Joshua Mercer “Jot” Goar had one good minor league season.
Born in 1870 in New Lisbon, Indian, Goar’s early career is mostly unknown, although he appears to have pitched for the Muncie club in the Indiana State League in 1890 and for a variety of semi-pro teams in that state during the early 90s. In one version of a story I told in January (“Remarkable Baseball Stunt”), “Baseball Magazine” identified Goar as the pitcher who gave up six hits in one inning without a run scoring in an Indiana State League game versus Anderson.
Goar was signed by the Toledo Swamp Angels in the Western League in 1895 (the team would relocate to Terre Haute, Indiana during the season). While his numbers don’t look impressive, 13-19 with a 3.38 ERA and 345 hits in 288 innings, Goar was called “The best twirler in the Western League,” by The Sporting Life, and quickly became a highly sought after prospect. Goar also hit .273 as a part-time outfielder.
His manager Denny Long told Indiana papers that Cap Anson “offered him a neat sum,” to sell Goar to Chicago. Instead, the pitcher was purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates; The Anderson Herald said Pittsburgh paid $3,200 for Goar:
“Jot Goar, considered the greatest find in the Western League this year…is looked upon to be one of (the Pirates) mainstays for next year.”
Gore joined Connie Mack’s Pirates in Hot Springs, Arkansas in the spring of ’96 and made the team; he made his debut with the team on April 18, pitching in relief in a 7-2 victory over the Louisville Colonels. Gore struggled in three games with the Bucs, he allowed 25 earned runs on 36 hits and eight walks in 13 1/3 innings, losing his only decision, and was sold to the Grand Rapids Rippers in the Western League on May.
Jot Goar
No statistics survive for Goar’s 1896 season in Grand Rapids, but a mention of Goar in The New York American two years later said he had “deserted Grand Rapids,” at some point during the season. Goar joined the Indianapolis Indians in 1897, and with a 25-9 record and a 1.39 ERA led the Indians to the Western League championship. Goar was again highly sought after and his contract was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds.
Goar spent the winter refusing to sign a contract along with Frank “Noodles” Hahn, who had also pitched in Western League in 1897; the Cincinnati Enquirer said both players were asking for $1,800. Goar finally signed in February, but the salary he settled upon was not reported, The Mansfield Daily Shield said:
“Jot Goar has signed his Cincinnati contract and expects to play good ball this season.”
In March The Sporting News said:
“Jot Goar is showing more speed than any of the Reds pitchers.”
Goar did not live up to the expectations. He hurt his arm in his first and only appearance; a two-inning mop up in an 11-5 loss to the Pirates, giving up, four hits, three runs, two earned, and a walk.
Pittsburgh Sports writer John Henry Gruber said Goar went to Reds manager Buck Ewing after the game “and at his own request was laid off until such time as he could get in shape.”
Goar returned to Indiana and for the remainder of 1898 and all of ’99 he managed and played first base for an independent team in his hometown in New Lisbon, that fall his team took part in a ballpark riot. The Indiana State Journal said:
“The game of baseball between the Shamrock and Jot Goar teams on the Hagerstown grounds Sunday broke out in a riot. Fists, clubs and stones were freely used and practically everyone who attended received some kind of injury. The trouble arose over a decision of the umpire, who was Councilman John Geisler of Hagerstown.”
Gore began pitching again 1900 for the Indianapolis Hoosiers in the American League posting a 7-2 record in 10 games; he also played for the Western Association Hoosiers the following year, but there are no surviving records.
Goar returned again to New Lisbon, vowing that his pro career was not over, and accepted the position of postmaster and opened a general store while continuing to play for the local team. In 1904, The Sporting Life noted that he was still pitching in Indiana:
“Jot Goar, the old Cincinnati and Toledo pitcher, was doing things with the Connersville, Indiana team this season. He pitched seven games for that club, six of which he won, the other being a 12-inning tie. Only five runs were scored in the seven games, and he struck out seventy batters or an average of 10 a game.”
Goar gave up baseball after 1906. He accidentally shot himself in the arm while hunting in 1907, and his general store burned to the ground, the 1911 “Reach Guide” said:
“His place of business was completely ruined by a disastrous fire, which practically destroyed the business section of (New Lisbon).”
He rebuilt the store which he operated until 1921; Jot Goar died in 1947 at 77.
Baseball History Daily 