Harry Colliflower
From BR Bullpen
James Harry Colliflower (Collie)
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Weight 175 lb.
- Debut July 21, 1899
- Final Game October 12, 1899
- Born March 11, 1869 in Petersville, MD USA
- Died August 12, 1961 in Washington, DC USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"Colliflower possesses every quality that is required in a major league twirler. He has fine control of the ball, good speed, and, the requisite amount of nerve." - Washington Post, 1899
Harry Colliflower was a resident of Washington, DC who worked as a carpenter and pitched semi-pro ball. He received some minor league offers, but when the 1899 Cleveland Spiders came into town, they signed him up.
Colliflower lost almost all of his games, but he did hit well enough that the Spiders sometimes used him in the field to take advantage of his ability with the bat.
After 1899 he played some more semi-pro ball, was in the minors a bit, refereed some professional basketball games, did some high school umpiring, coached at Georgetown University, and worked for the District of Columbia Highway Department. Eventually he became a minor league and then a major league umpire. The players made fun of his name.
Later, he became a scout and worked for a relative's fuel company.
Source: rsparlourtricks.blogspot.com/2006/03/harry-colliflower-and-1899-cleveland.html
