of the old Blue Grass League he was a member of the pitching staff, and is well remembered by the older followers of the game.

Theo’s death certificate gave the cause of death as heart troubles, with alcoholism as a contributory cause. He never married.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/Pconot101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/conovte01.shtml