Joe Hornung

“Hornung of the Boston Club is generally acknowledged to have no equal as a left fielder.”1 – New York Clipper, February 9, 1884

Joe Hornung was called “the king of left fielders” and a “flying fool” famous for his circus catches before the days of gloves.2 The 5-foot-8, 164-pound human highlight reel was one of the greatest defensive outfielders of the 19th century.3 “Those were the only gloves I ever used, and they were good enough for this chicken,” Hornung boasted in 1911, holding up his two “big, sinewy, and strong” hands (as teammate Sam Crane described them). “Now they smother their hands with pillows. Who could muff a ball with those big cushions?” Hornung’s long, thin arms, were “like harveyized steel. Runners were very timid on balls that went out into his field and hugged their bases like their best girls.”4

Hornung’s major league years, 1879-1890, served as a model for future outfielders, wrote sportswriter Fred Lieb, in an era “when the outfielders pulled them down with their bare hands.”5 Hornung’s unique yell of “Ubbo, Ubbo” when making a great play revealed a man “full of fun and tricks and a good entertainer,” wrote Crane. “He would have been a big hit in Vaudeville.”6 Tim Murnane wrote of the gloveless Hornung as one of “the true artists of the game.”7 “If Joe couldn’t get ’em,” said Tom York, “they couldn’t be got.”8

The right-handed hitter and thrower briefly played for Buffalo and New York of the National League and Baltimore of the American Association. But it was his time in Boston (1881-1888) that cemented his legacy.

Hornung’s fielding and arm are truly his legacy. Hornung didn’t write the book on playing left field, but he did contribute a chapter. “Ubbo” provided insights in Brawn and Brain, Considered by Noted Athletes and Thinkers, an 1889 book on how to play baseball and other sports, compiled by Arthur F. Aldridge. Hornung described catching a fly ball without a glove:

Get well under the ball as it is falling, holding your hands to receive it about as high as your face, and then let them give with the ball as it settles in your hands. Hold it firmly, as a ball so hit invariably falls with an awkward twist… To catch a high ball as it is going over your head is a very difficult feat, and requires considerable practice. The moment the player sees that the ball is going over his head he should turn and go in the same direction, all the time keeping his eye on the ball, and in this way he can judge pretty nearly where the ball will fall. As it drops over either shoulder, he can place his hands in such a position as may be required and make a very difficult catch…9

Hornung also advocated for defensive positioning, watching each batsman’s tendencies so “the fielder will save himself considerable annoyance and will know just how to act when the ball is hit.”10

***

Michael Joseph Hornung was born June 12, 1857, in Carthage, New York, to John Boniface and Catherine Josephine (Hohman) Hornung. John was a cabinetmaker. He and Catherine, natives of Bavaria, married and came to Utica, New York, in 1844. John moved to Carthage to work in a factory when Joseph was born but soon moved back to Utica to make sashes and blinds for Downer & Kellogg. Joseph grew up at 33 Cottage Place with siblings John F., George, Mary, and Charles.11

Hornung dove into baseball at eight years old, according to his story. Heading to a fishing hole, he stopped to observe a Utica Central Cities Base Ball game and watched their only ball splash into the river. Hornung leaped in, retrieved the ball and saved the game. He became their mascot and practiced with the team. “I got so I could throw and catch pretty good,” Hornung recalled. “I guess that’s why I grew up into such a fine fielder.”12 At 14, he joined the Alerts, then other area teams through 1875, such as the Central City Athletics and West Utica Blue Stockings.13

In 1876, Hornung signed with the London (Ontario) Tecumsehs of the Canadian Association. “Dutch,” as he was called, played shortstop and first base.14 Hornung’s first professional game was on May 24, when Queen Victoria’s birthday was celebrated. A crowd of 6,000-9,000 with “cheers and welcomes from thousands of tongues” greeted London as they took on rival Guelph.15 The game was knotted, 7-7, in the 10th inning. Hornung led off with a single and scored the winning run in what was called one of the “most exciting games of base ball ever played in Canada.”16 London won the championship and Hornung finished with 61 hits in 39 games.17

Hornung remained with London in 1877, by then in the International Association (IA). On June 5 he doubled, scored, and threw a runner out at the plate as London defeated Binghamton 4-2.18 On August 4, Hornung made a great catch crashing into a buggy.19 London faced Pittsburgh for the IA championship. Pud Galvin shut down the Tecumsehs on no hits through five innings. Hornung singled and scored on George “Foghorn” Bradley’s triple. London won the title, 5-2. Hornung batted .236 in 20 games.20

In October, Hornung married Margaret Kelly, daughter of Irish immigrants Patrick and Catherine (Enright) Kelly, who also settled in Utica.

Hornung returned to London in 1878. On the Fourth of July, he made a catch “with one hand running backwards,” in a 2-1 victory over Buffalo, the crowd clapping their hands sore.21 The New York Clipper selected Hornung as the best defensive left fielder in 1878.22 London disbanded in August, and Hornung finished the season with Buffalo.23 Buffalo, considered one of the greatest minor league clubs of the era, won the IA pennant.24 “Hornung is a quiet, steady player,” wrote the Clipper, “always working earnestly for his team, and he is a young man who is a credit to the profession.”25

Buffalo joined the National League in 1879. “[Hornung] can hit harder, run faster and hold more fly balls than any man in these United States,” wrote the Buffalo Commercial. “He walks from fifteen to twenty miles every day, swings dumb-bells, does the horizontal bar, and keeps himself in first class physical trim winter and summer.”26

Hornung’s major league debut came on May 1, 1879. He ran some distance for a foul ball. “Just as everyone supposed he was too late, he shot forth his right hand and took it in,” wrote the Courier Express.27 In a 3-1 victory over Syracuse on July 21, Hornung threw Red Woodhead out at the plate in the ninth inning, “the sphere having come all the way from Hornung’s hands with splendid accuracy,” wrote the Courier Express.28 On August 7, fans witnessed Hornung’s “two splendid throws from left field to the home plate.”29

In 1880, Hornung was third in the NL in triples, and an eighth-inning triple helped Buffalo defeat Cincinnati, 2-1, on May 22.30 His first major league home run came on September 25 in Cincinnati off Will White – it was called the longest ball ever hit on the Cincinnati grounds.31 Hornung made his only major league pitching appearance on May 13 at Chicago in a 6-0 loss, allowing two runs.32 He signed with Boston in the offseason.

On June 9, Boston and Buffalo were scoreless in the 13th inning at the South End Grounds. Buffalo won, 1-0, but the highlights of the game were Hornung’s nine putouts, three of which were remarkable catches – “spectators were liberal in their applause.” wrote the Boston Globe.33 The Boston Herald added that Hornung “covered himself with glory.”34 A shivering crowd of 200 in Boston on September 10 were amazed at “one of the handsomest single-handed catches ever seen here.”35

Hornung had a game for the ages on September 23, a 4-3 victory over Buffalo. He recorded 10 putouts and one assist in the game, a record of 11 chances for a left fielder which still stands as of 2026.36 In the sixth inning, Hornung made a spectacular running catch, then amazingly threw Jim O’Rourke out at the plate, bringing rounds of applause.”37  

Hornung had a NL-best .948 fielding percentage in 1881, and his 198 putouts led all National League outfielders. The 1881 season began a streak of four consecutive seasons and a stretch of six seasons overall in which Hornung led all National League outfielders in fielding percentage. As MLB Historian John Thorn notes, fielding percentage was a more valuable statistic than in the modern day of analytics. “Without a glove,” he wrote, “there was no such thing as a routine fly ball.”38

Hornung’s Fielding Percentages, 1881-1887

Hornung’s 1882 highlights included:

• May 1 (Opening Day): 2-for-5 with a double in a 6-5 victory over Worcester in 10 innings39
• May 6: two triples while going 3-for-6 in Boston’s 18-3 smashing of Troy40
• June 22: 3-for-4 with a home run in a 9-4 victory over Cleveland.41
• September 22: leaped headlong and made the catch against Troy, receiving applause and a bouquet of flowers for his efforts.42

Hornung batted a career-high .302 with 67 runs scored and 117 hits, 91 singles (third in the NL). His 2.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) was the best of his career.

No one could have foreseen how amazing 1883 would be for Hornung and Boston. On June 6, Hornung went 2-for-5 in a 6-1 victory over Cleveland, but his defensive clinic stole the show. He threw Tom York out at the plate with a perfect throw and was “compelled to show the color of his hair” when responding to the crowd.43 Crane later wrote that if Hornung didn’t throw a runner out at the plate in a game, he was not earning his pay.44

On June 9, Boston steamrolled Detroit, 30-8, with Hornung hitting two inside-the-park home runs and scoring four times.45 He homered again two days later in another triumph over the Wolverines.46 On June 26, Hornung made a catch against New York, “running a long distance, leaping high in the air, and taking with one hand a terrific liner from (Ed) Caskins’ bat,” wrote the Clipper. “The catch was one of the finest ever seen on the local grounds and was greeted with loud and long applause.”47  In a four-game stretch in Philadelphia (second game of a doubleheader) and Detroit, July 4-10, Boston outscored their opponents, 59- 31. Hornung hit .400 in this stretch (8-20) with three doubles, one triple, and 10 runs scored.48

Hornung was also known for his trick plays and deceptions, like intentionally bobbling a fly ball but catching it before it hit the ground, fooling a runner who had tagged up at third base assuming a clean catch was made. “It required lots of nerve for any player to make such a play,” Crane wrote. “He (Hornung) won several extra-inning contests by the very nervy trick.”49 Hornung attempted this stunt in Detroit on July 14. He “juggled” a fly ball but George Wood, wise to his tricks, came on to score when the ball initially hit Hornung’s hands. Hornung protested, but umpire Watch Burham said “I refer you to the rules.”50

Hornung also tried some trickery on the basepaths. On June 30 against Providence, with runners at first and second, he hit a grounder to second. Instead of running to first, Hornung stood still in the batter’s box, believing the runners were not forced, so an easy double play was foiled. Sam Wise, the trail runner, got himself in a rundown long enough for Ezra Sutton, the lead runner to score, while Hornung stood and watched. Boston won 3-2, but Hornung’s tactics led to a reaffirming of Rule 52 that the batter becomes a runner immediately after making a fair hit. The batter’s box “could no longer be a sanctuary once he put the ball in play,” wrote David Nemec.51

On August 25, Boston led Providence, 3-2, in the eighth inning, with the tying run on second. Hornung made a nice catch of a Paul Hines fly ball and threw Barney Gilligan out at third with “one of the finest throws ever seen,” wrote the Herald.52 Boston held on, 3-2.

Boston made a drive for the pennant. On September 6 at Providence, Hines hit a deep drive to left center, but Hornung hauled it in, a catch described as “phenomenal” (the Globe) and “elegant” (Boston Daily Advertiser).”53 On September 8, play was halted and Hornung was presented a gold watch, chain and charm with an inscription: “Joseph Hornung, from his many Boston friends.” He tipped his cap as fans applauded. “Those catches made by Joe Hornung,” wrote the Fall River News, “deserved a whole jewelry shop, as a token of remembrance.”54

That September 8 game also became memorable for Boston. They trailed, 3-2, in the 11th inning. Hornung ripped a long triple to left to score Paul Radford and was engulfed with “joy in torrents of cheers,” from the crowd throwing hats and cushions. Jack Burdock singled Hornung home for the win, and the crowd burst onto the field.55 Boston’s season turned with that victory, the first of an eight-game winning streak.

On September 11, Boston trailed Chicago, 2-1, in the ninth. Hornung led off with a single; when Cap Anson muffed Sutton’s grounder, Hornung moved to third and Sutton took second. Burdock singled in both men in Boston’s victory and “the field became a scene of pure pandemonium,” with “Shouts and cheers of joy” wrote the Globe.56 Boston won 14 of its final 15 games to secure the pennant by four games over Chicago, sealing the title with a 4-1 victory over Cleveland on September 27. Hornung had a leadoff double and scored in the first inning of that contest.57

“His throwing is wonderfully accurate,” wrote the Globe of Hornung several days later. “Some of his catches and throws would fill a good-sized volume. . . [they] have been truly phenomenal.”58 More praise came later that month from the Clipper: “During the past season he has covered himself with glory “by his splendid outfielding and wonderfully accurate long-distance throwing.”59 Hornung also contributed strongly on offense. He led the NL in runs (107) and at-bats (446) and had career-highs in home runs (eight) and triples (13).

On June 23, 1884, Hornung had a monstrous 5-for-6 game in Chicago, homering and doubling twice with 10 total bases in Boston’s 12-5 win.60 Hornung’s 119 runs in 1884 were second in the NL, and he was first in plate appearances (535).

Hornung suffered from rheumatism early in 1885 and did not take the field until the end of May.61 He hit a walkoff home run on June 11 to defeat Philadelphia, 2-1. “A sick man wins a game for a sick ball nine,” wrote the Globe.62 But on June 12 Hornung was hit on the arm by a Tim Keefe pitch.63 He rushed back to action too soon. “It is sheer nonsense for Joe Hornung to play ball in his present condition,” the Globe wrote in July.64 He was soon back home recuperating in Utica, finding umpiring gigs and tending bar to make a few bucks.65 On November 5, a benefit game was held for Hornung at the South End Grounds.66 He was hard up for cash. Boston advanced him money during his illness – but then deducted this from his $2,000 salary the following year.67

Hornung had a comeback season in 1886. On May 28, in a loss to Detroit, he sprinted in from deep left field and, as the Globe described in broadcast fashion – “makes a dive, scoops the sphere, loses his balance and turns a double somersault, landing in a heap, but with the ball raised over his head for the umpire’s eyes. What a shout there was. It was the catch of a season.”68 But he injured his knee in the process and lost time on the field.69

On August 30, Hornung had “the greatest catch of his life” on a Hardy Richardson line drive. He “flew towards it like the wind,” snatched it inches from the ground and “keeled over in the effort.”70

Hornung went 3-for-4 with a triple on Opening Day 1887 as Boston beat Washington, 9-4.71 He went 5-for-5 on June 16, scoring three times and stealing two bases in Boston’s 12-5 win over New York. The crowd also witnessed his one-handed snag and somersault.72 Hornung had 41 stolen bases, which became an official statistic in 1886.

Hornung spent the winter in Boston, working as a polo referee and making $2 a day to supervise renovations of the South End Grounds. The park became an architectural masterpiece with “witch caps” on top of four tulip-shaped columns, two at the ends of the curved grandstand.73

Jay Dee of the Globe wrote that Hornung made “the most wonderful catch ever seen on the Boston grounds.” Against Detroit on June 12, 1888, he leaped at the fence to snag a drive which “looked as though [he] could not get it with a step ladder.”74 Boston won, 5-2.

Hornung was beaned just above the temple on August 16 by Chicago’s Gus Krock.75 He stood briefly, then collapsed. Doctors rushed to his side and he was taken unconscious to his home on Hammond Street. He revived, but a rumor circulated that Hornung had died. Doctors reported a half inch was probably all that saved his life.76

Hornung played his final game for Boston in the second game of a doubleheader on October 13/ A 3-3 tie with Pittsburgh was declared as darkness fell.77 Times were changing. Hornung’s longtime teammates Burdock and Sutton were released in June. John Morrill and Sam Wise would soon be sold in the offseason. The whispers started in July that Hornung would lose his starting job. “This makes ‘Ubbo’ mad,” wrote Dee. “When Boston does not want me to play,” Hornung complained, “I am willing to go, but I will not sit on a bench. I want my release… I owe the management nothing. They have paid me to play ball, and I have done that to the best of my ability.”78

The Clipper noted that “Joe has the sharpest tongue in the club, and two of the directors have been made to feel its edge so often that they are heartily sick of him and would like to let him go.”79 Hornung was released in January 1889 and signed with Baltimore of the American Association.80

On April 23, his catch and throw resulted in a double play as Baltimore defeated Brooklyn, 5-4. “Hornung was busy lifting his cap” acknowledging the cheers, wrote the Baltimore Sun.81 The Sun called an October 7 win over Brooklyn “Hornung at his best. . .frisky as a young kitten in left field, [he] did some of the most remarkable playing of his life.” Among his eight putouts was a leaping catch “up in the region of the left field fence. . . with his right hand, [he] pulled down a long hit.”82 Hornung played a career-high 135 games with Baltimore.

Hornung finished his major league career as a utility player with the New York Giants in 1890. On May 23, he stole four or six bases (depending on the newspaper) against Pittsburgh.83 His final major league game was on October 3; he left in the first inning feeling under the weather.84

Hornung’s major league career numbers included a .257 batting average; 1,230 hits in 1,123 games, among them 90 triples and 31 home runs; and 159 stolen bases. His batting was marked by his high ratio of strikeouts to walks (498/120). Bill James listed Hornung as the fifth-worst all-time batter by this measure in his 2001 historical abstract.85

Hornung bounced around the minors for a few years: Buffalo of the Eastern Association in 1891, Providence and Buffalo of the Eastern League in 1892, back to Providence in 1893, and Worcester of the New England League in 1894, where he fractured his ankle and missed much of the season.86 In 1895 he was dispensing drinks and driving a butcher’s wagon until he was signed by Atlanta of the Southern League.87 Hornung also umpired in the NL, as well as some minor league and college games. The Buffalo Commercial called his umpiring in the Eastern League, “very rank.”88

Hornung managed the Batavia/Geneva club of the New York State League in 1897.89 He also managed the Ontarios, a local semipro club in New York City.90 In 1898, he worked on a railroad in Brooklyn but quit because he “mixed Kentucky tea with work during office hours.”91 Hornung became a custodian at the Polo Grounds in 1898.

Per the 1900 census, the Hornungs rented an apartment on West 128th Street in New York City with their four children: Harry (19), Gertrude (15), Lillian (10), and Joseph Jr. (6). They had lost two young sons: Walter in 1896 and Alfred, to the measles, in 1897.92 Joe also worked as a machinist and bartender. From 1915-1918, he worked security at the Polo Grounds, stationed in the center field bleachers.93 In 1919 he became a messenger at the Bank of Washington Heights, tending to the Giants’ gate receipts.94 Hornung was often seen hobbling around on a cane, arguing with fellow old-timer Tom York about “which old fellow was the best hitter.”95

Margaret Hornung said in February 1925 that she had seen all of Joe’s games and was a “dyed-in-the-wool fan.” She said Joe could keep all his records because “I have one record that I am certainly proud to claim.” She had 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Margaret died just a few months later.96

Hornung persuaded the Giants and Yankees to hold a “Joe Hornung Day” every year on his birthday. On his 70th birthday in 1927, baseball writers took up a collection and presented it to him at Yankee Stadium while the famed “Murderers’ Row” looked on. Joe was shocked when he received little applause, realizing “an entire generation of ball players had come and gone since he played,” wrote Fred Lieb. After his “day” in 1930, Hornung told Lieb it would be his last and he would soon be “in the other league.”97

Joe Hornung died October 30, 1931, at the age of 74 at the home of his daughter, Gertrude Maynes, on Prospect Avenue in the Bronx. Both Joe and Margaret are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Gregory H. Wolf and Rory Costello and fact-checked by Dan Schoenholz.

Photo credit: Joe Hornung, Trading Card Database.

Sources

In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author wishes to acknowledge the following for research assistance with this biography:

Baseball-reference.com

Brown, Craig, “1876, Tecumseh, London ON (Tecumsehs),” in Threads of Our Game. Retrieved April 27, 2025. www.threadsofourgame.com/1876-tecumseh-london-on/

Joe Hornung file, A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center, Baseball Hall of Fame, furnished courtesy of Cassidy Lent

Familysearch.org

Find-a-grave.com

New York City Historical Vital Records. https://a860 historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/6444379

Retrosheet.org

Notes

1 “Baseball: stray notes of the past season. Fielding.” New York Clipper, February 9, 1884: 795.

2 “‘Joe’ Hornung Signs,” Boston Globe, February 27, 1886: 2.

3 William Akin, “Bare Hands and Kid Gloves: The Best Fielders, 1880-1899.” SABR Baseball Research Journal, 1981. Retrieved April 22, 2026. https://sabr.org/journal/article/bare-hands-and-kid-gloves-the-best-fielders-1880-1899/

4  Sam Crane, “Sam Crane Writes Series of Stories on Fifty Greatest Ball Players in History,” New York Journal, December 28, 1911: 17.

5 Fred Lieb, “Cutting the Plate with Fred Lieb,” New York Evening Post, May 24, 1927: 13.

6 Crane, “Sam Crane Writes Series of Stories,”

7 T.H. Murnane, “Murnane’s Baseball,” Boston Globe, May 30, 1909: 46.

8  Lieb, “Cutting the Plate with Fred Lieb,”

9 Joseph Hornung, “The Difficulties of Left Fielding,” in Brawn and Brain, Considered by Noted Athletes and Thinkers. Ed. Arthur F. Aldridge. (New York: Alden Publishing Co., 1889), 22-23.

10 Hornung, 24.

11 “John Boniface Hornung,” Utica Daily Press, April 13, 1895: 2; “Mrs. Catherine Hornung,” Utica Daily Press, August 20, 1908: 4; Dave Shampine, “Homegrown Baseball Hero,” Watertown (New York) Daily Times, June 27, 2010: D1.

12 Lieb, “Cutting the Plate with Fred Lieb;” Old Diamond Stars Greatest Players,” New York American, February 15, 1925: 1.

13 Shampine, “Homegrown Baseball Hero,” D2.

14 “The Clipper Prize Winner,” New York Clipper, May 24, 1879: 69; Martin Lacoste, “Canada’s First Professional Baseball League.” Retrieved April 6, 2026. https://sabr.org/journal/article/canadas-first-professional-baseball-league/

15 “The Game in London,” Guelph Mercury, May 25, 1876. Cited in Brian Martin, The Tecumsehs of the International Association. (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co, 2015), 73.

16 “The Ball Field,” London Advertiser, May 25, 1876. Cited in Martin, 73.

17 “The Champion Club of Canada,” New York Clipper, October 14, 1876: 229.

18 Martin, 123.

19 Martin, 134.

20 Andrew North, “The 1877 International Association Championship Game,” in Our Game, Too: Influential Figures and Milestones in Canadian Baseball, ed. Andrew North. (Society For American Baseball Research, 2022). Retrieved April 6, 2026. https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-1877-international-association-championship-game/

21 “Base Ball,” Buffalo Courier, July 5, 1878: 2.

22  “The Clipper Prize Winner,”

23 “Base Ball,” Buffalo Courier Express, August 26, 1878: 4.

24 James Overfield, “The 1878 Buffalo Bisons: Was it the Greatest Minor League Team of the Game’s Early Years?” in Road Trips: SABR Convention Journal Articles Ed. Jim Charlton. (Society for American Baseball Research, 2004). Retrieved April 27, 2025. https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-1878-buffalo-bisons-was-it-the-greatest-minor-league-team-of-the-games-early-years/

25 “No. 7—Joseph Hornung, Left Field,” New York Clipper, May 24, 1879: 69; “The Buffalo Club,” New York Clipper, November 30, 1878: 285; New York Clipper, November 23, 1878: 277.

26 “Sporting News,” Buffalo Commercial, January 8, 1879: 3.

27 “First Blood,” Buffalo Courier Express, May 2, 1879: 4.

28 “Once More,” Buffalo Courier Express, July 22, 1879: 4

29  “Chicago vs. Buffalo,” New York Clipper, August 16, 1879: 165.

30  “Galvin’s Game,” Buffalo Courier Express, May 24, 1880: 4.

31 “Base Ball,” Cincinnati Daily Gazette, September 27, 1880: 8.

32 “Sporting Events,” Chicago Tribune, May 14, 1880: 3.

33 “Thirteen innings—1 To 0,” Boston Globe, June 10, 1881: 1.

34 “Contesting Cripples,” Boston Herald, June 10, 1881: 6.

35 “Circling the Bases,” Boston Globe, September 11, 1881: 5.

36 “The Bostons Win,” Boston Globe, September 24, 1881: 4; “Chances Records for Outfielders,” Baseball Almanac. Retrieved May 1, 2026. baseball-almanac.com/rb_ofch.shtml; John Thorn, “Joe Hornung Day,” The Diary of Myles Thomas. June 13, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2026. https://1927-the-diary-of-myles-thomas.espn.com/joe-hornung-day-120ced65d357

37 “Base Ball,” Boston Herald, September 24, 1881: 5.

38 Thorn, “Joe Hornung Day,”

39 “The League Season,” Boston Globe, May 2, 1882: 1.

40 “Base Ball,” Boston Globe, May 7, 1882: 8.

41 “On the Diamond,” Boston Globe, June 23, 1882: 2.

42 “On the Diamond,” Boston Globe, September 23, 1882: 3.

43  “Won By Bostons,” Boston Globe, June 7, 1883: 4.

44 Sam Crane, “Giants Play Superb Ball Behind Arthur Neff,” New York Evening Journal, June 17, 1924: 29.

45  “Terrible Thrashings,” Boston Globe, June 10, 1883: 6.

46  “Very Finely Played,” Boston Globe, June 12, 1883: 6.

47 “Boston vs. New York,” New York Clipper, July 7, 1883: 253.

48 Hornung’s stats tabulated from Boston Globe box scores, July 5, 7, 8 and 11.

49  Crane, “Sam Crane Writes Series of Stories,”

50  “Sporting Matters,” Detroit Free Press, July 15, 1883: 7; See also Philadelphia Times, July 15, 1883: 2, Peter Morris, A Game of inches: The story behind the innovations that shaped baseball. (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2010), 170-171; “Baseball,” New York Clipper, March 1, 1884: 843. This rule was officially changed in 1920 when Rule 56 Section 10 added that the runner could advance on a fly when the ball touches the fielder. See Stew Thornley’s “Baseball Rule Changes.” Retrieved May 26, 2026. retrosheet.org/rules/RulesChangesSummary.pdf

51 “The Best Yet,” Boston Globe, July 1, 1883: 5; David Nemec, The Rules of Baseball: An Anecdotal Look at the Rules of Baseball and How They Came to Be. (New York: Lyons & Burford, 1994), 110-111; Morris, Game of Inches, 204;

52 “Better Batting,” Boston Herald, August 26, 1883: 2.

53 “Providences 6, Bostons 1,” Boston Globe, September 7, 1883: 5; “Base Ball,” Boston Daily Advertiser, September 7, 1883: 8.

54 “A Deserved Tribute,” Boston Globe, September 10, 1883: 5; “Base Ball,” Fall River News, September 10, 1883: 2.

55 “A Splendid Victory,” Boston Globe, September 9, 1883: 5.

56 “Again in the Van,” Boston Globe, September 12, 1883: 2.

57 “That Settles It,” Boston Globe, September 28, 1883: 4.

58 “Our Boys,” Boston Globe, October 1, 1883: 1.

59 New York Clipper, October 20, 1883: 509.

60 “We Take Our Turn,” Boston Globe, June 24, 1884: 2.

61 “Chicagoed By Chicago,” Boston Globe, May 26, 1885: 4.

62  “Joe Hornung’s Home Run,” Boston Globe, June 12, 1885: 2; “Mutrie’s Stars,” Boston Globe, June 13, 1885: 5.

63 “Return to the Diamond,” Boston Globe, April 3, 1885: 2; “‘Joe’ Hornung Signs,” Boston Globe, February 27, 1886: 2.

64  “Hits and Misses,” Boston Globe, July 22, 1885: 2.

65 “Balls and Strikes,” Boston Globe, August 2, 1885: 3; “Base Ball Briefs,” Boston Globe, January 12, 1886: 2.

66  “Playing for Joe Hornung,” Boston Globe, November 6, 1885: 5.

67 “From the Hub,” New York Clipper, March 6, 1886: 811; “Tips From the Bat,” Boston Globe, February 28, 1886: 3.

68 “The Wolverines Win,” Boston Globe, May 29, 1886: 3.

69 “Chance Hits,” Boston Globe, June 23, 1886: 2; “Wood and Casey,” Boston Globe, June 18, 1886: 8.

70 “Willie Does it Again,” Boston Globe, August 31, 1886: 5.

71 “A Good Omen,” Boston Globe, April 30, 1887: 1.

72  “Timothy Keefe,” Boston Globe, June 17, 1887: 5.

73 “Diamond Points,” Boston Globe, October 17, 1887: 3; “Polo Pointers,” Boston Globe, October 21, 1887: 8; Bob Ruzzo, “South End Grounds (Boston),” SABR BioProject. Retrieved May 8, 2025. sabr.org/bioproj/park/south-end-grounds-boston/

74 Jay Dee, “Rad’s Curves,” Boston Globe, June 13, 1888: 5.

75 Tim Murnane, “Best Yet,” Boston Globe, August 17, 1888: 5.

76 “Hornung Still on Deck,” Boston Globe, August 17, 1888: 5; “Unconscious for Hours,” Boston Globe (evening edition), August 17, 1888: 5.

77 Tim Murnane, “Second Game a Tie,” Boston Globe, October 14, 1888: 4.

78 Jay Dee, “Joe Hornung Kicks,” Boston Globe, July 2, 1888: 8.

79 “Baseball: From the Hub,” New York Clipper, October 22, 1887: 509.

80 “Goodby (sic) ‘Ubbo’,” Boston Globe, January 23, 1889: 5.

81 “Hornung’s Great Throw,” Baltimore Sun, April 24, 1889: 6.

82  “Hornung At His Best,” Baltimore Sun, October 8, 1889: 6.

83  Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Pittsburgh Post and Boston Globe are three papers crediting Hornung with six, while the New York Times and New York Herald credit him with four.

84 “National League Games,” The World, October 4, 1890: 6.

85 Bill James, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. (New York: Free Press, 2001), 839.

86 “Diamond Points,” Fall River Evening News, July 19, 1894: 4.

87 “Base Ball Chat,” Sunday Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA), January 27, 1895: 8; “Repudiates the Work,” Atlanta Constitution, August 14, 1895: 2.

88 “Very Rank Umpire,” Buffalo Commercial, August 8, 1896: 9; “The State League,” News-Journal (Lancaster, PA), March 12, 1896: 1.

89 “Pick-Ups in Brief,” Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA), June 18, 1897: 3.

90  “Old Diamond Stars Greatest Players,” New York American, February 15, 1925: 1; Lieb, “Cutting the Plate with Fred Lieb,”

91 “Sporting” Buffalo Enquirer, December 7, 1898: 4

92 “Baseball Gossip,” Fall River Globe (Fall River, Massachusetts), August 11, 1897: 5; “Around the Bases,” Buffalo Courier Express, April 13, 1896: 13.

93  Omaha Daily News, June 27, 1915: 33.

94  Lieb, “Cutting the Plate with Fred Lieb;” Mack makes no mention of Hornung in his telling of meeting Collins. See “My 50 Years in Baseball,” Philadelphia Inquirer, October 8, 1930: 22.

95 Harold C. Burr, “Old Tom York, Guardian of the Stadium Press Box, Calls Tiger-Yanks Plays,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 17, 1929: 24.

96  “Old Diamond Stars Greatest Players.” Margaret’s death certificate is dated July 26, 1925.

97 Fred Lieb, “Cutting the Plate with Fred Lieb,” New York Evening Post, August 30, 1930: 9.