Arthur “Artie” “Circus Solly” Hofman was one of the best utility men in baseball, and a member of four Chicago Cubs teams that went to the World Series. When he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in May of 1912, Bill Bailey of The Chicago American told a story about Hofman, baseball bats and why baseball players are superstitious about them:
“Some fans might think that Artie can hit with most any old stick that comes along, but he himself is very exacting about the one he picks out before he goes up to the plate. There is always a great line of bats laying out in front of the players bench during a game. Most of them are special makes of the big sporting goods companies and most of them are expensive products.”
Bailey said during the 1911 season the Cubs were mired in a mid-season hitting slump:
“And Hofman conceived an idea. He was wandering through a department store in town when he saw a couple of bats on display. They weren’t anything like the kind the Cubs had been using. “
Circus Solly Hofman
Told the bats cost twenty-five cents each Hofman bought dozens of the bats and had them delivered to the West Side Grounds:
“Hofman took one himself and distributed the rest among his teammates…Every man in the lineup used one of Hofman’s bats that afternoon. And they started hitting like demons. Naturally they continued using the cheap bats. And they went on a batting rampage that lasted for a long time. Everybody was slugging the ball. When things like that happen, is it any wonder that the players have their superstitions about bats?”
“Bill Bailey” was the pen name of Bill Veeck Sr., who would become vice-president of the Cubs in 1917, and president of the club in 1919. He, of course, was also the father of Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck.
Bill Veeck Sr./”Bill Bailey”
Hofman’s greatest claim to fame was being the Cubs centerfielder on September 23, 1908. He fielded Al Bridwell’s single that scored Harry “Moose” McCormick, seemingly giving the New York Giants a 2 to 1 victory. It was Hofman, according to umpire Hank O’Day, who realized that Fred Merkle of the Giants, who had been on first base, failed to touch second before leaving the field. “Merkle’s Boner” remains baseball’s most famous base running blunder.
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