Belden Hill
From BR Bullpen
Belden L. Hill
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10" Weight 170 lb.
- Debut August 27, 1890
- Final Game September 4, 1890
- Born August 24, 1864 in Kewanee, IL USA
- Died October 22, 1934 in Cedar Rapids, IA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"Belden Hill was the father of baseball in Cedar Rapids." - from a 2007 minorleaguebaseball.com article about baseball in Cedar Rapids
Belden Hill appeared in 9 games for the 1890 Orioles. The Orioles that year played only 34 games. In 1891 he suffered a broken leg and that ended his major league career.
He was known as "Beldie" and played for Santa Fe in 1888.
He helped to start the Cedar Rapids club in 1891, managed them from 1897-1908 and afterwards continued to have a role in their affairs. He came back to manage them again in 1913-14. They were a top team during some of that tenure. The team's ballpark was named after him. He was a cigar wholesaler and part owner of the team. His brother Hugh was president of a minor league team in Kewanee. Sources: Hill and Cedar Rapids
Smoky Joe Wood tried to catch on with the Cedar Rapids team in 1907 as a position player but Hill was "full up" with infielders and gave his contract free of charge to the manager of Hutchinson.
Was president of the Mississippi Valley League in 1926 and 1928-1931.
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897 | Cedar Rapids Bunnies | Western Association | 84-41 | 1st League Champs | |
| 1899 | Cedar Rapids Bunnies | Western Association | 22-14 | 3rd | League disbanded June 16 |
| 1900 | Des Moines Hawkeyes | Western League | 59-45 | 2nd | |
| 1901 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Three-I League | 67-45 | 3rd | |
| 1902 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Three-I League | 64-55 | 3rd | |
| 1903 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Three-I League | 60-60 | 5th | |
| 1904 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Three-I League | 70-52 | 2nd | |
| 1905 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Three-I League | 63-61 | 5th | |
| 1906 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Three-I League | 79-43 | 1st League Champs | |
| 1907 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Three-I League | 72-61 | 5th | |
| 1908 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Three-I League | -- | replaced by Ted Price | |
| 1913 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Central Association | 59-65 | 6th | |
| 1914 | Cedar Rapids Rabbits | Central Association | 64-60 | 5th |
