bill june july known little center fielder played entire seven year career time majors led national_league stolen bases seasonal leaders offensive categories including home runs batting average noted having combination great speed power especially size inch pound frame considered large era best known retiring baseball prime career married future father law forbade daughter marry baseball player despite short lived marriage refused offers return player successful businessman retirement baseball addition success real estate insurance leading figure major_league_baseball efforts generate interest game worldwide enlisted leading baseball figures day assist establishing leagues european countries eventually compete american teams scouting talent early life born san_francisco california ran away home grammar school live brother washington moved play early 1890s folded return play played season signed major_league career major_league debut april enjoyed successful inaugural major_league season scored times hit home runs runs batted rbis finishing seventh stolen bases batted time batted major_league career field season played second base right field center field start playing center field exclusively following season continued success raising batting average finishing fifth league stolen bases achieved highest league rankings batting average fifth league individual season average chicago cubs history finished second league stolen bases fifth home runs fifth base percentage hit triples scored runs batted rbis notable moments season july stole bases game stolen bases short record seven set game august entered baseball lore feat actually performed game scoreless 10th inning diving catch center field game scoreless later inning chicago baseman attempted field thrown ball baseman bounced broke wrist instead effort hospital adjacent teammates knocked wooden outfield fence journey events confused legend crashed fence making catch tenth finished season batting average stealing bases second league finished eighth league triples success continued season batted scored runs led league stolen bases time career production dropped seasons majors runs scored fell kept batting averages respectively popular career baseball player controversy ejected game occasions occurred field fight second baseman september game umpire called game darkness brooklyn runs chicago player surrounded proceeded knock notably umpire ear retirement finished career october having announced days earlier intention retire season team played day winning losing louisville later day game shortened darkness retired game age prime career marry woman father forbade marry baseball player eyes 19th century public baseball players popular looked low class future wife hometown san_francisco family prospect entering world real estate insurance money ball player marriage ended divorce short time later offers return major_league_baseball despite chicago salary offer highest paid player league career lasted seven years finished decade leader 1890s chicago players batting average base percentage slugging percentage stolen bases post career successful real estate insurance hometown san_francisco retired baseball credited sources person discovered future chicago cubs baseman manager having watched play local california team season recommended chance team owner hart disputed claim saying recommended chance harris owner san_francisco team fall minor league declared organized baseball outlaw league organized baseball accused league players violated reserve clause join number teams league rival established outlaw league signed national agreement organized baseball agreeing harbor banned players national commission decided best way deal situation dissolve outlaw league lifting player create competition known leagues players commission enlisted influence sports editors local area speed process attempt worked successfully lured sacramento california team joining league players soon follow later new_york_giants enlisted chief european baseball scout hoping discover hidden talent market american_league president enlisted chief organizer baseball teams europe mainly england france belgium italy johnson plan evaluate talent establish compete american_league pennant winning team effort generate greater interest game board directors helped fund expedition additionally owner donated worth equipment assist supplying new league died age hometown san_francisco interred california played major_league ball george later gained induction
Bill Lange