Ed Hahn
Encyclopedia
William Edgar Hahn was an outfielder
in Major League Baseball
from 1905-1910. He played for the Chicago White Sox
and New York Highlanders
.
, started his professional baseball career at the age of 27 in the Cotton States League
. In August 1905, he was batting .305 for the New Orleans Pelicans
and was purchased by the American League
's Highlanders. He got off to a slow start in 1906 and was sold to the White Sox. He became the team's starting right fielder
. Hahn batted just .227 for the season but ranked third in the league in walks
(72) and hits by pitches
(11). His style of play fit right in with the White Sox, who were known as "the Hitless Wonders."
The White Sox won the pennant and faced the heavily favored Chicago Cubs
in the 1906 World Series
. Hahn, the team's leadoff hitter
, was the first batter of the series. He went 0 for 6 during the first two games. In game 3, he was hit in the face by a Jack Pfiester
curveball and suffered a broken nose
. He walked to the Cook County Hospital
, which was a block away, for treatment. The next day, he was back on the field for game 4, wearing a rubber air hose on his nostril. He received "loud and long" cheers from the crowd at his appearance.
After getting hit, Hahn went 6 for 14 (.429) against the Cubs' pitching. He scored two runs
in game 5 and two more in game 6 as the White Sox pulled off one of the biggest upset
s in World Series
history. It was the team's first Series win.
1907 was Hahn's best season in the major leagues. He finished in the league's top five in runs (87) scored, walks (84), and hits by pitches (12), while batting .255. He also led all outfielders with a .990 fielding percentage
.
Hahn had another solid year in 1908. However, he hit poorly in 1909 and 1910 and then went down to the minors. In 1911, he was a player-manager
for the Mansfield Brownies of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League
. He then played five seasons for the Western League
's Des Moines Boosters
before retiring.
business during the offseasons. After his baseball days were over, he became a night watchman
for a cement company plant in Des Moines, Iowa
. He died in 1941.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
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...
from 1905-1910. He played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and New York Highlanders
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Baseball career
Hahn, who was born in Nevada, OhioNevada, Ohio
Nevada is a village in Wyandot County, Ohio, United States. The population was 814 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nevada is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
, started his professional baseball career at the age of 27 in the Cotton States League
Cotton States League
The Cotton States League name was used five different times in baseball history. The first Cotton States League ran from 1902 through 1908 as a class D league. After the league shut down, another Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six '08 members returning for the new...
. In August 1905, he was batting .305 for the New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans were a Minor league professional baseball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Team history:Founded in 1887, the Pelicans became part of the Southern Association in 1901...
and was purchased by the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
's Highlanders. He got off to a slow start in 1906 and was sold to the White Sox. He became the team's starting right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. Hahn batted just .227 for the season but ranked third in the league in walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
(72) and hits by pitches
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
(11). His style of play fit right in with the White Sox, who were known as "the Hitless Wonders."
The White Sox won the pennant and faced the heavily favored Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the 1906 World Series
1906 World Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 9, 1906 at West Side Grounds in Chicago, IllinoisCubs hurler Mordecai Brown was sent to continue the dominance against Nick Altrock. Both pitchers pitched a perfect game through three innings. The Cubs had a runner at second, but couldn't score in the fourth...
. Hahn, the team's leadoff hitter
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
, was the first batter of the series. He went 0 for 6 during the first two games. In game 3, he was hit in the face by a Jack Pfiester
Jack Pfiester
John Albert Pfiester , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1903-1911....
curveball and suffered a broken nose
Nasal fracture
Broken Nose' redirects here, for the Song by Catherine Wheel, please see Adam and EveA nasal fracture, commonly referred to as a broken nose, is a fracture of the bone or cartilage of the nose...
. He walked to the Cook County Hospital
John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
The John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, formerly Cook County Hospital is a public urban teaching hospital in Chicago that provides primary, specialty and tertiary healthcare services to the five million residents of Cook County, Illinois. The hospital has a staff of 300 attending...
, which was a block away, for treatment. The next day, he was back on the field for game 4, wearing a rubber air hose on his nostril. He received "loud and long" cheers from the crowd at his appearance.
After getting hit, Hahn went 6 for 14 (.429) against the Cubs' pitching. He scored two runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in game 5 and two more in game 6 as the White Sox pulled off one of the biggest upset
Upset
An upset occurs in a competition, frequently in electoral politics or sports, when the party popularly expected to win , is defeated by an underdog whom the majority expects to lose, defying the conventional wisdom...
s in World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
history. It was the team's first Series win.
1907 was Hahn's best season in the major leagues. He finished in the league's top five in runs (87) scored, walks (84), and hits by pitches (12), while batting .255. He also led all outfielders with a .990 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Hahn had another solid year in 1908. However, he hit poorly in 1909 and 1910 and then went down to the minors. In 1911, he was a player-manager
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
for the Mansfield Brownies of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League
Ohio-Pennsylvania League
The Ohio-Pennsylvania League was among scores of minor league baseball organizations that popped up throughout the country in the early 20th century...
. He then played five seasons for the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
's Des Moines Boosters
Des Moines Boosters
The Des Moines Boosters were a Western League minor league baseball team based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA that existed from 1908 to 1924. They won two league championships - their first in 1915 under manager Frank Isbell and their second in 1917 under Jack Coffey....
before retiring.
Later life
Hahn had owned a potteryPottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
business during the offseasons. After his baseball days were over, he became a night watchman
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
for a cement company plant in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. He died in 1941.