Searching for Jim Thorpe

Native American Jim Thorpe (1887 to 1953) is one of the most versatile athletes in sports history. After winning two gold medals in the 1912 Olympics, starring in collegiate and professional football and participating in professional basketball and major league baseball, he had become a legend and a household name.

He was probably least talented in baseball. In six years in the majors, he hit 7 home runs, knocked in 82 runs and hit .252. During that time he played for the Giants, Reds and Braves.

Most area sports fans know at one time Thorpe was on the roster of the Zanesville Greys, a semi-pro baseball team that played in Putnam. However, at least one article stated he played in Zanesville in 1925 and 1926, while others indicate he was here only in 1925. Finding the truth was much like finding Waldo.

On April 1, 1925, a Times Recorder article listed the team's roster: “The club roll call at present will reveal the following array of ball tossers: Catchers, Reilly and Groves: pitchers, Carmichael, Murphy, Mohney and Griffith: infielders, Walker, Dyer, Silverman, and Purtell: outfielders, Meissner, Everett Nutter, Paul Nutter, Mazenka and Francis.”

Surprisingly, Jim Thorpe was not on the opening day roster. I began to wonder if perhaps local historians had somehow listed the wrong year. Only more research would tell.

Ten days later the TR announced the division of the squad into two teams for an intra-squad contest. Thorpe, an outfielder, was not listed on either squad. On April 23 the TR readers learned that in its first regular season game, Zanesville walloped Twin Cities (Dennison-Uhrichsville) by a score of 14-2. Francis, Zanesville's left fielder, had three hits, including a home run. E. Nutter was in right field, while Meissner roamed the grass in center. Sadly, Thorpe was nowhere to be found.

Continuing to go through each game, box score after box score, I began to think I had more of a chance to locate Waldo than finding the great Native American athlete.. Then, on June 4, I finally hit pay dirt: “Quite a sensation was created in Eastern Ohio League baseball circles yesterday afternoon when the announcement by Manager 'Turk' Reilly that Jim Thorpe, former New York Giant, and probably the greatest all-around athlete who ever lived, had signed a contract to play left field for the Zanesville ball club for the balance of the season. The mighty Indian will perform in the battle with the famous Cuban Stars at Mark Park this afternoon.”

The article continued: “Thorpe's career in baseball has been a varied one and, although not as sensational as his football career, it is still a highly creditable one. He holds the American Association (minor league) record with three home runs in a single game, a record which has been tied but never beaten. He also played with the Giants and with the Boston Braves. He is always a great drawing card on account of his almost phenomenal athletic prowess.”

Although Thorpe was 38-years-old and past his prime, team officials believed he could still play at a high level. Moreover, having such a famous player on the roster would help fill the seats: “A record breaking crowd is expected to turn out this afternoon to see the clash with the Cuban National League champions and many who are not baseball fans will no doubt be in attendance to see the great Thorpe in action. Anyone who knows sport knows and admires America's mightiest athlete for Thorpe ranks with the best in all branches.”

The Greys beat the mighty Cubans by a score of 5-4. Thorpe, batting fourth and playing left field, was hitless in four times at the plate. The TR article said: “Jim Thorpe, great Indian athlete, went hitless in his first game with the Greys but he handled everything that came his way in the field in faultless style. He got a big hand on his first trip to the plate. Only once did Jim see first base-he was hit on the shoulder by a pitched ball in the first and someone (sarcastically) said, 'I bet that hurt that frail little fellow.'”

On June 8, the box score in the Times Recorder showed Thorpe had two hits, including a double, in four official plate appearances. Unfortunately, the Greys fell to Twin Cities by a score of 4-2. The article stated: “Jim Thorpe...drove a long fly to right center that looked like a home run but dropped just inside the fence for the final out (in the seventh inning.)"

According to Pete Cultice, in an article written for the Muskingum Journal, in 31 games Thorpe hit a solid .320. During the last game of the season, he had two hits in four official trips to the plate, including a home run.

The next mystery to be solved was this: Did Thorpe play for the Greys in 1926? A TR article dated 4-17-1926 listed members of the team: “Little fear is felt over the splendid Grey outfield as Dits, Meissner, and Nutt look to be easily the class of the league.” There is no mention of Jim Thorpe.

On April 19 the TR reported on the Zanesville-Newark game, which Zanesville won by a score of 4-0. No Thorpe. On June 1, a box score showed the Greys lost to New Philadelphia by a score of 2-1. Again, no Thorpe. Near the end of the season, on September 4, we see a game was called for the night between New Philadelphia and Zanesville, with the score tied at three. Dilts was in left, E. Nutter was in right, and Meissner played center field. Neither Thorpe nor Waldo was anywhere to be found.

Jim Thorpe, one of the greatest athletes of modern times, played for the Zanesville Greys for part of the 1925 season, but evidently did not return the following year. However, although nearing the age of 39, he played professional football for the Canton Bulldogs in 1926.

Lewis LeMaster is a retired school teacher of the Zanesville area.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Searching for Jim Thorpe