Harry Von der Horst facts for kids
Harry Von der Horst (around 1850 – July 28, 1905) was a very important person in early American baseball. He was an owner and leader for two famous teams: the Baltimore Orioles and the Brooklyn Superbas. He helped shape baseball in the late 1800s.
Quick facts for kids
Harry Von der Horst
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Von der Horst in the 1899 Spalding Guide
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| Born | 1850/1851 |
| Died | July 28, 1905 |
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| Partner(s) | Brooklyn: Charles Ebbets, Ferdinand Abell, Ned Hanlon |
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Contents
Harry Von der Horst: A Baseball Pioneer
Harry Von der Horst was a key figure in the early days of Major League Baseball. He was an owner and executive, which means he helped run and make big decisions for baseball teams. His work helped shape how professional baseball grew in the late 1800s.
Leading the Baltimore Orioles
Von der Horst was one of the main people who started and owned the 19th-century Baltimore Orioles team. Under his leadership, the Orioles became one of the best teams in baseball. They won the National League championship three times in a row: in 1894, 1895, and 1896. They also won the Temple Cup in 1896 and 1897. The Temple Cup was a special championship series played between the top teams of that era.
The Move to Brooklyn
Later, the Baltimore Orioles team started to face challenges. Harry Von der Horst found a clever way to keep the team's spirit alive. He helped arrange a merger, or combination, with the Brooklyn team. This deal allowed him to become a significant owner of the new Brooklyn team, which became known as the Brooklyn Superbas.
He also made sure that his trusted manager from Baltimore, Ned Hanlon, was hired to lead the Brooklyn Superbas. This shows how much influence Von der Horst had in baseball at the time.
His Legacy in Baseball
The Brooklyn Superbas continued to be very successful under their new ownership. They won two more National League championships in 1899 and 1900. Even after Harry Von der Horst sold his ownership share in the team, he stayed involved. He worked as the club's secretary until he passed away in 1905 at the age of 54. Harry Von der Horst's efforts helped build some of baseball's most historic teams.
