August 8, 1906: Doc Hillebrand’s shutout moves Ottawa closer to first place in outlaw league

Ottawa’s Art “Doc” Hillebrand was a force to be reckoned with in what would be his final season before an arm injury cut short his career. Appearing in all 34 games, he posted an estimated 1.74 ERA and a 10-6 record, tying for the league lead in wins. His contributions extended beyond the mound, as he also hit .283 and stole 7 bases. (Historical Photograph Collection Alumni Photographs series, AC058, Princeton University Archives, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library.)

Although the Northern Independent League had instituted a salary cap of $400 per week at the start of the 1906 season, the rule was largely ignored by the spendthrift owners.1 The two prominent businessmen funding Ottawa’s new entry in the circuit, Henry Sims and John Cain, were no exception.2 Before the season began, Ottawa made a big splash by signing one of America’s most famous athletes, Art “Doc” Hillebrand, for the princely sum of $150 per week.3 With a 12-man roster to fill, that made it nearly impossible to field a winning team without exceeding the salary cap.

Hillebrand more than lived up to expectations, anchoring Ottawa’s mound staff and playing a solid right field when he wasn’t pitching. But his massive contract was one of several questionable financial decisions that led to the team’s demise.4

The 29-year-old Hillebrand had been a two-sport star at Princeton University, captaining both the football and baseball teams.5 After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology, Hillebrand played two seasons in the minor leagues.6 In the fall of 1903, he signed a lucrative contract with the Washington Senators that would have made him the highest-paid pitcher on the team.7 To the Senators’ chagrin, Art didn’t report to the team in the spring, possibly because his father – a medical doctor – didn’t approve of him pursuing a career as a big-league ballplayer.8 In 1904 he played amateur baseball and helped manage the family ranch in South Dakota.9

Art’s younger brother, Homer Hillebrand, made his major-league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the spring of 1905. Although Art wanted to join his sibling on the Pirates, Washington still retained his rights, and so he was unable to play for another team in Organized Baseball.10 His only other option was to turn to a league that operated outside of the purview of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. In 1905 Art suited up for Plattsburgh in the outlaw Northern New York League, which was later renamed the Northern Independent League.11

The Northern Independent League was a safe haven for contract jumpers or those who had otherwise run afoul of the recently-formed National Commission.12 The league relied heavily on players with college baseball experience, including many current collegians who played under assumed names to avoid losing their amateur status.13 The league was a magnet for top talent, and the caliber of play was comparable to the highest level of the minor leagues.14

At least one former and three future big leaguers played for Ottawa in 1906.15 Left fielder Frank “Shag” Shaughnessy, who went on to become a key figure in Ottawa’s professional baseball history, had played one game for the Washington Nationals in 1905.16 Shaughnessy was Ottawa’s best hitter, and his slugging prowess led the Ottawa Citizen to dub him the “home run king of the Northern League.”17 Center fielder Ray Demmitt, a University of Illinois player who went on to enjoy a seven-year career in the American League, played for Ottawa under the name “C.R. Ray.”18 Leon “Doc” Martell and Jim Ball – both catchers – also went on to have brief stints in the majors.19

The Northern Independent League season opened in late June as a five-team circuit. In addition to Ottawa, there were three teams in Vermont (Burlington, Rutland, and Montpelier-Barre) and one in New York (Plattsburgh). But the Plattsburgh team folded on July 19 because of financial difficulties, and the league was reduced to four teams.20

Ottawa had been drawing good crowds to its home games at the Varsity Oval, and the team was perched in second place in early August.21 A five-game winning streak from August 4-8 raised Ottawa’s record to 17-9, moving them to within 1½ games of first place heading into a showdown with the league leaders in Burlington on August 9.22

During the 1906 season, Burlington’s stacked roster featured eight former or future major leaguers.23 Larry Gardner went on to have the most success in the big leagues, winning three World Series with the Boston Red Sox between 1912 and 1916 and another with the Cleveland Indians in 1920. Gardner did not face Ottawa on August 9, likely because of a sore back.24

Hillebrand got the start for Ottawa. The tall right-hander came into the game with a 9-3 record and an estimated ERA of 1.40.25 Hillebrand had been red-hot of late, recording three shutouts in his four previous starts. (His shutout streak was broken when he gave up an unearned run two days earlier in a 2-1, 10-inning win over Montpelier-Barre.26)

Hillebrand was opposed by righty Jimmy Wiggs, who had made four appearances with the Detroit Tigers earlier in the season. After getting demoted to the American Association, Wiggs jumped his contract with Toledo and joined Burlington in late July.27

In the bottom of the first, Hillebrand gave up a two-out single to a skilled batsman with a pseudonym of “Bill Burde.” The Burlington hitter was actually Penn State’s Birdie Cree; he went on to play eight seasons with the New York Highlanders/Yankees.28 After the next batter reached on an infield single, Hillebrand escaped the inning by getting Will “Doc” Hazelton to ground into a force out.

Ottawa nearly got on the scoreboard in the third. Another University of Illinois player using a nom de guerre, first baseman Jim Snyder (“Clayton”), reached on a Texas Leaguer with one out.29 After an error by the shortstop Cree, Frank O’Brien moved both baserunners into scoring position with a sacrifice.30 It all went for naught when Ottawa’s captain, second baseman Johnny Dorman, grounded out to end the inning.

Ottawa put another runner in scoring position with two out in the sixth. The threat ended when Burlington first baseman Hazelton robbed Shaughnessy of a hit by snagging a sharply-hit ball close to the bag.

Wiggs finally blinked in the eighth. After O’Brien drew a two-out walk, he boldly stole second and third on the next two pitches.31 He scored easily when Dorman laced a single to right-center field.

Hillebrand, meanwhile, had been cruising. Only one Burlington batter, Wiggs leading off the third with a single, reached base in innings two through eight. Hillebrand seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. After Ottawa took a 1-0 lead, he responded by striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth, giving him four consecutive strikeouts.32

Hillebrand retired the first two batters in the ninth, giving him 20 consecutive outs. The streak was snapped when he hit Cree with a pitch. Cree, who stole 48 bases for the Highlanders in 1911, took off for second; Ottawa’s outstanding catcher, Martell, threw him out and the game was over.

Hillebrand finished with a three-hitter, walking none and striking out six. He picked up his 10th win and fifth shutout of the season. “Hillebrand is the king of them all,” wrote the Ottawa Journal. “He pitches with lots of steam and some pretty curves, and keeps any of them guessing.”33

The thrilling win moved Ottawa to within a half-game of first place, but it was as close as the team would get. After tossing a whopping 63 innings in the previous 18 days, Hillebrand came crashing down to earth.34 Ottawa lost its next seven games, culminating with Hillebrand’s frustrating 4-3, 11-inning loss to Montpelier-Barre at the Varsity Oval on August 18.35

The two remaining teams, Montpelier-Barre and Burlington, continued to play each other until August 25, and Burlington easily held onto first place with a 27-13 record.40 The outlaw league collapsed, never to return.41

The dynamic Hillebrand appeared in all 34 of Ottawa’s games. He posted an estimated 1.74 ERA and a 10-6 record, tying him for the league lead in wins.42 He also hit .283 in 106 at-bats and stole 7 bases. Hillebrand’s brief stint in Canada’s capital marked his final season of professional baseball, and his August 9 shutout against Burlington turned out to be his last professional win.

Homer’s promising baseball career was cut short in the spring of 1908 because of an arm injury. Around that time, Washington sold Art’s rights to the New York Highlanders for $1,000.43 The elder Hillebrand refused to report to that team too.44

The Hillebrand brothers ran the family ranch in South Dakota for many years, and at some point during the Depression, Homer relocated to Corvallis, Oregon. Tragedy struck when Art came for a visit in December 1941. A fire broke out at Homer’s farmhouse, killing his wife and one of his children, along with his brother Art.

Art “Doc” Hillebrand was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-Reference.com, the SABR biography of Homer Hillebrand, and the 1906 Ottawa City Directory. Unless otherwise noted, all play-by-play information for this game was taken from the article “Great Pitching; Battle Royal Between Hildebrand and Wiggs and Ottawa Won, 1 to 0,” on page 3 of the August 10, 1906, edition of the Burlington Free Press. The Northern Independent League standings were also taken from the Burlington Free Press.

Notes

1 “Inter-Baseball,” Ottawa Citizen, March 12, 1906: 1; “Plattsburgh Will Stick,” Ottawa Citizen, July 19, 1906: 8.

2 Sims was the owner of Henry J. Sims & Co., which sold hats and fur products in its Sparks Street shop. Cain was president of the Cain Brick Co. in Ottawa East. “Ball Players Hold Meeting; Locals to Make Big Effort for Northern League Honors,” Ottawa Citizen, March 2, 1906: 8.

3 By contrast, the Detroit Tigers paid 19-year-old Ty Cobb a salary of $1,500 in 1906, his first full season in the big leagues. With 25 weeks in the season, Cobb’s pay would have come to just $60 per week – less than half of Hillebrand’s weekly pay. “Twelve Heart Disease Innings,” Montpelier (Vermont) Evening Argus, June 28, 1906: 1.

4 Another example of excessive spending occurred during Ottawa’s bid to acquire an expansion team. The owners hastily agreed to pay the traveling expenses to and from Ottawa for the league’s four other teams – three in Vermont (Burlington, Rutland, and Montpelier-Barre) and one in New York (Plattsburgh). It was a commitment they would soon regret. Plattsburgh, the nearest of the four other Northern Independent League cities, was an easy 140-mile drive from Ottawa in 2024. The journey was significantly more arduous – and expensive − in 1906. Rutland was the farthest from Ottawa at approximately 280 miles. “A 5-Team League; Ottawa Admitted and Montreal Rejected – One Meant Business, Other Didn’t,” Burlington Free Press, March 10, 1906: 3.

5 Terry Bohn, “Homer Hillebrand,” SABR BioProject, https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/homer-hillebrand/, accessed February 14, 2024; “Art ‘Doc’ Hillebrand,” National Football Foundation, https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2095, accessed February 14, 2024.

6 David L. Porter, ed., Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: 1992-1995 Supplement (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1995), 443.

7 Paul W. Eaton, “From the Capital,” Sporting Life, August 19, 1905: 25.

8 Art Hillebrand got the nickname “Doc” because his father, Christian M. Hillebrand, was a doctor. “Art ‘Doc’ Hillebrand,” National Football Foundation.

9 Art played for an amateur team in Webster, South Dakota. The family ranch was in nearby Waubay. “It Was a Shut-Out,” Webster (South Dakota) Reporter and Farmer, July 7, 1904: 7.

10 “Court’s Decrees; Handed Down by the National Commission,” Sporting Life, September 2, 1905: 2; “Another Phase of Hillebrand Case,” Sporting Life, September 16, 1905: 8.

11 The league was known as the Northern New York League between 1900 and 1905. In 1906 only one of the five teams (Plattsburgh) was based in New York. The league is not to be confused with the Northern League that operated from 1902 to 1905 with teams in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Manitoba. “Montreal to Go in the Northern,” Ottawa Citizen, February 26, 1906: 8.

12 A three-man National Commission was formed to oversee the sport as part of the 1903 peace agreement between the National and American Leagues. John T. Pregler and Tom Loftus: “The American League’s Forgotten Founding Father,” Baseball Research Journal, Spring 2020. https://sabr.org/journal/article/tom-loftus-the-american-leagues-forgotten-founding-father/, accessed February 14, 2024; Joe Santry and Cindy Thomson, “Ban Johnson,” SABR BioProject, https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ban-johnson/, accessed February 14, 2024; Dan Busby, “Kenesaw Mountain Landis,” SABR BioProject, https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/kenesaw-landis/, accessed February 14, 2024.

13 “The Northern League,” Sporting Life, June 23, 1906: 18.

14 A significant number of former and future big leaguers could be found on every Northern Independent League team. The league was heavily scouted, and many players made their major-league debut shortly after appearing in the circuit. For instance, Ed Reulbach played for Montpelier-Barre in 1904 under the assumed name of “Sheldon.” He became a star pitcher with the Chicago Cubs the next season. Eddie Collins is another example − he made his big-league debut in 1906 just a couple of months after playing for Plattsburgh and Rutland. Rick Huhn, Eddie Collins: A Baseball Biography (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2008), 30; Cappy Gagnon, “Ed Reulbach,” SABR BioProject, https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ed-reulbach/, accessed February 14, 2024; “Northern League Notes,” Burlington Free Press, August 6, 1904: 3; Paul Mittermeyer, “Eddie Collins,” SABR BioProject, https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/eddie-collins/, accessed February 14, 2024.

15 There may have been more future big leaguers on Ottawa’s roster, but as of February 2024 it was unclear if all players using assumed names had been identified. Two other future big leaguers were signed by Ottawa, although they did not appear in any regular-season games. Catcher Red Murray (aka “J.J. Murray”) was under contract with Ottawa until mid-June when he jumped directly to the St. Louis Cardinals to begin a successful 11-year run in the National League. Spitballer Vedder Sitton (aka “C.V. Sitton,” aka “Sid Sitton,” aka “Sid Smith”) pitched in exhibition games for Ottawa. A newspaper article on July 7, 1906, reported that he had been released, “as his arm would not get into shape.” The writer lamented that it “looks like another spit ball artist gone wrong.” “Baseball,” Ottawa Citizen, June 14, 1906: 8; “Northern League Notes,” Burlington Free Press, July 7, 1906: 2.

16 Shaughnessy appeared in another eight games with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1908. He married an Ottawa woman and settled in the city before spearheading the effort to bring professional baseball back to Ottawa in 1912. The expansion Ottawa Senators played in the Canadian League from 1912 to 1915, winning the league championship in all four seasons. During the last three of those seasons, the ever-popular Shaughnessy served as the team’s player-manager. He went on to become president of the International League from 1936 to 1960. As league president, Shaughnessy helped Ottawa land the Ottawa Giants in 1951 and the Ottawa Athletics in 1952. Gary Belleville, “July 12, 1906: Frank Shaughnessy Leads Ottawa to Victory in Outlaw Northern Independent League,” SABR Games Project, https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/july-12-1906-frank-shaughnessy-leads-ottawa-to-victory-in-outlaw-northern-independent-league/, accessed February 19, 2024; “Hubbell Inspects Ottawa,” The Sporting News, November 29, 1950: 12; Lloyd McGowan, “‘Woods Are Full of Good Players,’ Shag Maintains,” The Sporting News, February 6, 1952: 22.

17 The author compiled a game log for Ottawa’s 1906 season using the box scores published in various newspapers. According to this game log, Shaughnessy hit .297 with 5 homers and an impressive .484 slugging percentage in 128 at-bats. “Frank Shaughnessy Home from Scouting Trip through South,” Ottawa Citizen, January 23, 1912: 8; “Game Log Ottawa 1906 (Northern Independent League),” https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dPJUHQEZun5IrHmFIsNE2R8cTsNst-T2kVflU9Bt-0I, accessed February 14, 2024.

18 Demmitt’s legal name was Charles Raymond (i.e. “C.R.”) Demmitt. “Baseball”; David McDonald, “Baseball in Ottawa,” Ottawa Citizen, April 15, 2005: B-1; “Charles Raymond ‘Ray’ Demmitt,” Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28833873/charles-raymond-demmitt, accessed February 14, 2024.

19 Martell had been invited to attend spring training with the Boston Americans in 1906. “American League Notes,” Sporting Life, March 24, 1906: 5.

20 “Plattsburgh Quits and Ottawa Comes,” Burlington Free Press, July 20, 1906: 3.

21 Ottawa may have had the highest attendance in the league, although there were rumors that Ottawa was padding its figures. According to available box scores, five of Ottawa’s first seven home games had at least 2,000 fans in attendance. A season-high 3,200 fans were reported to be in attendance on July 2. “Northern League Notes,” Burlington Free Press, July 26, 1906: 3.

22 According to various Vermont newspapers, including the Burlington Free Press, Burlington came into the August 9 game against Ottawa with a record of 19-8. The Ottawa papers had them at 18-8, which appears to be incorrect.

23 The eight former or future big leaguers to play for Burlington in 1906 were Larry Gardner, Birdie Cree, Wilbur Good, Harry Pattee, Will “Doc” Hazelton, Ray Tift, Leon “Doc” Martell, and Jimmy Wiggs. Martell signed with Ottawa in late July after his stint with Burlington. “League Meeting Decision,” Ottawa Citizen, July 25, 1906: 8.

24 “Notes on the Game,” Burlington Free Press, August 8, 1906: 3.

25 The author compiled a game log for Ottawa’s 1906 season using the box scores published in various newspapers. The game log includes pitching and hitting statistics for Art Hillebrand. “Game Log Ottawa 1906 (Northern Independent League),” https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dPJUHQEZun5IrHmFIsNE2R8cTsNst-T2kVflU9Bt-0I, accessed February 14, 2024.

26 “Ottawa Won in the Tenth,” Ottawa Citizen, August 8, 1906: 6.

27 Terry Bohn, “Jimmy Wiggs,” SABR BioProject, https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Jimmy-Wiggs/, accessed February 14, 2024; “Wiggs in the Box There for First Time This Season; His Support Gilt Edged,” Rutland (Vermont) Daily Herald, July 23, 1906: 3.

28 Birdie Cree led Burlington in hitting in 1906. He finished the season with a .333 batting average and 70 total bases in 147 at-bats. “Burlington’s Batting,” Burlington Free Press, August 28, 1906: 3; Paul Sallee, “Birdie Cree,” SABR BioProject, https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/birdie-cree/, accessed February 14, 2024.

29 Newspapers referred to Ottawa’s primary first baseman as “Clayton” during the 1906 season. A newspaper article on September 7 disclosed that Clayton was actually a University of Illinois player with the surname of “Sniter [sic].” This appears to be a misspelling of Snyder, since the University of Illinois roster from 1906 includes a first baseman by the name of J. B. Snyder. According to the Fighting Illini Baseball 2023 Record Book, his first name was James. His Sporting News contract card lists a full name of James Blaine Snyder and a birth year of 1884. “Ottawa Baseball Players Want Their Money,” Montpelier (Vermont) Evening Argus, September 7, 1906: 3; “Illinois Baseball All-Time Rosters,” Fighting Illini Baseball, https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/7/18/baseball_alltimerosters_1900_1924.aspx?#1906, accessed February 14, 2024; “Fighting Illini Baseball 2023 Record Book,” Fighting Illini Baseball, https://fightingillini.com/documents/2023/2/16/2023_Record_Book__WEB_.pdf, accessed February 14, 2024.

30 As of February 2024, Baseball-Reference.com had no record of an O’Brien playing for Ottawa in 1906. The Burlington Free Press refers to him as “Frank O’Brien” in an August 14 article. “Batting Rally,” Burlington Free Press, August 14, 1906: 2.

31 “Ottawa and Burlington Tied,” Ottawa Free Press, August 10, 1906: 9.

32 “Notes on the Game,” Burlington Free Press, August 10, 1906: 3.

33 “Playing Great Ball,” Ottawa Journal, August 10, 1906: 3.

34 “Game Log Ottawa 1906 (Northern Independent League).”

35 “Monte-Barre in Eleventh; Visitors Pulled Down a Lead,” Ottawa Citizen, August 20, 1906: 8.

36 “Rutland Forfeited,” Ottawa Journal, August 20, 1906: 2.

37 “Base Ball Peters Out,” Barre Daily Times, August 20, 1906: 1; J.B. Taylor, “Premature Close,” Sporting Life, September 15, 1906: 11.

38 Taylor, “Premature Close.”

39 “Baseball Club Is Disbanded,” Ottawa Citizen, August 21, 1906: 8.

40 “Season’s Wind Up,” Burlington Free Press, August 27, 1906: 3.

41 Taylor, “Premature Close.”

42 Two other pitchers in the league recorded 10 wins: Burlington’s Ray Tift and a Montpelier-Barre player with the pseudonym of “Eddie Burns.” Burns’s real name was Edward “Teddy” Opfergelt. “Final Pitching Records,” Burlington Free Press, August 28, 1906: 3; “Base Ball Tips,” Montpelier (Vermont) Evening Argus, March 13, 1906: 4.

43 “‘Doc’ Hillebrand; Still Refuses to Recognize the New York American Club,” Sporting Life, April 18, 1908: 15.

44 “American League Notes,” Sporting Life, February 13, 1909: 5.