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.

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