Harry Bay

Harry Bay
Harry Bay
	old-timers' game in 1921
	Outfielder
	Born: January 17, 1878; Pontiac, Illinois, U.S.
	Died: March 19, 1952 (aged 74); Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
	Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
	July 23, 1901, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
	May 3, 1908, for the Cleveland Naps
MLB statistics
Batting average	.273
Home runs	5
Runs batted in	141
Stolen bases	169
Teams
	Cincinnati Reds (1901–1902); Cleveland Bronchos/Naps (1902–1908);
Career highlights and awards
	2× AL stolen base leader (1903, 1904);

Harry Elbert "Deerfoot" Bay (January 17, 1878 – March 19, 1952)

Cleveland Bronchos/Naps

.

Early life

He attended Peoria High School, winning medals in the 1896 and 1897 Illinois High School Association state track and field meets. He played high school baseball with Harry Frazee, a future owner of the Boston Red Sox.

After high school, he was on a barnstorming team in the Midwest that featured star pitcher Joe McGinnity, but Bay also attracted attention, signing a professional contract in 1898 with a team in Lincoln, Illinois. Bay acquired two nicknames; "Deerfoot" referred to his speed, and "Sliver" was a reference to his 5-foot-8-inch (1.73 m), 138-pound (63 kg) frame.^[2]

Career

By 1901, Bay was in the major leagues with the Cincinnati Reds. In May 1902, Bay was released by the Reds and signed by the Cleveland Bronchos. He led the

stolen bases

in 1903 and 1904 with 45 and 38 respectively as a member of the Cleveland Naps.

Bay had a .301

bases on balls. He recorded a .968 fielding percentage

playing at all three outfield positions.

Bay played cornet and piano, and during his playing career he sometimes appeared in concerts and skits.[3]

After baseball

After retiring from baseball in 1908, he returned to Peoria, became a bandleader at the local Apollo Theater, and toured the vaudeville circuit with Guy Kibbee. He later worked for the Peoria fire department and the Illinois Secretary of State.^[1]

In February 1952, Bay slipped while walking on ice and broke several ribs. He died a few weeks later.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Harry Bay". Peoria, Illinois: Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, Inc. 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
^ ^a ^b Simpson, John. "Harry Bay". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ""Deerfoot" Harry Bay dies; early theft champ of A.L." The Sporting News. April 2, 1952.