Harry Swan

One could sum up Harry Swan’s pro baseball career in a single term: “wild pitch.” Swan’s entire time at the top consisted of a 1914 trial in the Federal League: spring training with the Chi-Feds and one regular-season inning pitched for the Kansas City Packers.1 However, his story is more than just a cup of coffee on the mound. It’s a tale of a meteoric rise, a bizarre training method, remarkably wild pitches, and an affidavit that blackened the eye of the Federal League. Swan had the power, speed, and talent to become a great pitcher, but things both in and out of his control created a situation that ended his career before it got off the ground.

Born on August 11, 1887 (or 1888 as his tombstone and death certificate state), Harry Gordon Swan began life in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the eastern part of the state.2 His parents were Milton G. Swan (1854-1928) and Elizabeth Maurer Swan (1855-1922).3 The Swan paternal line can only be traced back to his grandfather, George W. Swan (1823-1902), a native of New York state and a former banker and hotelkeeper.4 Swan’s father, Milton, was also originally from New York. Sometime between 1875 and 1900, though, he relocated to Lancaster, where the 1900 census recorded his occupation as “superintendent.”5 A decade later he had switched careers and was listed as a “machinist” in the “tool maker” industry.6 Milton’s death certificate gives his occupation as “accountant” with the Bertha Coal Company.7 Swan’s mother, Elizabeth, was born in Lancaster.8 His maternal line can be traced to Peter Maurer, a Revolutionary War veteran from Lancaster and the second great grandfather of the ballplayer.9 Swan had one sibling, older brother George Myron Swan (1883-1963).10

The Swan family moved to Pittsburgh; exactly when is unknown. However, Swan was living in Pittsburgh by 1913, with the rest of the clan documented as residing there by 1920.11 Very little other information about Harry’s early years is available. What is known is that the 1910 census lists his occupation as “app machinist” in the toolmaking industry, like his father.12 Later, Swan’s December 1913 wedding announcement in the Lancaster newspaper New Era stated that he managed a garage.13 He first entered baseball’s historical record in 1913 on the sandlots of Pittsburgh.

The first known box score to contain Swan’s name appeared in the Sunday, May 4 edition of the Pittsburgh Gazette Times, which chronicled a game played between the Kiski (Saltsburg, Pennsylvania) baseball club and the Vandergrift (Pennsylvania) Independents.14 Pitching that day for Vandergrift was right-handed hurler and batter Harry Swan. Though his appearance and weight fluctuate depending on the source, he likely stood 5-feet-10, weighed 160 pounds, was clean shaven, and had either light or dark black/gray hair, with blue or gray eyes.15 Swan struck out 11 Kiski batters that day, but it wasn’t enough. Vandergrift lost, 5-2.16 Just a few days later, on May 10, Swan and Vandergrift turned things around and defeated the Pittsburgh Independents, 9-4, with Swan striking out eight men.17

One week later, Swan pitched what was supposed to be his final game for Vandergrift. He was heading to the Class B Texas League to play for the Dallas Giants, though not before striking out 10 players from the Apollo (Pennsylvania) Athletic Club and helping Vandergrift to a 5-1 win.18 However, he was back with his old team by May 24, pitching against a club from Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.19 Just what happened in Dallas or why Swan was sent home so quickly has been lost to time. But an article subsequently published by the Chicago Daily Tribune stated that he “had little chance to display his skills there.”20 The article then reported that Swan fanned “180 batters in eleven games” during the 1913 season on the sandlots of Pittsburgh.21

One last major change transpired in Swan’s life that year when he married Grace E. Fickes of Lancaster on December 27, 1913. The couple were married at the bride’s house by Rev. E.A. Bawden with no attendees. After a wedding breakfast was served to the bride and groom, the couple hopped on a late morning train bound for Pittsburgh.22

In March 1914, newspaper sports sections across the nation were already talking about Harry Swan of Pittsburgh playing with the Chicago club of the newly arrived major Federal League. According to the Chicago Inter Ocean, Swan called on Chi-Feds manager Joe Tinker and stated that he would probably would sign a contract in time to accompany the team to Shreveport, Louisiana, for spring training. Swan signed with the team – but by March 13 had already begun his downward spiral when a blister on his finger “caused wildness.”23

On March 24, 1914, Swan was asked to referee a fight between a badger and a dog. Strangely, another Western Pennsylvania player, Pete Knisely, who played for the Chicago Cubs the previous year, was asked to do the same thing. The similarities end there, though – Knisely’s fight was raided by police, causing the ballplayer to flee the scene, while Swan’s match went off without a hitch. One paper commented on his referee skills, stating, “Swan’s decision was pleasing to all.”24

Less than a month later, right around Opening Day, Tinker released Swan.25 The story of Swan’s brief time with the Chi-Feds was later depicted on September 11, 1914, in the Meriden (Connecticut) Daily Journal. The headline: “Here’s the Wildest Pitcher in Captivity – Harry Swan of ChiFeds.”26 The article went on to state that Swan was unable to control the ball and threw wild pitch after wild pitch, with one landing in the upper rows of the grandstand of the ballpark where the team was conducting spring training and another almost taking off Tinker’s head.27

According to the story, Swan was a good listener, but the advice given just didn’t sink in and he kept throwing fast, wild, uncontrolled pitches. The article also related that Swan had an unusual and bizarre training method, using a Kodak camera to strengthen his eye, never venturing onto the diamond without it.28

Though it was never explicitly stated, it stands to reason that Swan’s lack of control was the key factor in his release by Chicago. Swan may have been disappointed – but he was soon to get his one and only chance to play in a major-league game, courtesy of the Federal League’s Kansas City franchise.

On April 28, the Brooklyn Tip-Tops took on the Packers in Kansas City.29 With the home team trailing 3-0 in the top of the ninth, Swan was summoned to relieve starter Gene Packard. In his lone inning of major-league work, Swan held the opposition scoreless, striking out one and allowing no base hits. It’s little surprise that he walked one, but he did manage to avoid any wild pitches (possibly thanks to catcher Ted Easterly, who also did not allow any of his league-leading 17 passed balls that day). Swan never received another chance, as Kansas City released him shortly thereafter.

What became of him for the rest of the 1914 season is a bit muddy. One source claimed that he was playing for a baseball club out of Corning, Missouri, though again there is no documentation for this statement.30 However, information surfaced in the press the following year that filled out more of Swan’s story – and damaged the reputation of the Federal League.

On January 15, 1915, a Pittsburgh Press headline declared, “Fed Contract Was Broken, He Claims.”31 The accompanying article detailed how the Federal League had instituted the 10-day release clause, which the league had initially claimed to be “unrighteous and inequitable when employed by the major leagues.”32 Swan alleged that on July 2, 1914, he met Chi-Feds manager Joe Tinker and club president Charles Weeghman in Tinker’s office. The two wanted to buy out Swan’s contract for $500, but the pitcher claimed that the club owed him $900 and wanted time to consider the offer. According to Swan, Tinker followed him out of the office and told him that “unless he accepted the offer made him by Weeghman and agreed to quit, Tinker would suspend him for the remainder of the season without pay for failure to report for practice two days while the team was on the road, although it’s most unusual for teams to practice while traveling.”33

Swan also stated that Tinker threatened to make things very uncomfortable for him, so much so that “he would be glad to retire.”34 In the end, Swan took the money with the stipulation that he return the contract that he signed containing the 10-day release clause. What is curious about this episode is Swan’s allegation that he was still with Chicago in July, even though he had been released by the Chi-Feds, picked up by Kansas City, and just as quickly given his walking papers.35

An affidavit by Swan detailing these events was later submitted in evidence during the antitrust lawsuit filed by the Federal League in the United States District Court in Chicago.36 The article concluded with the opinion that “this sort of testimony will tend to show that the Federal League is not reforming the baseball game in regard to handling of players, and not elevating the sport in regard to practices which have long been frowned upon in Organized Baseball.”37

As of June 26, 1915, Swan was back in the Pittsburgh area, pitching the Esplen White Sox to an 11-6 win over J.J. Thornton’s in the Allegheny County League.38 The last box score discovered containing Swan’s name was published on August 8, 1915, describing Esplen’s 5-2 victory over the Sheraden Independents.39 Thereafter, the record is silent.

Swan’s post-baseball life was filled with career moves, starting with employment by the Ford Motor Company in Pittsburgh.40 Swan became a father when his only child, daughter Evelyn Jean Swan, was born on May 7, 1925.41 Several years later, the 1930 census listed his occupation as “teacher.”42 Swan spent the remainder of his life teaching at Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh.43. He passed away on May 10, 1946, at his home at 550 Peebles Street, aged 58.44 The cause of death listed on his death certificate was “coronary occlusion with hypertension.”45 Harry Gordon Swan was buried next to his parents in Pittsburgh’s Smithfield East End Cemetery, a virtually forgotten hurler from the Deadball Era.46

Acknowledgments

This story was reviewed by Bill Lamb and Rory Costello and fact-checked by Jeff Findley.

Sources

In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author used Baseball-Reference.com.

Notes

1 “Swan Wildest Slab Artist in Federal League,” Kansas City Post, May 20, 1914: 2.

2 “Harry G. Swan,” Lancaster (Pennsylvania) New Era, May 11, 1946: 3. Harry Gordon Swan (1887-1946) – Find A Grave memorial, accessed September 15, 2024.

3 Milton G. Swan (1854-1928) – Find A Grave Memorial, accessed September 15, 2024. Elizabeth Mauer Swan (1855-1922) – Find A Grave memorial, accessed September 15, 2024.

4 George W. Swan (1823-1902) – Find A Grave memorial, accessed September 15, 2024; 1870 U.S. Census; 1880 U.S. Census.

5 1875 New York State Census; 1900 U.S. Census.

6 1910 U.S. Census.

7 Milton G. Swan Death Certificate: Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 – Ancestry.com, accessed September 15, 2024.

8 1910 U.S. Census; Elizabeth Maurer Swan – Find A Grave memorial, above.

9 Peter Maurer (1757-1847) – Find A Grave memorial, accessed September 15, 2024.

10 George Myron Swan (1883-1963) – Find A Grave memorial, accessed September 15, 2024.

11 “Swan-Fickes,” Lancaster New Era, December 26, 1913: 2; 1920 U.S. Census.

12 1910 U.S. Census.

13 “Swan-Fickes”

14 “Kiski Wins Game from Vandergrift,” Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, May 4, 1913: 19.

15 Harry Gordon Swan World War I and World War II draft registration cards accessed September 15, 2024.

16 “Kiski Wins Game from Vandergrift.”

17 “Big Doings in Vandergrift for Opener,” Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, May 11, 1913: 20.

18 “Vandergrift Beats Apollo,” Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, May 18, 1913: 20.

19 “Vandergrift In Ninth,” Pittsburgh Sunday Post, May 25, 1913: 42.

20 “Blokes Bump Regulars, 7-4,” Chicago Daily Tribune, March 14, 1914: 15.

21 “Blokes Bump Regulars”

22 “Swan-Fickes”

23 Chifeds Seconds Again Trim Firsts,” Chicago Inter Ocean (Chicago), March 8, 1914: 13.

24 “Feds Swamp Centenary, 14-0,” Chicago Daily Tribune, March 26, 1914: 13.

25 “Tinker Releases Pitcher,” Topeka (Kansas) Daily State Journal, April 17, 1914: 11.

26 “Here’s Wildest Pitcher in Captivity – Harry Swan of Chifeds,” Meriden (Connecticut) Daily Journal, September 11, 1914: 8.

27 “Here’s Wildest Pitcher in Captivity – Harry Swan of Chifeds.”

28 “Here’s Wildest Pitcher in Captivity – Harry Swan of Chifeds.”

29 “Brookfeds Are Ready for Game with Packers,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 28, 1914: 22.

30 “Some Baseball Dope,” Madison (Nebraska) Star-Mail, July 24, 1914: 1.

31 “Fed Contract Was Broken, He Claims,” Pittsburgh Press, January 15, 1915: 24.

32 “Fed Contract Was Broken, He Claims.”

33 “Fed Contract Was Broken, He Claims.”

34 “Fed Contract Was Broken, He Claims.”

35 No mention can be found of Swan back on the Chicago Federals after his release from the Packers in 1914. Regardless, Swan signed an affidavit stating that his contract did include that clause and that they even crossed it out after Swan signed the contract, which means that they lied about having the 10-day release clause and they didn’t honor it when it suited their needs.

36 “Fed Contract Was Broken, He Claims.”

37 “Fed Contract Was Broken, He Claims.”

38 “Thorntons Lose to Sox,” Pittsburgh Sunday Post, June 27, 1915: 35.

39 “Esplen Team Takes Two,” Pittsburgh Press, August 8, 1915: 22.

40 Swan World War I draft registration card.

41 1930 U.S. Census; Jean Swan Macdonald U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 – Ancestry.com, accessed September 15, 2024.

42 1930 U.S. Census.

43 1942 Westinghouse High School Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA), 1942 yearbook from Westinghouse High School from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (classmates.com), accessed September 15, 2024.

44 “Harry G. Swan,” Lancaster New Era, May 11, 1946: 3.

45 Harry G. Swan Death Certificate: Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 – Ancestry.com, accessed September 15, 2024.

46 Harry Gordon Swan – Find A Grave memorial.