Roy Hitt
Encyclopedia
Roy Wesley "Rhino" Hitt (June 22, 1884 - February 8, 1956) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He played for the Cincinnati Reds
in 1907 and also had a long career in the Pacific Coast League
. He stood at 5' 10" and weighed 200 lbs.
. He started his professional baseball career in 1903, with the Oakland Oaks
of the Pacific Coast League and joined the San Francisco Seals the following season. In 1905, he went 25-14 with a 1.79 earned run average
. In 1906, he was the ace of the Seals pitching staff, going a career-high 403.2 innings in the long PCL season and winning a career-high 31 games.
Hitt was acquired by the National League
's Cincinnati Reds for the 1907 season. In that year's Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, it was reported that, "San Francisco's star pitcher, Roy Hitt, will go to Cincinnati ... there is little danger of him falling." Hitt cracked the Reds' starting rotation that year but was not one of their better pitchers; he went just 6-10. It was his only season in the major leagues.
After a short stint in the American Association
, Hitt returned to the Pacific Coast League in 1909, with the Vernon Tigers
. He immediately became the ace of the Tigers' staff, leading the team in innings pitched and ERA. In 1910, he had one of his best seasons, going 26-17 with a career-low 1.68 ERA in 402.2 innings. Hitt stayed with the Tigers until 1916. He won over 20 games each year for five straight years (1910-1914), and he ended his organized baseball career with 206 minor league wins to go along with his 6 major league ones.
Hitt died in 1956, at the age of 71. He was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
in 2004.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He played for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in 1907 and also had a long career in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He stood at 5' 10" and weighed 200 lbs.
Career
Nicknamed "Rhino" because "his shape reminded people of a rhinoceros," Hitt was born in Carleton, NebraskaCarleton, Nebraska
Carleton is a village in Thayer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 136 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carleton is located at ....
. He started his professional baseball career in 1903, with the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
of the Pacific Coast League and joined the San Francisco Seals the following season. In 1905, he went 25-14 with a 1.79 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. In 1906, he was the ace of the Seals pitching staff, going a career-high 403.2 innings in the long PCL season and winning a career-high 31 games.
Hitt was acquired by the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's Cincinnati Reds for the 1907 season. In that year's Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, it was reported that, "San Francisco's star pitcher, Roy Hitt, will go to Cincinnati ... there is little danger of him falling." Hitt cracked the Reds' starting rotation that year but was not one of their better pitchers; he went just 6-10. It was his only season in the major leagues.
After a short stint in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, Hitt returned to the Pacific Coast League in 1909, with the Vernon Tigers
Vernon Tigers
The Vernon Tigers were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1909 through 1925. Vernon, California, was and is a small town in Los Angeles County. The Tigers, together with the Sacramento Solons, joined the PCL as new teams in 1909 as the league expanded from...
. He immediately became the ace of the Tigers' staff, leading the team in innings pitched and ERA. In 1910, he had one of his best seasons, going 26-17 with a career-low 1.68 ERA in 402.2 innings. Hitt stayed with the Tigers until 1916. He won over 20 games each year for five straight years (1910-1914), and he ended his organized baseball career with 206 minor league wins to go along with his 6 major league ones.
Hitt died in 1956, at the age of 71. He was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
The Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame was created in 1942 by the Helms Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles. The foundation selected players, managers and executives who they felt best contributed to the ideals of the Pacific Coast League. The Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1943...
in 2004.