Billy Hulen
Encyclopedia
William Franklin "Kid" Hulen (March 12, 1870 – October 2, 1947) was a shortstop
in Major League Baseball
. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies
and the Washington Senators
. He stood at 5'8" and weighed 148 lbs.
. He got his start in organized baseball in 1892, for the Los Angeles Seraphs
of the California League. In 1895, at the age of 25, Hulen batted .369 for the Western League's Minneapolis Millers
. He made his major league debut the following season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hulen batted .265 for Philadelphia. He went back to the Western League for the following two seasons and then returned to the National League
in 1899 with the Washington Senators. In 19 games, he batted just .147 and never played in the majors again. Hulen is probably best known for being the last regular left-handed shortstop in MLB history. He also holds the lefty record for the most games played (73 in 1896) at the position.
Hulen played for and managed various minor league teams from 1900 to 1913. He managed future Hall of Famer Joe Tinker
in 1900 and later recommended Tinker to the Western League. In 1904, he managed Everett to a league championship.
Hulen was reported missing in February 1906; he had apparently failed to visit his wife in Oregon
and could not be located. Foul play was suspected. A year later, he was discovered playing baseball under an assumed name in Medicine Hat, Canada, and his wife then filed for divorce
, citing desertion.
Hulen began using his real name again in 1908. He managed in Spokane, Washington
; Medicine Hat; and Regina, Saskatchewan
over the next several years.
Hulen died in Santa Rosa, California
, in 1947. He was buried in Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and the Washington Senators
Washington Senators (1891-1899)
The Washington Senators were a 19th century baseball team. The team was also known as the Washington Statesmen and the Washington Nationals. The team played at Boundary Field....
. He stood at 5'8" and weighed 148 lbs.
Career
Hulen was born in Dixon, CaliforniaDixon, California
Dixon is a city in northern Solano County, California, United States, located from the state capital, Sacramento. The population was 18,351 at the 2010 census. Other nearby cities include Vacaville, Winters and Davis....
. He got his start in organized baseball in 1892, for the Los Angeles Seraphs
Los Angeles Seraphs
The Los Angeles Seraphs were an early minor league baseball team that played in 1892. According to Baseball-Reference Minors, it was the first minor league team to play in Los Angeles, California, USA. They played their home games at Athletic Park....
of the California League. In 1895, at the age of 25, Hulen batted .369 for the Western League's Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
. He made his major league debut the following season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hulen batted .265 for Philadelphia. He went back to the Western League for the following two seasons and then returned to the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in 1899 with the Washington Senators. In 19 games, he batted just .147 and never played in the majors again. Hulen is probably best known for being the last regular left-handed shortstop in MLB history. He also holds the lefty record for the most games played (73 in 1896) at the position.
Hulen played for and managed various minor league teams from 1900 to 1913. He managed future Hall of Famer Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
in 1900 and later recommended Tinker to the Western League. In 1904, he managed Everett to a league championship.
Hulen was reported missing in February 1906; he had apparently failed to visit his wife in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and could not be located. Foul play was suspected. A year later, he was discovered playing baseball under an assumed name in Medicine Hat, Canada, and his wife then filed for divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
, citing desertion.
Hulen began using his real name again in 1908. He managed in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
; Medicine Hat; and Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
over the next several years.
Hulen died in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, in 1947. He was buried in Cypress Hill Memorial Park.