This article has been written exactly as it appeared in "The Griswold-Phelps Handbook and Guide to Fort Wayne, Indiana (1913-1914). - Published in the NEIBA Line Drives December 2004 Newsletter
The famous Shamrock baseball team, organized in 1897, and in active work every year since that time, is one of the best-known semi-professional teams in the middle states. As the oldest semi-professional team in Indiana, it enjoys the distinction of having developed more players for league baseball than any other semi-pro team in the state. Among the men who have graduated from the Shamrocks to league ball are the following: George Tieman (South Bend, Central League), Bill Hillinger (Zanesville, Central League and New York
State League), Purl Larue (South Bend and Grand Rapids, Central League), Mox Harrod (Danville,IL, Three-I League), Ted Kaylor (Danville,IL, Three-I League), Jack Smith (Ft. Wayne, Inter-State League), George Nill (Washington and Cleveland, American League), Jess Remser (Detroit, American League), Max Carey (Pittsburgh, National League).
During the year following its organization, the Shamrocks were members of the Robison Park
League whose president was Louis Heilbroner (then manager of Robison Park and now president of the Central League). The team won second place during the first year but on the
following year carried off the pennant having lost but one game during the entire season. A gold medal was awarded to each player of the team.
The leading spirit in the success of the Shamrocks is its manager from the beginning, Martin J Cleary, a businessman whose love of the game has provided Fort Wayne with excellent baseball at all times, whether the city was represented in league ball or not. The team has always been the pride of Fort Wayne because it has been composed largely of young men whose homes are here and who played for the love of the sport, mingled with a feeling of
home pride. Among the original players were Clifford J. Moran, "Johnny" Wolf, Eugene Nolan,
"Tom" Quinn, Hugh Hogan and "Jonny" Falvey.
The personnel of the 1913 team is as follows: Hofer, c; Robbins, p; Benoy, p; Blakey, p; Lou McKee, ss; Koons, lb; Chambers, 2b; Wares, 3b; Smith, If; Al McKee, cf; Watt, rf; Loraine, utility; captain Jack Smith; Cleary, Jr., mascot. After serving sixteen years as manager of the Shamrocks, M. J. Cleary resigned in November, 1913, and was succeeded by William Hillinger. The team has played in the states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky, and many warm battles have been fought on diamonds in the cities of Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, Newport (Ky.),and Dayton. While on out-of-town trips, Manager Cleary's keen baseball eye has picket out several embryo league players in the teams opposing the Shamrocks. Said one of his friends to the compiler of this book: "Mart Cleary is a born baseball scout.He never received a cent for the selection of players for the big leagues, nor did he expect reward, but his judgment always proved to be good, and if the same work had been performed by a professional scout he would have received no less than $10,000 for the services rendered." Among the men selected
by Mr. Cleary who have risen high in baseballdom are: Winnie Osborn, Philadelphia Nationals, picked up at Tiffin, Ohio; "Ves" Maggert, Philadelphia Athletics and Pittsburgh Nationals, picked up at Garrett, Ind.; Jack Hardy, Washington Americans, New York Nationals and Montreal Internationals, discovered at Paulding, Ohio; Harry Clark, captain of Milwaukee American Association team, earlier with Chicago, American league, discovered at Paulding, Ohio; "Chesty" VanAnda, Fort Wayne Central league, from Paulding, Ohio.
In 1912, a Trolley Baseball league, representing twelve cities was formed, Ft. Wayne being
represented by the Shamrocks, Martin J. Cleary, manager. The close of the season found Hicksville, Ohio, in first place; Auburn, Ind., 2nd; and Fort Wayne, 3rd. The 1913 league was composed of Ft. Wayne, Auburn, Hicksville, Kendallville, Columbia City and Monroeville. Jack Smith was captain of the 1913 Shamrock team. The 1913 baseball season was closed in August.
Editors Note: The Fort Wayne Shamrocks were organized in 1897 and remained active until they disbanded in 1918. They played their home games at "Old" League Park and with the exception of the above two mentioned leagues, preferred to play as independents.
With roots back to the 1940's, the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association (NEIBA) works to celebrate baseball in Fort Wayne. The organization hosts an annual Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet and publishes a quarterly publication, Line Drives. Learn more about the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association on their website.