Roy Hartzell
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Roy Allen Hartzell (born July 6, 1881 in Golden, Colorado, died November 6, 1961 in Golden, Colorado) played in the Major League Baseball from 1906 to 1916.
Hartzell started his career with the St. Louis Browns (now known as the Baltimore Orioles), and was later traded to the New York Highlanders (now New York Yankees) for two other players, Jimmy Austin and Frank LaPorte.
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[edit] Early life
Roy was born on Wednesday, July 6, 1881 in Golden, Colorado. His parents were James and Nellie Hartzell from Illinois. He played baseball and football in the Denver area. Roy worked in the smelters in Montana before signing with the pros. He married Ella Stebbins in Philadelphia in April 1911. She was also from Golden. He had some business in the Golden area working with rentals and sales.
James G. Hartzell, Roy's father, was a Civil War veteran and died and is buried in California. Roy had a college-professor brother named Lester and another brother named Harry. Lester was a mining engineer and a professor at the State School of Mines in Colorado. A gifted athlete himself, Lester was (as a student) quarterback of the Mines football team, helping lead it to several state championships and a legendary 103-0 walloping of the University of Colorado in 1890. Harry was important in tourism operations in the Golden community.
[edit] Major Leagues
Hartzell was 24 years old when he played his first game in the big leagues on April 17, 1906, with the St. Louis Browns. He played many positions including second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield in each of his 11 seasons of baseball. At the plate he batted left-handed, but threw right-handed. He stood about 5 foot 8 inches tall, and weighed 155 pounds.
On October 3, 1911, New York was playing the Boston Red Sox. Jack Lewis of Boston was pulling a steal and collided with Hartzell and had to be replaced by a pinch runner named Duffy Lewis. The two Lewis' are of no relation.
Roy played in 1,290 games with a life-time batting average of .252. His last game was on July 25, 1916.
[edit] Accomplishments
His best day came on July 12, 1911 when he was the cleanup hitter. He smashed a 3-run double and another double in the same inning, then added a sacrifice fly and a grand slam, driving in a total of 8 runs. It was a Major League record until Jimmy Foxx had 9 RBI in a game in 1933. Needless to say, New York won that day, 12-2.
Hartzell's 595 at-bats for the Browns led the American League in 1909, and his 91 RBI for New York in 1911 were the most by a player in the Yankees' first 13 years.
[edit] Later years
Hartzell died on November 6, 1961 in Golden, Colorado, his birthplace. He was buried in Golden Cemetery.
