The Post-Journal

Death Claims Jack Harper

Former Big League Pitcher Dies at 72

 

Charles W. (Jack) Harper, 72, of 4 Hall Avenue, a former big league pitcher, died at the Jamestown General Hospital at 6:17 A.M. today.

He was born at Galloway near Franklin Pa., on April 2, 1878 and resided here for the past 42 years. Mr. Harper’s big time baseball career started with Cleveland of the old American Association in 1899, two years before the present American League was formed. He later hurled for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds.

He broke Branch Rickey, Sr., later to become a baseball mogul and until recently president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, in as a catcher. Harper was the first major league player to share in his own sale money, pressing the then considered hard bargain and making it stick when he was put on the auction block by the Reds.

Mr. Harper moved to Western New York many years ago. For a time he operated the Rapid Transit Company here until 1937. He later purchased the old Murray Grill and operated it until 1945.

After a few years retirement he secured operational rights to a gas station and store on Fairmount Ave. He dropped the lease, however, just recently because of illness.

He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul’s Roman Catholic Church.

Surviving are his wife, Mary E. Dockery Harper; a niece, Mrs. Hazel Stainbrook of Titusville, Pa.; two nephews, Fred Harper Jr. of Erie Pa. and Guy Harper of Franklin, Pa. Daughter, Mrs. Virginia Harper Dahlstrom died March 28, 1928.

The body is at the Garrity Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held from SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church at 10 A. M. Tuesday. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.


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