Tom Hess
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Hess was a professional baseball
catcher
who played one season in Major League Baseball
. He made his major league debut on June 6, , and it would prove to be his last appearance as well. He would go on to play for multiple minor league teams.
of the National League
in . On June 6, he played his only game at the major league level and didn't obtain a hit
in two at-bats. This was his only season in Major League Baseball. On June 14, he was released by the Orioles.
during the season. In 98 games, he batted
.293 with 108 hits
in 368 at-bats. The next season, , Hess played 85 games with Albany and batted .230 with 72 hits in 313 at-bats. Hess began playing for the non-affiliated Independent Portland Browns during the Pacific Coast League's
's inaugural season in . In 56 games, Hess batted .260 with 54 hits, seven doubles
baseball, and one triple
in 208 at-bats. In , Hess played for both the Class-D Waterloo Microbes and the Class-A Sioux City Soos. With the Microbes, Hess batted .100 in 16 games. He later played for the Soos where he hit .223 with 21 hits in 25 games. He began to play for the Class-D Oskaloosa Quakers of the Iowa League of Professional Baseball Clubs in . With the Quakers, Hess batted .209 with 43 hits in 61 games. In , Hess returned to Sioux City, Iowa
to play for the renamed Sioux City Packers
of the Western League
where in 78 games he hit .245 with 64 hits in 261 at-bats. In , he began to play for the Class-C Galveston Sand Crabs of the Texas League
. In , Hess played for both the Class-D Winston-Salem Twins, and the Class-B Wilkes-Barre Barons
. With the Twins, Hess batted .320 with 16 hits in 17 games. After his move to the Barons, he batted .224 with 11 hits in 17 games. The next season, , Hess played for the Class-B Elmira Colonels
where he batted .189 with 10 hits in 23 games. He sat out during the season, and returned to professional play during the joining the Class-D Hamilton Kolts of the Canadian League where he batted .293 with 29 hits, three doubles, and one triple in 28 games.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who played one season 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 made his major league debut on June 6, , and it would prove to be his last appearance as well. He would go on to play for multiple minor league teams.
1892 season
Hess began his professional career with the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
of 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...
in . On June 6, he played his only game at the major league level and didn't obtain a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in two at-bats. This was his only season in Major League Baseball. On June 14, he was released by the Orioles.
1901–1911 seasons
After a nine year absence from professional baseball, Hess joined the non-affiliated Class-C Albany Senators of the New York State LeagueNew York State League
This article refers to the modern New York State League. For the original incarnations of the New York State League see New York State League ...
during the season. In 98 games, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.293 with 108 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 368 at-bats. The next season, , Hess played 85 games with Albany and batted .230 with 72 hits in 313 at-bats. Hess began playing for the non-affiliated Independent Portland Browns during the Pacific Coast League's
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...
's inaugural season in . In 56 games, Hess batted .260 with 54 hits, seven doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
baseball, and one triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in 208 at-bats. In , Hess played for both the Class-D Waterloo Microbes and the Class-A Sioux City Soos. With the Microbes, Hess batted .100 in 16 games. He later played for the Soos where he hit .223 with 21 hits in 25 games. He began to play for the Class-D Oskaloosa Quakers of the Iowa League of Professional Baseball Clubs in . With the Quakers, Hess batted .209 with 43 hits in 61 games. In , Hess returned to Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
to play for the renamed Sioux City Packers
Sioux City Packers
Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the Sioux City Packers played in the Western League from 1905 to 1907, from 1910 to 1913, and from 1920 to 1923. They had previously been known as the Sioux City Soos. They moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1924 and became the Lincoln Links.-Year-by-year record:...
of 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...
where in 78 games he hit .245 with 64 hits in 261 at-bats. In , he began to play for the Class-C Galveston Sand Crabs of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
. In , Hess played for both the Class-D Winston-Salem Twins, and the Class-B Wilkes-Barre Barons
Wilkes-Barre Barons
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a legendary basketball team from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.The Barons played between 1933 and 1972 in different American leagues. The team won 11 titles during this time, and the most memorable are those were won while playing in the American Basketball League and the...
. With the Twins, Hess batted .320 with 16 hits in 17 games. After his move to the Barons, he batted .224 with 11 hits in 17 games. The next season, , Hess played for the Class-B Elmira Colonels
Elmira Colonels
The Elmira Colonels were an American basketball team based in Elmira, New York that was a member of the American Basketball League. It is, to date, the only major league sports team to have ever resided in the Southern Tier....
where he batted .189 with 10 hits in 23 games. He sat out during the season, and returned to professional play during the joining the Class-D Hamilton Kolts of the Canadian League where he batted .293 with 29 hits, three doubles, and one triple in 28 games.