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Tacks Latimer

Clifford Wesley "Tacks" Latimer (November 30, 1875 – April 24, 1936) was an American professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants, Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and Brooklyn Superbas from 1898 to 1902. Including the years he played only in the minor leagues or as a semi-professional, Latimer's career ranged from 1895 to 1908.

Tacks Latimer
Catcher
Born: (1875-11-30)November 30, 1875
Loveland, Ohio
Died: April 24, 1936(1936-04-24) (aged 60)
Loveland, Ohio
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
October 1, 1898, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
September 8, 1902, for the Brooklyn Superbas
MLB statistics
Batting average.221
Home runs0
Runs batted in7
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Criminal statusPardoned on December 24, 1930
Conviction(s)Second-degree murder
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
Details
VictimsCharles Mackrodt
DateNovember 26, 1924
Location(s)Xenia, Ohio
Weapon.38 caliber revolver
Imprisoned atOhio State Penitentiary

After his playing career ended, Latimer became a police officer with the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1924, after a dispute with another police officer, Latimer shot him four times in the back, killing him. Latimer was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He received a pardon in 1930 for his heroism during a prison break.

Early life

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Clifford Wesley Lattimer was born in Loveland, Ohio, on November 30, 1875, to John Wesley and Nora (née McAdams) Lattimer. At some point, his name was changed to "Latimer".[1] He began playing baseball with the Cincinnati Gymnasium Club, where he attracted the attention of scouts.[2]

Baseball career

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Latimer made his professional baseball debut with the Montgomery Grays of the Southern Association in 1895.[1][3] He also played for the Norfolk Crows of the Virginia State League and Findlay Sluggers of the Interstate League.[1] In 1897, he played semi-professional baseball in Chillicothe, Ohio,[4] and played professionally for the Minneapolis Millers of the Western League.[5] In 1898, he played for the Austin Senators of the Texas League and Dayton Old Soldiers of the Interstate League,[6][7] before he signed with the New York Giants of the National League, making his major league debut in October.[8] He played in five games for the Giants, and batted .294 (5-for-17).[9]

Though Latimer signed with the Giants for the 1899 season,[10] he began the season with Dayton.[11] He signed with the Youngstown Little Giants of the Interstate League in May.[12] Buck Ewing, the manager of the National League's Cincinnati Reds, offered to sign Latimer on a trial basis,[13] but Latimer refused unless the signing was permanent.[14] In September 1899, the Louisville Colonels of the National League purchased Latimer from Youngstown.[15] He played in nine games for Louisville, and batted .276 (8-for-29).[16]

Following the 1899 season, Colonels' owner Barney Dreyfuss purchased a controlling stake in the Pittsburgh Pirates, and consolidated the two teams in Pittsburgh.[17] Louisville traded Latimer, Fred Clarke, Honus Wagner, Deacon Phillippe, Patsy Flaherty, Chief Zimmer, Claude Ritchey, Tommy Leach, Rube Waddell, Walt Woods, Bert Cunningham, Jack Wadsworth, Tom Messitt, and Mike Kelley for Jack Chesbro, George Fox, Art Madison, and John O'Brien.[18] He played in four games for the Pirates, batting .333 (4-for-12),[19] before he was released to the Syracuse Stars of the Eastern League after the Pirates acquired Jack O'Connor.[20][21] In July, he was released by Syracuse and joined New Castle Quakers of the Interstate League.[22][23]

After the 1900 season, John McGraw signed Latimer to the Baltimore Orioles of the upstart American League.[24] He was to be the backup catcher to Wilbert Robinson.[25] He played in one game for Baltimore in April 1901, batting 1-for-4.[26] Roger Bresnahan, who previously played as a pitcher, became a catcher for Baltimore, and the team released Latimer.[27][28] He played for the Fort Wayne Railroaders of the Western Association, but was released in July due to his high salary.[29] He then signed with the St. Paul Saints of the Western League.[30] He declined to re-sign with St. Paul for the 1902 season.[31]

Latimer began the 1902 season with the Atlanta Firemen of the Southern Association.[32] In August, he suffered a broken finger,[33][34][35] and was released by Atlanta because he refused to play for half pay while injured.[36] He signed with the Brooklyn Superbas of the National League.[37][38] He played in eight games for Brooklyn, batting 1-for-24 (.042),[39] before Brooklyn's manager, Ned Hanlon, furloughed him for the remainder of the season.[40]

In 1903, Hanlon assigned Latimer to the Baltimore Orioles of the Eastern League.[41][42] Refusing to report, Latimer demanded and received his release.[43][44] Latimer requested a tryout with the Reds, but was turned down.[45] He signed with the Denver Grizzlies of the Western League.[46] He was released by Denver in July,[47] and signed with the Rock Island Islanders of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League.[48] He signed with the Springfield Hustlers of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League for the 1904 season.[49]

Latimer began the 1905 season with the Newark Sailors of the Eastern League[50] and also played for the Norwich Reds of the Connecticut State League, until he was released in August after he refused a pay cut.[51] In 1906, he played for the York Penn Parks,[52] Lancaster Red Roses,[53] and Harrisburg Senators of the Tri-State League.[54] He was released by Lancaster in August,[55] and finished the season with the Cumberland Rooters of the Pennsylvania–Ohio–Maryland League.[56] He signed with Nashville Volunteers of the Southern Association for the 1907 season.[57] He was released by Nashville in May,[58] and finished the season with the Birmingham Barons, also in the Southern Association.[59] He played for the McKeesport Tubers of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League in 1908,[60] but he struggled and was released in July.[61] Latimer was unable to find a team to play for in 1909.[62]

Post-playing career

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During Latimer's playing, he served as a part-time scout for the teams he played for in the minor leagues.[63] He scouted for the Reds while Clark Griffith was their manager, after his playing career ended.[64] Latimer became a full-time scout for the Pirates, and the Society for American Baseball Research has credited him with discovering Bob Vail and George Suggs.[1] He may have also discovered Red Faber,[1] and some contemporary sources credited him with finding Rube Waddell.[2]

Latimer ran for sheriff of Greene County, Ohio, as a Republican in 1918,[65] but lost. In either 1920 or 1921, Latimer became a detective for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Xenia, Ohio.[1]

Criminal

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Latimer served under Charles Mackrodt, a lieutenant with the Pennsylvania Railroad's police. They were friends, until Mackrodt was dismissed from the force. Mackrodt blamed Latimer for his dismissal. On November 26, 1924, Mackrodt confronted Latimer at the main intersection in Xenia, where Mackrodt allegedly threatened Latimer and challenged him to a fight in an alley.[66] When Mackrodt turned away, Latimer shot Mackrodt four times with a .38 caliber revolver, killing him instantly.[67] One bullet struck Mackrodt in the side and three struck him in the back.[68] Latimer surrendered to police at the courthouse, which was across the street, and was charged with first-degree murder. He pled not guilty and was held without bond pending trial.[66][69]

In his trial, which began on December 29, 1924,[68] Latimer claimed that he shot Mackrodt in self-defense, saying that Mackrodt had threatened him previously and had shot at him on a previous occasion.[70] Latimer also claimed that he did not shoot at Mackrodt until he put his hand into his pocket. Mackrodt had been carrying a pocketknife. Among the character witnesses called by the defense was Bob Ewing, a former teammate of Latimer's who was serving as sheriff of Auglaize County.[68]

The jury convicted Latimer of second-degree murder on December 31, 1924, and was sentenced to life in prison at the Ohio State Penitentiary on January 5, 1925.[71][72] He decided not to appeal the verdict.[73] During his incarceration, Latimer was considered a model prisoner. He was made a trusty and managed the prison's baseball team.[1]

Pardon

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On November 8, 1926, a gang of 13 prisoners attacked the guards as they attempted to break out of the Ohio State Penitentiary. Latimer and other trusties assisted the guards with capturing the escaped prisoners.[74][75] On April 21, 1930, a fire broke out that killed 322 prisoners. During the ensuing chaos, Latimer was given a shotgun and he stood guard overnight.[76]

By May 1929, friends of Latimer began petitioning Governor Myers Y. Cooper to pardon Latimer.[1][77] Cooper issued a pardon for Latimer on December 24, 1930.[78]

Later life

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Following his release, Latimer was hired as a night detective in a Cincinnati hotel.[79] He then worked for the Container Corporation of America.[2]

Latimer's first wife, Lottie, filed for divorce in 1926, after 27 years of marriage.[80] They had three children together. He married Mildred Elizabeth Shawan on December 30, 1931, and they had a daughter in 1933.[1]

Latimer died of a heart attack at his home in Loveland on April 24, 1936.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Daly, John. "Tacks Latimer". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Clifford (Tack) Latimer Dies Friday". Xenia Daily Gazette. April 25, 1936. p. 13. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Sporting". The Montgomery Advertiser. April 23, 1895. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "The Stepping Stone: Cliff Latimer, the Former Chillicothe Backstop, is Trying Pretty Hard to Break Into the National League". Chillicothe Gazette. July 29, 1897. p. 4. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Baseball Gossip". The Cincinnati Enquirer. August 2, 1897. p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Coming In". The Cincinnati Enquirer. February 27, 1898. p. 30. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Gossip of the Game". The Courier-Journal. July 10, 1898. p. 14. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Stolen Bases". Buffalo Courier. October 5, 1898. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "1898 New York Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  10. ^ "Sporting Notes". The Fort Wayne News. October 20, 1898. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "The Dayton Team". The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 3, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "White Wash". The Dayton Herald. May 16, 1899. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Notes of the Game". The Fort Wayne Sentinel. July 5, 1899. p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Notes of the Game". The Fort Wayne Sentinel. July 17, 1899. p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Interstate League". Chillicothe Gazette. September 9, 1899. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "1899 Louisville Colonels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "25 Aug 1927". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 30. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Many Notable Baseball Trades In Past Thirteen Years". The Washington Post. February 8, 1914. p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "1900 Pittsburgh Pirates Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "Latimer Released to Syracuse". Pittsburgh Daily Post. May 26, 1900. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Gossip of the Game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. May 30, 1900. p. 5. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Baseball Gossip". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 11, 1900. p. 4. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Brief Sporting Items". New Castle News. July 10, 1900. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "M'Graw In Hopeful Mood: Confident That the American League Will Be Formed". Washington Times. December 13, 1900. p. 8. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Notes of the Diamond". News-Journal. March 23, 1901. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Tacks Latimer 1901 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  27. ^ "Dunn Comes; Latimer Goes". The Baltimore Sun. May 13, 1901. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Baseball Gossip". The Cincinnati Enquirer. December 9, 1901. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Fort Wayne Drops Latimer". The Topeka State Journal. July 3, 1901. p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Western League". Dayton Daily News. July 9, 1901. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Latimer Will Not Sign". The Saint Paul Globe. January 28, 1902. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Popp Comes to Us". Arkansas Democrat. February 6, 1902. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Atlanta Was Easy". The Times. August 3, 1902. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Base Ball Gossip". The Tennessean. August 6, 1902. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "11 Aug 1902, 6". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Baseball Gossip". The Cincinnati Enquirer. August 24, 1902. p. 18. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Giants to Get Three Big Sluggers". The Evening World. August 25, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Brooklyn Almost Won". Times Union. August 26, 1902. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "1902 Brooklyn Superbas Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  40. ^ "Baseball Gossip". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 27, 1902. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "Ordered to Baltimore". The Cincinnati Enquirer. February 8, 1903. p. 10. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Latimer For Baltimore". The Pittsburgh Press. February 9, 1903. p. 10. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "General Sporting Notes". Detroit Free Press. February 20, 1903. p. 10. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "The Sporting Notes". The Fort Wayne News. February 23, 1903. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "The Sporting Notes". Fort Wayne Daily News. March 4, 1903. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Sparkles of the Diamond". The Dayton Herald. March 11, 1903. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "They Want O'Brien". The Daily Times. July 24, 1903. p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Three-I League". The Inter Ocean. July 24, 1903. p. 13. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Tacks a Senator". The Rock Island Argus. November 12, 1903. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ "Right Off The Bat". Buffalo Evening News. April 12, 1905. p. 10. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "Tack Latimer Leaves". Waterbury Democrat. August 4, 1905. p. 9. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "York's New Catcher". The York Dispatch. May 18, 1906. p. 9. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ "York Will Lose Latimer". The York Dispatch. June 2, 1906. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ "From the Dope Box". The Rock Island Argus. July 12, 1906. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "Base Ball Flashes". Altoona Tribune. August 4, 1906. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ "Gossip For The Rooters". The York Dispatch. August 28, 1906. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "Nashville Now Has 14 Players On The Diamond". Nashville Banner. March 12, 1907. p. 9. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "On The Ballfield". Lancaster New Era. May 24, 1907. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "27 May 1907, 2". The Shreveport Journal. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ "M'Keesport Signs Pitcher Alderman". The Daily Telegram. June 24, 1908. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ^ "Two Angels Pass". The Evening Review. July 7, 1908. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ "Tacks Latimer Seeks Place". Herald and Review. March 14, 1909. p. 4. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ "Cliff Latimer Lands Jim Molloy". The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 28, 1904. p. 4. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ "Scouts Are Expensive: Griffith Says Reds Will Have No Regular Man This Year". Altoona Tribune. March 7, 1911. p. 10. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ ""Tacks" Latimer Now Running For Sheriff". Dayton Daily News. August 11, 1918. p. 25. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ a b "Former Rail Policeman Slain By Cliff W. "Tacks" Latimer, Once Noted Baseball Catcher". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 27, 1924. p. 21. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ "Cliff "Tacks" Latimer, Former Baseball Star Kills Ex-Rail Police Head On Street At Xenia". Dayton Daily News. November 26, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ a b c "Ex-Leaguer On Trial For Killing of Former Friend". The Dayton Herald. December 29, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ ""Tacks" Latimer Pleads Not Guilty". The Courier-Journal. December 7, 1924. p. 10. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ^ "C.W. "Tacks" Latimer On Trial For Murder Claims Self Defense". The Times Recorder. December 31, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  71. ^ "'Tacks Latimer To Get Life Term". Oakland Tribune. January 1, 1924. p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ "Life Sentence Given To Former Ball Player". The Owensboro Messenger. January 6, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ^ "Latimer Says He Will Not Appeal Case". Dayton Daily News. January 4, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  74. ^ "Guns Blaze in Penitentiary; Thirteen Flee; Twelve Caught". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 9, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  75. ^ Tracy, M.E. (November 10, 1926). ""Tacks" Earns a Pardon". The Knoxville Sentinel. p. 1. Retrieved March 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  76. ^ "All On Death Row Escape Doom In Fire". Oakland Tribune. Associated Press. April 22, 1930. p. 16. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  77. ^ "Say Latimer May Soon Be Out of Prison". Dayton Daily News. June 1, 1929. p. 14. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  78. ^ "Christmas Clemency Given to Prisoners". Telegraph-Forum. December 24, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  79. ^ ""Tacks" Latimer Gets Job As Hotel Detective". Wilmington News-Journal. April 30, 1931. p. 9. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  80. ^ "Wife Seeking Divorce from Xenia Convict". The Dayton Herald. April 22, 1926. p. 27. Retrieved March 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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