Creed Bates

 

Creed Bates pitched for the National League’s Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Perfectos in 1898-99.

Creed Napoleon Bates was born September 28, 1876, in Cleveland, northeast of Chattanooga in southeastern Tennessee. His parents, Levi Bates and Louisa Catherine Gaddis Bates, were both born in Georgia; Levi volunteered for the Confederate Army at the age of 17, early in the Civil War.

The 1880 census found them living in Cleveland. Levi, 35, is a laborer in an iron mine; Louisa is 33; and there are six children: William, 10; Adolphus, 9; Charles, 8; Ida, 6; Creed, 4; and Hattie, 1. William was born in Georgia, the others in Tennessee. In 1883 Levi joined the Chattanooga police force.

I know nothing more about Creed until the July 1, 1895, Chattanooga Daily Times: “Will Hill and Creed Bates, two Chattanooga boys, are pitching for the Columbus, Miss., team in the Mississippi state league.” As best I can tell, the Mississippi State League was an independent professional league. Then on August 7, the Knoxville Journal reported:

The [Knoxville] Reds leave this morning for Asheville for a series of four games. The Moonshiners have been strengthened at numerous weak points since they were here, President Nicklin having been wired for players. Among the new men is Creed Bates, Jr. [sic], of Chattanooga, who pitched a game against the Nashville team Monday giving up only three hits.

These were amateur town teams. From the Knoxville Tribune, February 2, 1896:

The amateur ball fever is spreading rapidly, and all the towns of any consequence in this territory will form amateur teams for the coming season. Locally, Manager Moffett has twenty men on the string, and says he can get a crack team together in twenty-four hours. At present he is laying low, as it would not pay him to sign men and have them leave him later for positions with minor league teams. He has on his string certainly, however, Davis, Creed Bates, the swift twirler from Chattanooga,…

Chattanooga Daily Times, February 27:

Bates Will Play Ball at Knoxville.

Creed Bates, son of Policeman Bates, who is making such a good reputation as a base ball pitcher, has signed with the Knoxville team for this year and will report to Manager Moffett, of the club, in a few days. Young Bates is a Chattanooga boy and is fast winning laurels in the base ball field.

Then followed a period of uncertainly as to whether Creed would pitch for Knoxville or go to college (or, just pitch for college). From the March 12 Knoxville Tribune:

Creed Bates, the well known pitcher, who played with the Asheville, North Carolina team last season has been signed for the first part of the season of ’96 by the Athletic association of the University of Tennessee. Bates will arrive probably next week and will get down to work at once. He is a good twirler and will materially strengthen the University aggregation.

Tribune, March 15:

Creed Bates, the old [19-year-old] star pitcher for the Asheville team, has come up from Chattanooga to attend school this term. He will be a valuable addition to the base ball club.

Knoxville Sentinel, March 21:

Creed Bates, of Chattanooga, is expected to enter school some time next week. It is not yet known whether he can be persuaded to pitch for the team or not. He says he is coming to school to study, but that if he has any spare time he will willingly help old Tennessee out on the diamond.

On March 21 Creed pitched in Chattanooga for the Fergers against the Highland Parks. On March 31 the Knoxville Journal reported:

Creed Bates arrived in the city yesterday and will enter the university to-day. Bates will pitch for the Knoxville team this season and also for the University of Tennessee team. It is however a mistaken idea that the university team secured him. He signed with Manager Moffett before he decided to attend school and will be one of the regular pitchers of the Indians. Regular practice is being held every afternoon at the park and the boys are showing up in great shape.

Knoxville Tribune, April 2:

A game of base ball has been arranged for next Saturday afternoon at Baldwin Park. The game will be between the University of Tennessee team and a picked nine from the city. The crack pitcher, Creed Bates, who is to be associated with Moffett’s Indians this year, will twirl the sphere for the university boys, but aside from this the entire team will be composed of university men…

Chattanooga Daily Times, April 5:

Creed Bates, of Chattanooga, has recently become a student at the University of Tennessee, and will pitch for that team this season. He is considered a decided acquisition to the team.

On April 12 the Knoxville Tribune reported that “Creed Bates is at the University of Tennessee and has daily practice unsolving [?] speed and curves.” On the 20^th he pitched for the University team in Nashville. On the 26^th the Tribune reported:

The action of the Athletic association of the University of Tennessee in sending from the state institution a baseball aggregation, five-ninths of which were real students of the University, has been severely criticized by many.

Last Sunday the team left the city on a tour, having as members the following named players under the direction of Mark Brown, manager for the association: Al Crowley, Ben Morefield, Smith (Moffett’s new man), Creed Bates,… The first five named players are not regular students of the University. Bates matriculated at the institution four weeks ago, but for the sole purpose of playing baseball. Hence he is a ball student and not a student of the University…

This was the last mention of Creed pitching for and/or attending the University. On May 4 the Tribune ran a preview of the Knoxville amateur team, including:

Creed Bates, pitcher, was with Columbus, Miss., and Asheville, last season. Age 19 years, height 5 feet 10 ½ inches; weight 156 pounds.

Bates was one of Columbus’ stand-by pitchers last year and no doubt this year will surpass the creditable record he made there. Bates has good speed, curves, and a cool head. As compared with Davis and Hill of last season, Bates will not be as good but he will no doubt do excellent work.

Chattanooga Daily Times, May 17:

Young Creed Bates is pitching “great ball.” In one of Friday’s games he struck out nine men. Young Bates is also good at the bat. He has the credit of making the longest hit yet made at Baldwin Park, putting the ball over deep center and bringing in two men.

Two weeks later Creed pitched a three-hit shutout, and two weeks after that he was released by Knoxville so that he could sign with Columbus (Georgia this time, not Mississippi) of the Class B Southern League. The Daily Times reported on June 16:

GOES TO COLUMBUS, GA.

Young Creed Bates passed through the city Sunday en route to New Orleans, where he goes to join the Columbus, Ga., team of the Southern league. Young Bates had several other offers, but decided to accept the one with Columbus, as it brings him a salary of $100 per month. He will go in against the leaders today or tomorrow, and if his past record counts for anything the Pelicans will have no flowery-beds-of-ease walkover.

On July 14 Creed was released, then immediately signed by Mobile of the same league. The New Orleans Times-Democrat reported on July 26:

Bates, who started in was wild and could not control the ball and at the close of the fourth inning Fisher decided to take him out…President Muller, who was one of the audience advised Fisher to make this move in order to be able to put Bates in to pitch the game to-day in Mobile against Columbus. The Mobile rooters have never seen Bates in the box for their own club and the president was anxious to give them the opportunity but this move was not at all satisfactory to the erratic pitcher who intimated that he was not being treated right by Fisher when he was pulled out to make place for Schmidt.

The Knoxville Tribune reported on August 7:

Creed Bates, son of Policeman Bates, has returned home from Mobile, where he has been playing ball for several months. Young Bates was taken sick several weeks ago with malaria and was confined in bed for about six days. He has not fully recovered yet. He says that it is not likely that he will return to Mobile again this season. Bates is now considering an offer from the Cleveland team of the national league for next season. It is probable that he and the Cleveland people will come to some agreeable terms. Bates has played fine ball this season, and the Mobile club regretted to lose him.

After a month Creed returned to the Knoxville amateur team; from the September 7 Tribune:

Creed Bates arrived yesterday morning and he is in fine condition. When he left here about the middle of the summer he was so wild that his games were very uncertain. He now has good control and speed enough which will make him reliable as he has good curves and a good head.

Courtesy of Henry Chadwick, Sporting Life published the Southern League pitching leaders on September 19; Creed ranked first in the league with an 11-3 record, yet somehow Baseball Reference credits him with a 1-5 record.

On January 25, 1897, the Chattanooga Daily Times reported that Creed had been signed by the Cleveland Spiders of the National League and would be given a tryout, but I found no more mention of that. On March 9 the Daily Times ran a story on an independent professional team, not part of any league, being formed in Chattanooga, mentioning Creed as one of the players, but as it turned out the team joined the newly -formed independent Southeastern League. Creed had a 3-8 record in 11 starts before the league folded in late May; playing other positions as well, he got into 30 games total, and hit .202.

Creed then caught on with the Terre Haute Hottentots of the Class C Central League; from there he moved on to the Class B Inter-State League, where he spent time with both the Dayton Old Soldiers and the Wheeling Nailers, and had a 1.91 ERA in 11 games. The September 30 Chattanooga Daily Times reported:

Creed Bates Returns.

Creed Bates, son of ex-Policeman Bates, one of Chattanooga’s crack ball players, returned yesterday from Dayton, O., the Ohio Central League [sic] season being now at an end. Young Bates has earned an enviable record on the diamond this season. As a pitcher he had but few equals in the league, and his general average at the close of the season has placed him near the top of the list. He will probably enter the National League next year.

Creed returned to Dayton in 1898 and, a first for him, he stuck with them for their entire season. He won 23 games, two off the league lead, and lost 18. After the season ended he was purchased by the Cleveland Spiders and became a major leaguer.

Creed started four games, all complete games, for the Spiders in the last nine days of the season: two wins, one loss, and one tie. Two of the games failed to go nine innings, so he pitched just 29, with a 3.10 ERA. After the season he appeared on the Cleveland reserve list, as Frank C. Bates; this was a very rare reference to him as “Frank,” but that is how he is currently listed in retrospect.

Creed signed a new Cleveland contract in February 1899, the Houston Post reporting that he was “getting in shape in Dayton, Ohio,” and the Knoxville Sentinel giving his salary as $200 a month. But the Spiders’ owners, Frank and Stanley Robison, bought another National League team, the St. Louis Browns, renamed them the Perfectos, and scrambled the two rosters in an attempt to get all the best players on the Perfectos. Creed was among those sent to St. Louis. From the March 30 St. Louis Republic:

GOSSIP OF THE PLAYERS

What the St. Louis Boys Are Doing at Hot Springs.

BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

Hot Springs Ark., March 29.—“I prithee cast thine penetrant and prehensile optics on that pulchritudinous pair of young battery partners, Bates and Criger,” spake Oliver Tebeau to your correspondent; “and give me the benefit of such scrutiny, for I highly value and set great store on your ripe judgment on questions pertaining to beauty, come it in a woman, a man, a horse, a dog, a bat, a bicycle or a golf club. That pair will make my ladies’ day battery during the coming season, and mote I thrive they will attract to the unaccustomed hinges of the park gates many airy, fairy dames of quality who, like their dear sex, see more in a baseball player than the game he plays.

“Look you well upon the willowy Criger,” continued the entertaining Oliver, whose pseudonym is Pat…

“But he is only one of a pair. Bates may not make the marvelous ‘coup d’oeil’ that his starry partner does, but when you score his points, one by one, he scores high. In truth he has a sad and doleful eye that makes him quite as solid with the ladies as my old friend Larry Hanley, doing his Hamlet stunt. His mild eye of blue, with its injured expression, will make the St. Louis Club a popular place aux dames this coming summer. Then he is a most truly and justly proportioned fellow disinclined to embonpoint [a real word, look it up] and much addicted to unconscious grace of motion. His ebony locks and dusk complexion would recommend him as a foil to the flaxen exuberance of Criger. The one is the very best young catcher in the League, as good now as Ewing, Bennett or Zimmer were at their best. But one thing can prevent the other being a marvelous pitching success, and that is a broken arm. Methinks my season’s work is well begun when I have captured this brace of baseball kids.”

 It took a while for Creed to get into a game. On May 19 he finished up a 10-9 loss in New York; on the 23^rd the Chattanooga Daily Times quoted the St. Louis Republic’s game story:

BOUQUETS FOR CREED BATES.

Sunday’s St. Louis Republic says: Tebeau had better get Bates ready, for there will be a constant demand for the kid pitcher. He made a tremendous hit in the two innings he pitched. Bates is a slim, clean-carved, modest looking fellow, with a free delivery and speed that impresses. Tebeau never has had any doubt of his ability. That he has not pitched him before is due to the fact that he has not shown proper control of his fast ball in practice. He displayed great speed yesterday and a good straight ball. His delivery should produce a “wave” ball, something like that which Nichols and Cy Young have when at their best. Bates bats left-handed. He made a nice hit and got a base on balls in that fateful sixth inning yesterday. His hit came first, and it was a neat performance. He pitched for the Dayton club of the Interstate League last year and was counted the best twirler in that speedy minor organization.

Three days later Creed relieved again. Between the two games he gave up one earned run in 8 2/3 innings, but that wasn’t good enough to keep the Robison brothers from moving him back to Cleveland. The Spiders put him in the starting rotation; on June 7 he lost 7-1, and on the 11^th he lost 10-1. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on the 12^th:

BATES’ WORK WAS WRETCHED.

He Pitched as if Trying to Secure His Release.

Sore at Having Been Transferred From St. Louis.

A Big Crowd and a Poor Game.

CINCINNATI, June 11.—Young Mr. Bates was either in miserable form this afternoon or he had an attack of the sulks. His work on the rubber for the Exiles was the worst seen here this season. It may be doing the youngster an injustice, but from the stands it seemed as if he was not trying. He just floated the ball towards the plate all during the game and did not even seem to be making an effort to get it over. Nine bases on balls and two hit batsmen was the result of this carelessness.

In the face of such pitching of course the Exiles had little chance to even make a creditable showing against the locals, and they suffered an overwhelming defeat. Bates acted much as if he were sore because Tebeau had shifted him to Cleveland and as if he were willing to do most anything for his release.

That Cleveland bunch is enough to bring tears to a man’s eyes at any time, but they were unusually demoralized today, after Bates showed no signs of wanting to make a fight at least…

The 1899 Spiders are famous as the worst team in major league history, winding up with a 20-134 record, and Creed was one of their worst pitchers. In one game he walked 14 batters, which was thought to be a record though it actually wasn’t. On June 26 he walked nine and lost 10-7; the next day’s Cleveland Leader reported:

A certain Mr. Bates, whose wildness exceeds everything that has ever “happened” in Cleveland, is chargeable for the defeat of yesterday. The game would have been an easy one but for the balls that weren’t put over the plate. Bates couldn’t find the plate any more than a drunken man can find the keyhole at 3 a.m. He shot ‘em this way and that—any way except over the plate. He hit the batters, and failed to count for strikes. It was a frightful exhibition of how the game should not be pitched.

Mr. Bates fielded like a man in the grave…

On July 14 Creed pitched a 14-1 complete game loss, yet the Leader spoke well of him:

…and Bates stood the onslaught very well for a young pitcher, especially as he was laid out for five minutes by a blow over the heart from a pitched ball in the second inning that would have sent most pitchers to the stable for repairs. It was a terrible blow, but Bates puckily finished the game.

Creed did finish 17 of his 19 starts, including August 12 when he walked seven and lost 13-1, the Plain Dealer saying:

Bates doesn’t seem to be even a second rater. He has only average speed, very poor command of the ball, and relies almost entirely on an outcurve.

On August 16 he walked nine and lost 13-2, another complete game, and the Plain Dealer said:

Of course the Clevelands did not win the game, and it is hard to see when they will win a game so long as they persist in playing Bates. The young man demonstrated long ago that he is not fast enough even for the tail enders of the big organization. He had little speed today, was quite as wild as usual and the Brooklyns had little or no trouble in making runs and plenty of them…

On August 24 he walked seven but lost only 6-2, the Plain Dealer observing that: “Bates, who is retained on Quinn’s team because he can always be depended upon to lose handily, pitched in his normal form.” The August 31 Plain Dealer, on the previous day’s game:

Once again it was simply a case of battle between a fox terrier and a rat at League park yesterday, and Cleveland again appeared in the role of the rodent. Bates, who has never showed cause why he should remain in anything besides minor league company, pitched for Quinn, which is quite enough to explain the result. He was not as wild as usual, for the reason that Boston seldom let him pitch long enough to give a base on balls…

From the September 6 Knoxville Sentinel:

BATES RELEASED

FORMER KNOXVILLE PITCHER DROPPED BY CLEVELAND.

RECORD IN BOX ASSIGNED AS PROBABLE CAUSE.

Tuesday afternoon, Creed Bates, of the Cleveland baseball team, the old Knoxville pitcher, was given notice of release.

Many Knoxville baseball rooters will be sorry to hear of this. The manager of the team perhaps based his dismissal upon his record this season. Bates has pitched in twenty games, and in only two of these did his team win. These were not won on account of his superior pitching.

Tuesday afternoon Bates pitched the first game of a double header for Cleveland, against Cincinnati. He allowed Cincinnati twenty-two hits, which resulted in nineteen scores…

His release may have been based upon his crappy pitching…

Creed actually was given one more start before his release took effect, and he lost 11-0 on September 9, giving him a 1-18 record. The Spiders lost 23 of their 24 games the rest of the way, so his release doesn’t seem to have made much of a difference one way or the other. His ERA while with Cleveland was 7.24; adding in his two relief appearances with St. Louis gives a 6.90 mark overall. In his 161 2/3 innings he allowed 246 hits and 110 walks, while striking out only 13 batters; he owns the major league record for the lowest number of strikeouts per nine innings (since the mound was moved back in 1893) at 0.72.

The Pittsburgh Press reported on December 4:

Wheeling May Get Bates.

Cincinnati, Dec. 4—Creed Bates, the Cleveland league pitcher who is wintering in this city, may play with the Wheeling team next season. Bates has a number of offers, but he thinks better of his Wheeling offer than any of the others. The chances are that he will sign to play in the West Virginia metropolis next season.

Creed did sign with Wheeling, but then decided he wanted to play with a semi-pro team in Cincinnati instead, which was reported in the February 19, 1900, Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, under the headline “Come Bates, This Won’t Do.” The same paper had an update on March 7:

Pitcher Bates, of the Wheelings, who proved refractory and recently sent back $25 advance money that had been proffered him, and at the same time announced his intention to play with the semi-professional Fleischmanns, of Cincinnati, has come to terms with the local management, as will be seen by the following letter just received by Manager Lytle:

CINCINNATI, March 5, 1900.

FRIEND POP: Your letter received and in reply will say, I have already seen my mistake, and if you knew how I was drawn into it I don’t think you would blame me. They promised me a good job at $12 per week, and then gave me the “hooks.” When I started to work it was a dirty job that a negro would not do, so I would not work at it, and I had to draw $25 more advance, and he has not given me a job yet, and I don’t want it now. So if you will send him the $50 I will be ready at any time to come. Enclosed find measurement for uniform. Yours truly,

C.F. BATES.

That Bates will form one of the Wheelings’ pitching quartette is the best of news, for the fans remember his former good work in this league, and his really meritorious work [???] with the tail-ender Clevelands in the big league, and are united in the belief that he will come pretty near leading the Inter-state slab artists…

Same paper, March 15:

The Wheeling management has received a letter from Pitcher Bates, asking for transportation which will be sent at once. The big fellow [5-10, 156] says he prefers spending the remainder of the winter in Wheeling, in order to commence training at once.

But things were not yet settled. The Daily Intelligencer again, April 13:

Reports that Pitcher Bates will not come to Wheeling, going instead with Mayor Fleischmann’s crack team which the Cincinnati man proposes to have as an attraction at his Catskill summer home this summer, are not true. Bates will be here next week.

On April 25 Creed was in Newport, Kentucky, marrying Selma Bowe of Dayton. Daily Intelligencer, May 3:

If Stricklett is not conditioned soon it would be well for the Wheeling management to make another effort to bring Pitcher Bates to his senses.

May 8:

Manager Lytle leaves for Cincinnati tomorrow to make an effort to have Bates join the club.

May 10:

Pitcher Bates joined the Wheeling club here to-night and reported in fine condition. He will work in Friday’s game at Mansfield.

May 11:

To-day’s game with the Haymakers will be of especial interest, owing to the debut of Charley [?] Bates as an Inter-state pitcher after a season’s stay in the National League. He ought to make a win of it, as he is said to be in the best of condition, and recently let down a team of Cincinnati semi-professionals without a hit or a run.

He actually lost that game, 6-1. On May 14 the Daily Intelligencer quoted a Cincinnati Enquirer story, apparently from a few days previous:

The Cincinnati Enquirer says that Creed Bates, of the Superbas, over whom the Wheeling team, of the Interstate league, and Mayor-elect Fleischmann’s Mountain club have had something of a wrangle, left yesterday afternoon for Wheeling. The Fleischmanns decided, in view of the fact that Bates had signed a West Virginia contract before they agreed to add him to their team, it would be unsportsmanlike to hold him, and accordingly relinquished all claims to the player.

On May 15 Creed won 8-4, and on the 20^th he pitched a two-hitter but lost 5-1 because he made three errors. On June 11 the Intelligencer reported that the Stogies had released a pitcher, adding “Bates is in fine shape, and, together with Poole, will be worked every third day.” Same paper, June 28:

Bates pitched the best game yesterday that he has figured in for Wheeling this season and it put to rest the clamor that his release was almost a certainty. He is one of the highest salaried men on the team and he earned his money yesterday. The fans forced him to doff his cap several times. He was there with the stick, too…

Backstop Boyd said after the game that Bates hadn’t tossed a dozen curves in the game, depending on straight ones that had speed to burn.

Still, by July 16 Creed was pitching for Wheeling’s rivals the Youngstown Little Giants, who moved to Marion and became the Glass Blowers in early August. On September 5 he lost 13-2 to Wheeling, and on the 7^th the Dayton Herald reported that: “Pitcher Creed Bates has been released from the Marion, Ind., club, and returned to his home in this city this morning.” For the season he had a 5-12 record.

In 1901 Creed somehow made his way to the Columbus (Ohio) Senators of the Class A Western Association. The Columbus Dispatch reported on May 4:

Pitcher Bates arrived yesterday morning and announced that he was in shape to pitch Western association ball at once. He was accordingly sent to the slab against the Colonels.

For five innings hit looked that Bates knew what he was talking about for he held the visitors down to four hits and the best they could do in the scoring line was one run in the fourth…

However, he lost 8-5. On May 11 he struck out the first batter of the game, walked the second, and was removed with “a very lame arm.” After the game he was released, and he returned to Dayton. On December 5 of that year, the following appeared in the Dayton Herald’s Police Court column:

Creed Bates, base ball pitcher, hit his father-in-law in the head with a rock. $5 and 60 days in the Work House.

Same newspaper, two days later, under Courts:

BATES VS. BATES

Selma Bates charges Creed N. Bates with cruelty, neglect and drunkenness in her suit for divorce. She was married to him April 25, 1900, at Newport, Ky. She alleges that Bates is a professional ball player, and in 1898 was pitcher for the Dayton team. She claims that he is now confined in the Work House by reason of assaults made upon her. O.F. Davidson, attorney.

Dayton Daily News, July 31, 1902:

WILL TRY AGAIN

Selma Bates has instituted another action in divorce against Creed Bates, to whom she was wedded April 23 [sic], 1900, in Newport, Ky. She charges neglect and continued abuse and avers that she cannot live with him because of his ill treatment and that he persists in harassing her, no matter where she lives. She says she is now living with her parents on Jones street, in this city, in constant danger of injury from the defendant.

She prays for a temporary restraining order which shall enjoin the defendant from annoying her. A former divorce petition filed by this plaintiff was dismissed for want of prosecution. W.A. Hallaman.

Back to the Dayton Herald, December 15, under “EQUITY CASES—JUDGE DUSTIN”: “Selma Bates vs. Creed Bates. Dismissed.”

Creed then disappears until March 12, 1907, when the Vicksburg Evening Post ran an article on the Class D Cotton States League teams reporting for spring training, which included:

Four of the locals are already here, and by the first of next week we will start regular practice. Creed Bates, who was some years ago in the American Association [sic], has been signed for first base…

That’s the only suggestion I found of Creed playing for Vicksburg, but the Cotton States League final stats show a Bates going 2-for-10 in four games for Mobile. About a year later, on March 19, 1908, the New Orleans Times-Democrat ran an article on the Meridian (Mississippi) Ribboners, also of the Cotton States League, reporting for spring training; it included the statement that: “Creed Napoleon Bates, with the Cleveland team last season [nine seasons ago], has also reported and will be given a tryout.” From the New Castle (Pennsylvania) Herald, April 14:

BERNE M’CAY A GOOD STORY TELLER

Manager Bernie McCay received a letter from Creed Bates, a friend who is playing the outfield for the Meridian team of the Cotton States league this season. After wishing Bernie luck Bates tells of a peculiar stunt pulled off by his manager, who is known as “Crazy” Schmit. Bates says Schmit is the limit. He was rooming with the manager and being unable to sleep one night arose to take a smoke. He heard Schmit get out of bed, but for five minutes he knew no more. Schmit clouted him over the head with a water pitcher, putting him down and out. When he came to his senses Bates saw Schmit looking at him and asked him why he had struck him.

“I was asleep,” said Schmit.

Bates says the same day Schmit entered the dining room of a hotel and after eating a hearty meal informed the waiter that he wanted his dinner.

“I just served you, boss,” said the negro.

Schmit declared that he had had nothing to eat and the argument ended in a fight.

For his little by-play with Bates Schmit was fined $7.50 by a magistrate, Bates says.

Creed played right field for Meridian until being released on April 25; he hit .254 in 71 at-bats in 20 games. The July 5 New Orleans Times-Picayune showed a Bates playing right field for semi-pro team Bogalusa; the July 17, July 22, and August 26 editions showed a Bates pitching for a town team in Gloster, Mississippi. I don’t know whether either of these people was Creed.

On April 15, 1910, the US census was taken in Jackson Township, Kansas. Over 100 men lived in what was apparently company housing at a rock-crushing plant; most of them were listed as laborers. One of them was named Creed Bates. He was 33, which matches; his father was born in Georgia and his mother in North Carolina, which doesn’t quite match the 1880 census, which showed both parents born in Georgia with their parents born in North Carolina. He was listed as single, so if this was our Creed then apparently Selma eventually got her divorce.

The next piece of information is Creed’s draft registration card, which he filled out September 12, 1918. He gives his address as 326 Smith in Cincinnati, and his occupation as a laborer for H.E. Culberson on Mingo Street. His nearest relative is oldest brother William, at 500 South State in Chicago. He gives his description as medium height, medium build, blue eyes, and dark hair.

And that’s the last we know of Creed. There has been speculation that he died in the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19 since he is not counted in the 1920 census, but we really don't know.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pbatef101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/batesfr01.shtml

Walter Dickson

 

Walter Dickson pitched for three teams in the National and Federal Leagues between 1910 and 1915.

Walter Raleigh Dickson was born December 3, 1878, in New Summerfield, a small town in Cherokee County in east Texas, the eighth child of farmer William Dickson and Harriet Fidelia Coveness Phelps Dickson. The June 19, 1880, census found William, Harriet, the eight kids (ranging from 17-year-old Henry to one-year-old Walter), and two hired hands living on a Cherokee County farm.

Walter is then a blank until March 30, 1905, when, at age 26, his name appeared in the Dallas Morning News on a list of players who had signed with the Greenville Midlands of the Class D North Texas League. On August 2 the same newspaper reported that “Hickory Dickson” “pitched great ball” in a 4-2 loss to Texarkana. (While Walter is generally listed as “Walt” these days, I found almost no references to him under that name. He was overwhelmingly Walter or Hickory, and occasionally Dick, Hickory Dick, Old Hickory, or Ole Hickory.) I found no North Texas League stats, but Walter is credited with also playing eleven games for the Temple Boll Weevils of the Class C Texas League at some point that season, pitching in ten with an 8-2 record.

In 1906 Walter pitched for the Cleburne Railroaders of the Texas League, now reorganized as a Class D league, and had a 24-12 record as the Railroaders won the pennant. On July 23 he pitched a 19-inning complete game, allowing six hits, in a game called due to darkness with the scored tied 0-0. One of his teammates was an 18-year-old who began the season as a pitcher but was moved to the outfield—Tris Speaker.

After the season Walter appeared on the reserve list of the St. Paul Saints of the Class A American Association; I don’t know how his rights were transferred. He didn’t get into many games for the Saints in 1907 before, at some point in June, he was sold to the Grand Rapids Wolverines of the Class C Central League. With Grand Rapids he had a 9-7 record and made eight errors for a league-worst .875 fielding percentage.

Walter re-signed with Grand Rapids for 1908. On July 17 the Muskegon Chronicle reported:

Hickory Dick Dickson did some great work on the slab for Grand Rapids yesterday and by allowing the Dayton Vets but two hits beat them, 4 to 0. Dickson’s work put the Furniture Cityites within one point of Dayton and the lead.

Four days later Walter pitched a 17-inning complete game, striking out eleven, and allowing eleven hits and one walk; he made an error that contributed to a 2-1 loss. He wound up with a 14-11 record in 28 games. After the season he was drafted by the Birmingham Barons of the Class A Southern League.

In the April 10, 1909, issue of Sporting Life, their Southern League correspondent corresponded:

In Dickson, Manager Molesworth expects Birmingham’s best pitcher to materialize. This lad certainly has the avoirdupois and looks every inch a real pitcher. He comes highly touted and much is expected of him.

Also Sporting Life, June 12:

Pitcher Dickson, of Birmingham, in the recent New Orleans series held the Pelicans to one hit. Only 28 men faced him in the entire game—a very unusual feat.

Birmingham Age-Herald, August 8:

Dickson Again Nears The Record

Twenty-Seven Crackers Faced Dickson; Barons Again Victorious Over Atlanta

“OLE HICKORY” IN MAGNIFICENT FORM—JORDAN GETS ONLY HIT. TWO CRACKERS ON SACKS AND BOTH SLAUGHTERED.

Dickson was in superb form yesterday afternoon and but 27 Atlantans faced his delivery.

But two Crackers reached first. With one down in the fifth, Jordan hit safe to rightcenter, this being the sole bingle of the game from an Atlanta standpoint. Otto, immediately after smashing what looked good for a record, went out stealing second. Barr, thereupon, was walked and he too fell a victim to the accuracy of Raub’s arm…

Walter finished with a 16-11 record; by the end of the season he had been drafted by the New York Giants, to report next spring, but he wasn’t happy about it. From the October 2 Montgomery Advertiser:

DICKSON DOES NOT WANT TO GO TO NEW YORK

Birmingham, Oct. 1.—(Special.)—On behalf of Pitcher Walter Dickson, who doesn’t want to go to the New York Nations [sic], Manager Molesworth will leave this morning for New York to interview Manager McGraw.

In case the release of Dickson cannot be obtained, Molesworth will endeavor to secure a promise from McGraw to send Dickson to Birmingham if he fails to make good next spring.

Atlanta Journal, October 5:

Check Sent for Dickson

BIRMINGHAM, Oct. 5.—The hope that “Ole Hickory” Dickson, the leading Baron pitcher, had been overlooked by the New York Giants in the shuffle was frustrated when a check for $1,000 reached local baseball headquarters, this being the draft price.

New York required such a long time to send in its check that the hope that some mistake had been made, or that McGraw had changed his mind obtained. This hope was given new life when it became known that Dickson doesn’t want to go north, explaining that the colder climate plays unkind tricks with his arm.

Birmingham will endeavor to regain Dickson in case he fails to make good with New York. Manager Molesworth will call on McGraw this summer and endeavor to make a trade.

Then Walter got married. From the Dallas Morning News, November 25:

Dickson-Bond Wedding.

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS.

Greenville, Tex., Nov. 24.—Walter R. Dickson, better known as “Hickory” Dickson, and Miss Ollie Bond were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church last night, Rev. E.L. Compere officiating. Dickson is the crack baseball pitcher who was drafted recently from the Birmingham League team by the New York Giants to pitch next season. Dickson was born and reared in Greenville and has made himself prominent in baseball circles by being a splendid twirler of the ball. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson left for a bridal trip to Austin and San Antonio, but will return to Greenville to remain until next February, when Mr. Dickson will join the Giants at Marlin.

Walter, though still early in his pro baseball career, turned 31 about a week after the wedding, while Ollie (short for Olivia) turned 20 a few weeks later. On February 16, 1910, the Birmingham Age-Herald quoted the New York Telegraph:

Birmingham Fans Will See Dickson In March

The New York Telegraph has the following complimentary story about “Hickory” Dickson, former star pitcher of the Barons.

“When you start back from Texas on your training trip, come through our way and let us see Dickson work in the box against the Birmingham team,” wrote the manager of the Birmingham (Ala.) nine to the owner of the New York National League club when the Giants were making up their homeward flight to follow the preliminary season in the Lone Star state.

Dickson was a member of the Birmingham club in 1909. The Giants heard a lot about him from different men who had watched his work in the Southern league, and McGraw decided that he was one of those young pitchers whom it was well to try out.

He has a fine, strong face, and if he is as much of a pitcher as he promises to be, judging by the work which he did last year, he should be a valuable addition to the colt brigade of the team.

These young fellows are almost all of them a lottery. Sometimes they make Mathewsons, and other times they never show anything better than the speed of a first class minor league team, but no one is ever likely to tell whether they will make Mathewsons or “Tim” Keefes until after they have been given a trial.

There were some who did not think that Mathewson would make much of a pitcher. Hunt up the files of the New York newspapers and expressions of opinion will be found in which “it was to joke at Freedman’s wild man.”

…Dickson pitched 31 games for Birmingham. He won 16 of these and lost 11. That was an average of .592. It was good work. If he can do that much for the Giants in 1910 he will be a winning factor in bringing a pennant to New York, for any pitcher who can win along the “600” mark—within ten points below and anywhere above—comes pretty near doing championship work.

He wasn’t much of a batting pitcher for the best that he could do with the stick was .142, and that is not going to win very many pennants. However, if he can pitch .600 no one cares a rap about his batting. These young men who can break better than one-half when they try to fool the expert nines of the country are very desirable baseball acquisitions.

Greenville Morning Herald, February 25:

Hickory Dickson.

Reports from Marlin of the first try out game of McGraw’s New York Nationals, say Dickson pitched for the recruits against the regulars, and only allowed four hits in a six inning game. Dickson will probably make good and become one of the regular pitching staff.

Three days after that game Walter started the first game on the Giants’ exhibition schedule, which they lost to Dallas, 11-8. The Columbus Dispatch reported:

“Hickory” Dickson pitched the first four innings for the Giants and he showed enough to convince McGraw that he is about to get another star pitcher on his regular staff. He is cool as a cucumber and had a slow ball that was a wonder.

Walter did make the team, as reported in the April 19 Dallas Morning News:

HICKORY DICKSON MAKES GOOD.

Will Be Retained on New York Giants’ Pitching Staff.

Hickory Dickson, a native of Greenville, Tex., and a former Texas League pitcher, has made good with the New York Giants and will be retained this year. Dickson will probably get the opportunity to work in several games this season. Sid Mercer in the New York Globe and Commercial says of him:

“Manager McGraw put another of his new pitchers on exhibition yesterday, and the few fans who had the nerve to brave pneumonia by sitting through nine fast innings between the Giants and Newarks put the O.K. brand on him. Hickory Dickson of Greenville, Tex., is the person referred to—and it isn’t the first time this spring that he has received favorable mention. If Dickson isn’t carried all season by the New York club then it is useless to rely on the judgment of men who are supposed to know a good ball player when they see him. Just drive a spike in the prediction that this fellow is going to remain with the big show.

“Dickson comes to the Giants with a splendid minor league experience and he doesn’t appear to have a glaring weakness. Every year we have minor league phenoms who fade away because they are not good ball players from their shoulders up. That is just where Dickson shines. He is unusually well balanced mentally, thinks quickly and makes his judgment work for him. As a pitcher I should say his long suit is ability to put the ball where he wants it; he certainly does do things with those sharp breaking curves. Last, but not least, he is one of the most amiable, even-tempered fellows that McGraw has ever picked up—easy to handle and always willing to take advice. He is one of the most likable chaps the Giants have welcomed into their midst in a long time.”

The same day that ran, the US census was taken in Greenville. Walter and Ollie were living at 157 E Washington, with Ollie’s sister May, May’s husband Gordon, two-year-old Gordon Jr., and five more of May’s younger siblings. Walter is listed as a cotton buyer.

Walter made his major league debut on April 26, at home against Brooklyn in the Giants’ ninth game of the season. He came in to start the top of the sixth in a 7-7 tie, allowed one run in four innings on three hits, and got the win in a 9-8 game. On May 5 he pitched five innings of hitless relief in a home loss to the Phillies. On May 13 in St. Louis Christy Mathewson was removed after allowing eight runs in two innings; Walter pitched the last six innings of a 13-4 defeat. While the team was in St. Louis Ollie joined him, and traveled with the team the rest of the season.

After a three-inning scoreless relief stint on May 19, Walter got his first start, at home against the Reds. He gave up a run in two innings, and then was pinch-hit for; the Giants won 7-3. He didn’t get into another game for a month, then made three relief appearances in July. On August 20 it was reported that he had been loaned to New Orleans of the Southern League for the remainder of the season, but that didn’t actually happen. He made his final appearance of the season on September 13, at home against the Pirates, relieving Mathewson for the ninth, down 5-1, and allowing six more runs. Sporting Life reported in their September 24 issue:

Dickson succeeded Matty and an avalanche of hits and runs on the part of the Pirates was the consequence. Dickson unfortunately has not fulfilled the promises of the early season. Still he has elements that may yet develop a good pitcher, and McGraw would be foolish to part with him too soon.

Walter got into 12 games for the Giants, starting one, and had a 5.46 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. On October 1 Sporting Life reported that he had been turned over to Baltimore, but on December 3 they said that the Giants had sent him to New Orleans; on January 7, 1911, they reported that New Orleans had sold him to Memphis, also in the Southern League. Meanwhile, daughter Dixie was born on October 29.

The 1911 Greenville city directory shows Walter and Ollie living at 1220 Oneal Street, and Walter is listed as a “classer” for Neil P. Anderson & Co., which I believe refers to sorting cotton. The February 25 Sporting Life, in a Southern League preview, said: “Then we have Dickson, secured from the New York Giants, who went up North from Birmingham, and his work with the latter team when it was a tail-ender would indicate that he should rank with the top-notchers this season.”

Walter spent the season in the starting rotation for Memphis, though he missed a week in early May due to Ollie being ill. The Birmingham Age-Herald reported on June 23:

There is some mystery about the work of “Ole Hickory” Dickson this season. To all appearances he has more stuff than when he played with Birmingham. His movement is freer and his speed greater.

And yet the Texan gets his bumps with regularity. He hasn’t trimmed Birmingham this season.

Same paper, August 1:

DICKSON SAYS BARONS ARE DIFFICULT PLAYERS TO HOLD

“Ole Hickory” Dickson, formerly of Birmingham and now of Memphis, finds it just as hard to keep Birmingham from scoring as Philadelphia or Chicago, or any of the others of the majors.

“I believe,” said he yesterday afternoon, “that a pitcher who wins regularly in this league, can win on the big show. When I was in New York, the hitting clubs in the east hit me and the hitting clubs in the south hit me—and all other pitchers.

“It is just as hard to prevent Birmingham, New Orleans and Montgomery scoring as any of the big fellows.”

In early September Walter was drafted by the Boston Braves for 1912. He wound up 1911 with a 16-15 record. From the January 28, 1912, Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Dickson was never at his best while working here last summer. Early in the spring he developed a sore wing, which never entirely left him. Toward the shank of the race his wife took ill, and the attendant worries told on his last efforts. Given a clear road next season, Old Hickory may be able to do better work. He is still a young man, both in point of diamond service and in years.

I don’t know whether Ollie got sick twice or if they had the timing wrong. But at 33 Walter was not a very young baseball player. On March 2 Sporting Life reported that he had not yet signed a contract; a week later they ran a list of Braves players who had been to college, mentioning: “Dickson is a business college graduate.” On May 4 they reported that he had signed. Meanwhile he had made his Braves’ debut on April 16 against his old team, the Giants, pitching three innings in relief of Lefty Tyler and facing the minimum nine batters.

After five relief appearances Walter moved into the starting rotation in mid-May. On June 22 Sporting Life reported:

Pitcher Dickson, of the Boston Nationals, was fined by Manager Kling a few days ago for alleged carelessness and suspended without pay. He immediately departed for his home, and says that he will not play for the Braves again. Manager O’Day, of Cincinnati, is trying to make a trade for him.

A week later:

There was an offer made last week by Manager O’Day, of Cincinnati, to pull off a trade of Jimmy Esmond for pitcher Tyler, the clever Boston southpaw, but it fell through. Hank would have liked to secure pitcher Dickson, but Manager Kling would not listen to any proposition for this sterling righthander.

Also from June 29, the Cedar Rapids Gazette:

Walter R. Dickson, one of the most promising youngsters on the pitching staff of the Boston Braves, had his feelings hurt when Manager Kling fined him $50 for alleged carelessness. He left the Hub without even saying good-by and ducked for his home in Greenville, Texas.

The Washington Evening Star got to the story on July 6:

Pitcher Walter Dickson, who quit the Boston team in a huff, did not go far. He thought better of it as soon as he got some air.

I didn’t find anything else about this, but it can’t have lasted very long, as Walter didn’t miss a start. As of mid-July he had a 2-9 record and he spent the next month mostly in the bullpen, then after that he was mainly a starter again. On September 4 in Brooklyn he pitched a complete game, 13-inning, 2-1 loss. On September 14 it was reported that he was one of nine Braves players who had agreed to go to Havana in November to play against three strong teams of that city, but I didn’t find anything more about that.

Walter finished the season with a 3-19 record and a 3.86 ERA in 189 innings in 36 games, 20 of them starts. The league ERA was 3.40 and the Braves, despite being a last place team, had an average offense, so the 3-19 is pretty unexpected; they just didn’t score many runs in Walter’s starts.

The 1913 Greenville city directory showed Walter and Ollie at 1304 Oneal, with Walter still working for Neil P. Anderson, but now as a cotton buyer. Walter was a holdout in 1913, which seems presumptuous for someone with a 3-19 record, but he eventually signed, arriving a little late for spring training. He made the team but didn’t get into a game until four weeks into the season, on May 8, when he pitched a two-hitter at home against the Pirates, winning 6-1, and drove in two runs with a single. In the next day’s Boston Journal, the “Bob Dunbar’s Sporting Chat” column said that: “If not worked too often, Walter Dickson should be a great pitcher.”

On June 21 the Boston Journal reported that “Dick is now suffering from a lame arm.” Overall he wasn’t used as much as he had been in 1912, though he started fairly regularly from late June to mid-August.

On August 16 Ollie gave birth to Walter Raleigh Dickson Jr., which news made Sporting Life in the August 30 issue: “Pitcher Walter Dickson, of the Boston Braves, is elated over the news that his wife recently presented him with a son and heir down at the old home in Greenville, Texas.” On August 26 the Fairmont West Virginian reported that “Marty O’Toole was opposed on the mound by Walter Dickson, whose sole claim to a berth in fast company, is his wonderful ability to kidnap the goat of the Corsairs.” (In other words, he pitched well against the Pirates.) Walter’s won-lost record improved to 6-7 and his ERA to 3.23, in 128 innings in 19 games, 15 of them starts.

On December 23 the Braves released Walter to the Rochester Hustlers of the Class AA International League. But 1914 was the year the “outlaw” Federal League came into existence as a third major league, and they enticed him to sign with their Pittsburgh team, which became known as the Rebels. He was a little late in reporting to spring training in Lynchburg, Virginia; the Pittsburgh Press reported on March 19:

The arrival of Walter Dickson has strengthened the pitching staff considerably. Dickson stated that he had been practicing every day that the weather permitted with amateur nines in his home at Vernon, Texas. He said that he is about five pounds overweight but that he would be able to work this off in a week. His arm, he said, was also feeling fine.

Pittsburgh Daily Post, April 4:

Walter Dickson, the Texas boy, is a victim of boils. Trainer Percy Smallwood is working on him and hopes to have the former Boston boy in good condition for the games with Baltimore next week. As manager Gessler is anxious to win these contests, Dickson will probably be used during one of the games.

Walter made his Federal League debut in the second game of a doubleheader at home against the Brooklyn Tip-Tops, the Rebels’ sixth game of the year, on April 24. He won 10-2; the next day’s Pittsburgh Press reported:

The rounding into form of Walter Dickson has given Gessler another veteran pitcher he can work regularly. Dickson has suffered from boils since he went on the training trip, but the form he displayed yesterday shows that the attack left no ill effects…

The same day Walter appeared on Rochester’s suspended list; as far as Organized Baseball was concerned, his rights belonged to Rochester and he was violating the rules by playing for a pirate league. From the May 20 Pittsburgh Press:

Walter Dickson deserved a better fate. He pitched well enough yesterday to win many a game [he pitched a five-hitter and lost 4-0, his fifth straight loss after his one win], but his team mates were unable to hit and wobbled frightfully in the field at critical moments.

Speaking of Dickson, “Walt” has one of the cutest little daughters in the land. She is a prime favorite among her little playmates around her home on the Northside. She is only a little over two years old. The other afternoon she went up to the proprietor of a Northside drug store and said: “I want 20 cents worth of ice cream in a bucket and five cents worth in my hand,” which was her way of saying she wanted a pint of ice cream and a cone.

Sporting Life, May 23:

Walter Dickson is having all kinds of hard luck this season. He is pitching exceptionally fine ball for the Rebels, but usually his team-mates are not there with the willow behind him. All of the games which he has lost were by one-run margins, but things will begin to change for him and he should prove as effective in the Federal League this year as he was with the Boston Nationals last year.

On July 13 in Brooklyn Walter gave up a home run to Steve Evans with one out in the 12^th for a 1-0 loss; he allowed five hits and no walks in the 11 1/3 innings. From the August 4 Munster (Indiana) Times: “Walter Dickson, poorest hitter in the entire league, turned the tide with a single in the last half of the tenth with two out and one runner roosting on third.” This may not have been an exaggeration, as he hit .084/.106/.084 for the season, after having batting averages between .140 and .200 in previous years. The September 18 Pittsburgh Press reported:

Walter Dickson might be pardoned if he would take the entire local Fed crew out in a back lot and shoot them at dawn. The local aggregation invariably put up an article of ball behind Dickson that would drive an ordinary twirler to the booby hatch in a few minutes. Errors of omission as well as commission are the order of the day when Walter takes the hill. Not only this but when have the locals made more than a run or two for Dickson all season? About twice. Walter generally has to pitch shutout ball and drive in the only run of the game to win.

Walter did finish with a 9-19 record, despite a 3.16 ERA, slightly better than the league’s 3.20. He pitched 256 2/3 innings in 40 games, 32 of those being starts, and 19 of the starts being complete games. The Rebels finished 64-86, in seventh place.

Walter was late again in reporting to Rebel spring training in 1915. He arrived on March 19, and the Pittsburgh Daily Post reported on the 21^st:

Rebels Have Sunk Money

Expect to Get Oodles of Coin as Result of Venture in Oklahoma Oil.

By Florent Gibson

AUGUSTA, Ga., March 20.—With the arrival of pitcher Walter Dickson, of Greenville, Texas, at the Rebel training camp, last night, the dreams of an embryonic bunch of capitalists took on a rosier hue, and hopes which had almost died down over winter sprang up afresh. For Dickson brought to camp glowing reports of a venture into commercial fields, which, if successful, will make playing ball in the Federal League a mere pastime.

We wondered why the whole bunch was so desirous of seeing Walter come steaming into the training camp. The older Rebels, those who served under Oakes last year, were especially anxious to see him, and the skipper himself manifested traces of anxiety now and then, if not exactly the kind one would expect the manager of a club to show over a pitcher late in arriving.

But the reason became apparent this morning when Dickson, who came in after most of the boys were in bed last night, entered the dining room. He was greeted by a chorus of “Hello Dick, how’s the oil well.” Then we learned that several of the Pittsburgh Rebels, through the machination of Walter Dickson and his brother-in-law, have engaged themselves in promoting an oil well in the new Oklahoma oil territory, more particularly the Healton field. Dickson’s promoting relative sold 10 or a dozen of the Pittfeds stock in the “Must Have Oil Company,” last September just before the season ended, and the investors have been waiting anxiously all winter for the oodles of wealth to begin rolling in.

Dickson, being practically on the ground, has had a heavy mail all winter, and now he assures the fellows that a well is in process of drilling, and within the next 10 days the fellows who cast their bread upon the waters, when a hard winter faced them, may wake up some fine morning to discover that they’re bloated plutocrats. For, not more than 100 yards away, a few days ago, a well which is yielding great dollups of petroleum daily has been drilled, and the “Must Have” company is figuring on tapping the same vein, pool, lake reservoir, or whatever it is; then the Rebels will be able to supply at cost prices all the oil which Percy Smallwood is using to rub on sore muscles.

In anticipation the Rebels see their well coming in with returns from the subterranean precincts, with not less than 6,000 barrels per diem, and the investors are figuring up their profits on the backs of old envelopes. More oil money has been spent in Augusta today than John D. Rockefeller made last year, and the great burning question seems to me—will the Pittfed management allow the players to carry their valets, chauffeurs and cars on tour?

A March 28 Pittsburgh Press article on the other occupations of the Rebel players stated: “Walter Dickson, besides being in the oil business with his brother-in-law, maintains a large farm near Greenville, Tex., and expects to start cotton planting within the next year.”

Walter made his 1915 season debut with an inning of relief on April 12, the team’s third game of the year. He then got the start in Chicago on the 15^th and beat the Whales 3-1 in wintry weather; he made only one appearance, in relief, over the next ten days. The Press reported on April 28:

Rogge is slated to work this afternoon, although Walter Dickson may be given the job at the last minute. Dickson got in bed with Chicago weather during the Pittsburg team’s stay there a short time ago, when he beat the Chicago Feds, and he has been slightly off color ever since. The warm weather, though, is rapidly putting the Texas oil man back into condition and he may get a mound assignment almost any time now.

Walter actually pitched the following day, and won 8-2, but after his next two starts didn’t go well he sat out for three weeks and then spent most of June in the bullpen. He got a start on June 16 in Brooklyn and lost 3-2; the Press reported the next day:

Walter Dickson came back to life yesterday, much to the joy of all the players and Manager Oakes. It was feared for a time that the cold weather game “Dick” twirled in Chicago early in the season had ruined the flinger’s salary whip, but he showed up well in the workout before the game and Oakes sent him to the hill instead of Knetzer, who was scheduled to work.

Walter relieved on the 21^st, then sat out until getting a start on the 30^th, winning 6-1 in Baltimore. He got two starts and made two relief appearances in July, in none of which he was particularly effective; the Press said on July 21 that “Walter Dickson has never been right since pitching a game in Chicago early in the season and consequently has been of little use to Manager Oakes.” Sporting Life reported on July 31:

Outside of Frank Allen and Elmer Knetzer, the Rebel pitching staff is badly in need of repairs and Oakes has decided to fix it up by getting hurlers from Organized Ball. Bunny Hearn, Clinton Rogge, Walter Dickson and Cy Barger are not dependable. One day they pitch winning ball and the next time out are away off form. Hearn and Rogge are promising—and may increase in value as the season progresses, but Dickson and Barger have seen better days.

Walter was then out of action until getting the start in Buffalo on August 7; the Rebels won 15-4 and Walter was credited with the win under the rules of the time despite being removed in the third inning. The Press reported two days later:

Dick was pitching great ball Saturday until he collided with [Hal] Chase at the plate and was injured. He was not hurt badly, but became ill and had to leave the game.

Walter got two starts in the next week, which Sporting Life reported on in their August 21 issue:

The Rebels had two opportunities last week of going into first place and on each occasion Walter Dickson, who was entrusted with the flinging assignment, was routed by the opposing team. In Buffalo he got along excellent until the eighth inning, when the Buffeds discovered his weakness and hardly before he knew it he was sitting on the bench…Again in Baltimore, Dickson was Manager Oakes’ choice to lift the team upon the summit and again he cracked. The funniest part of it is that Dickson is not charged with losing either of the games…

Walter only pitched once in the next four weeks, an inning of relief on August 26. The Press reported on September 9:

The team is due to arrive in Pittsburg at 9:45 o’clock tonight, leaving 45 minutes later to conclude the long trip [Chicago to Brooklyn]. Walter Dickson will join the team in Pittsburg. “Dick’s” arm has been in poor condition for a couple of months but he believes it is O.K. now and will greatly aid the Rebels in their home stretch struggle for the flag. In the last few games he has worked, Dickson has practically been unhittable for five or six innings, but after that he would falter.

Walter was used solely in relief the rest of the season, pitching well until he allowed four earned runs in a third of an inning in his final appearance of the season—and of his major league career. For the year he was 7-5 with a 4.19 ERA (the league average was 3.03) in 96 2/3 innings in 27 games, eleven of them starts.

In January 1916 an article appeared in various newspapers under Honus Wagner’s byline, in which he discussed some of the pitchers he had faced in his career. Including:

The Braves once had a pitcher named Walter Dickson who was a nuisance to the Pirates for two seasons. He suffered bombardments at the hands of many clubs, but against us his nerve was too much.

Three hits a game off him were our average. One day he fanned Ham Hyatt in the pinch. Ham flung himself disgustedly on the bench and exclaimed:

“From here that stiff looks like mush, but up there he is like pigiron.”

The Federal League made one grand hit with Ham and the rest of us when they took Dickson away from the National.

The Federal League folded that winter, and the Rebels sold their “rights” to Walter (Organized Baseball still listed him on Rochester’s reserve list, though as ineligible) to the Minneapolis Millers of the Class AA American Association. As usual, he was late in reporting to spring training. On March 9 it was reported that he was allegedly on his way and his signed contract was presumably in the mail, though a week later he still had not arrived. On March 26 the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported:

Walter Dickson, former Federal leaguer, who was purchased from Pittsburgh along with Menoskey [Mike Menosky], will be out of baseball this summer. [Millers manager] Joe Cantillon hasn’t heard a word from him and no longer expects him. He is not worrying particularly.

Instead Walter reported to the Houston Buffaloes of the Texas League, now Class B. He began the season pitching for them, then ran into some difficulties with his wrist. Meanwhile, there was a controversy as to the ownership of his contract. On May 5 Minneapolis contacted the National Commission, informing them that while they had paid $800 to the Pittsburgh Federal League Club for Walter, he was currently playing in the Texas League. On May 9 the president of the Texas League sent the Commission a copy of a letter that Walter had received in January from the president of the Pittsburgh club, informing him that he was now a free agent. The Pittsburgh president responded with a copy of a letter from Walter

…acknowledging the receipt of his release and asserting that the Rochester Club, which he deserted, did not consider it valid. On the strength of that letter, which he construed as a non-acceptance of his release and an expression of his unwillingness to return to the Rochester Club, President Gwinner disposed of the player to the Minneapolis Club. (quote from the June 10 Sporting Life)

The Commission ruled that Walter’s rights belonged to Rochester and that Pittsburgh had to pay back the money they got from Minneapolis. From the June 4 Houston Post:

DICKSON WILL COME BACK TO THE HOUSTON CLUB

Was Purchased From Rochester by Buff Management—Now in Greenville

Hickory Dickson, who was awarded by the national baseball commission to Rochester, has been purchased back by the Houston club for $500, and will join the team on its trip to North Texas. Following the decision that he must leave the Buffs, Dickson went to his home in Greenville. The only effect of the commission’s ruling has been to separate the Houston club from part of its roll.

Dickson has been out of the game for several weeks with a bad wrist, which was diagnosed as either a broken bone or a loosened ligament. He is now in shape to work again, it is believed.

Despite the wrist issues, Walter pitched 220 innings in 31 games and had an 18-8 record. Meanwhile he and Ollie had appeared in the 1916 Greenville city directory, still at 1304 Oneal, with Walter still listed as a cotton buyer. On December 4 Ollie gave birth to third and final child Frank Preuit Dickson.

San Antonio Light, February 24, 1917:

Dickson Refuses to Sign Up.

FORT WORTH, Tex., Feb. 24.—Owner Doak Roberts of the Houston Club, failed in his efforts Friday to secure the name of Pitcher “Hickory” Dickson to a contract. The former major leaguer said he would retire from the game before accepting the terms the Houston magnate offered. Dickson is wintering here.

The Houston Post stated on March 4 that Walter would report by March 10, and on March 9 that he was “expected within a few days.” Then on March 14:

When Hickory Dickson gets through with his cotton business in North Texas and reports the whole Buff squad will be in camp. Doak Roberts has heard nothing from the veteran since a visit in Fort Worth in the latter part of February.

At that time Dickson told the boss that business would not permit reporting to the Houston camp until the middle of March. The pitcher then promised to workout with the Panther squad.

There is little worry about Dickson getting into condition. He is an old time at the business and will not rush matters in the early weeks. He will report and take his time about reaching the proper condition for work. He may not look good at the opening of the season. Along in August his average will be up with the leaders. Last year he finished third for the league.

Third in what, I don’t know. A few days later a short item appeared in several newspapers, here as it read in the Salt Lake Herald:

HOUSTON PLAYERS RETIRE FAST.

Houston ball players seem to have the retirement fever strong. The latest to announce that he has quit the game is Pitcher Hickory Dickson, who says he has settled down in Fort Worth for keeps.

On July 30 the Houston Post reported that the Buffaloes had obtained a pitcher named Hall from Ardmore of the Western Association, adding: “In exchange for Hall, the Buff management turned over the services of Hickory Dickson, who lives at Ardmore.” Apparently the hope was that Walter would come out of retirement if he could pitch in Ardmore, but I found no evidence that he pitched anywhere that season.

He and his family had in fact moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma. The 1918 Ardmore directory shows them living at 328 I Street SW, with Walter R. Dickson and Co., cotton merchants, at 116 ½ East Main. Walter’s associate at Dickson and Co. was Frank Preuit, namesake of little Frank Dickson. The February 24 Dallas Morning News listed Walter as one of the pitchers expected to be in spring training with Houston, but there is no indication that that was anything more than wishful thinking.

On September 12 Walter filled out his draft registration card. It showed the same home and business addresses as the directory, and he gave his physical appearance as tall, medium build, blue eyes, light hair.

On December 9 Walter passed away. From the Ardmore Statesman:

W.R. DICKSON DIED

W.R. (Hickory) Dickson, a well known cotton buyer of this city, died on Monday from pneumonia, following an attack of the influenza. Mr. Dickson had been sick but a short time. His wife and two of his children were down with the influenza and Mr. Dickson, while suffering from the disease exposed himself while getting his family to the hospital. This exposure brought on an attack of pneumonia which resulted fately [sic] as stated. He was a successful and highly esteemed business man of Ardmore, and his family has the sincere sympathy of all who knew him.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/D/Pdickw101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dickswa01.shtml