Hippo Vaughn

Position: Pitcher
Bats: Both  •  Throws: Left
6-4, 215lb (193cm, 97kg)
Born: April 9, 1888 in Weatherford, TX
Died: May 29, 1966  in Chicago, IL
Buried: Cremated
High School: Weatherford HS (Weatherford, TX)
Debut: June 19, 1908 (3,059th in major league history)
vs. SLB 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 SO, 3 BB, 0 ER
Last Game: July 9, 1921
vs. NYG 3.1 IP, 6 H, 1 SO, 2 BB, 6 ER, L
Full Name: James Leslie Vaughn
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

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Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1908

Donie Bush
Larry Gardner
Frank Baker
Amos Strunk
Buck Herzog
Rube Marquard
Slim Sallee
Hippo Vaughn
Joe Jackson

All-Time Teammate Team

Coming Soon

Notable Events and Chronology for Hippo Vaughn Career

SearchSearch Events, Dates and More Date (Newest)Title (A - Z)

April 14, 1910

In the season opener before 25,000 at New York’s Hilltop Park, the Boston Red Sox sport laced collars, the last major league team to wear a collar

June 26, 1912

The Highlanders send future star Hippo Vaughn to the Senators for the waiver price

August 13, 1913

In a great pickup, the Cubs send P Lew Richie to the Kansas City Blues for Hippo Vaughn.

September 26, 1914

At Fenway Park, the Braves roll over the Cubs, 6 – 2 and 12 – 2. Lefty Tyler tops Hippo Vaughn in the opener, and Otto Hess beats Larry Cheney in the second game. The red hot Braves will sweep the four-game series with the Cubs.

July 18, 1916

In Chicago, with the score tied 4 – 4 in the 10th, umpire Bill “Lord” Byron forfeits a game to Brooklyn when Hippo Vaughn, protesting alleged sign stealing by baserunners, refuses to pitch.

September 9, 1916

Hippo Vaughn and Jimmy Lavender shut out the Pirates, 3 – 0 and 2 – 0, for a Cubs doubleheader victory.

September 19, 1916

Phils ace Grover Cleveland Alexander gives up two runs, both unearned, and loses to the Cubs, 2 – 0. Hippo Vaughn outduels Alex as the Phils fall two games behind Brooklyn.

May 2, 1917

Fred Toney pitches 10 inning no hitter

September 11, 1917

At Wrigley Field, Military Day is celebrated by a double victory for Chicago over the Reds, with Hippo Vaughn credited with both wins. Vaughn starts the opener and retires after an inning with his team ahead by three runs. The Cubs win, 6 – 5, with Vic Aldridge allowing two runs in five innings. Aldridge will eventually get credit for the win and not Vaughn. Vaughn then goes nine innings in the nitecap, striking out nine to win, 5 – 1.

August 8, 1918

Brooklyn tops the Cubs again‚ beating Hippo Vaughn‚ 4 – 1‚ done in by two wild heaves by 3B Eddie Pick. Zach Wheat‚ hit by a pitch once by Vaughn‚ goes hitless to stop his hitting streak at 26. Rube Marquard‚ despite leaving in the 5th with a strained back‚ is the winner. With the Giants losing to the Reds‚ the Cubs stay 6 1/2 ahead.

September 6, 1918

In Game 2 of the World Series‚ Lefty Tyler drives in 2 runs in the Cubs’ 3-run 2nd. The Red Sox get one in the 9th and that’s all the scoring for the day‚ with Tyler beating Joe Bush. The game also features fights between Heinie Wagner and Hippo Vaughn and another involving Les Mann and Bush.

September 7, 1918

On one day’s rest, Hippo Vaughn gives up only seven hits, but Carl Mays wins a 2 – 1 duel

September 10, 1918

1918 – Players on both sides of the World Series threaten to strike unless they are guaranteed $2,500 to the winners and $1,000 each for the losers. They back off, however, when told they will appear greedy while their countrymen are fighting a war. There are no fines, but no World Series rings or mementos are given out this year. On the field, Hippo Vaughncomes back with two days of rest and blanks the Red Sox, 3 – 0, on five hits in Game 5.

November 10, 1930

Veteran pitcher Hippo Vaughn is reinstated by Judge Landis after eight years of ineligibility

July 29, 1988

In the Cubs’ 8 – 3 win over Kevin Gross and the host Phillies, Rick Sutcliffe swipes home, the first pitcher since Pascual Perez in 1984 to steal home. It comes on the front end of a double steal with Mitch Webster. Sutcliffe is the first Cubs pitcher to steal home since Hippo Vaughn in 1919.

June 29, 1990

Dave Stewart and Fernando Valenzuela become first pitchers to throw no-hitters on same day

Biography

He had some good years for the Cubs during a time when they were not always competitive, winning over 20 games in five seasons, including a National League-leading 22 in 1918, when the season was ended a month early due to government restrictions brought about by World War I.

Vaughn was born in Weatherford, Texas. Aside from the unflattering nickname (at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he was only slightly less heavy than 1970s Cubs star Rick Reuschel), he is best remembered for his participation in what the record books used to refer to as a “double no-hitter”. On May 2, 1917, at the ballpark now known as Wrigley Field, Vaughn dueled with Fred Toney of the Cincinnati Reds for nine hitless innings. In the top of the 10th, the Reds scored on a couple of hits after Vaughn had retired the first batter, while Toney continued to hold the Cubs hitless in the bottom of the inning, winning the game for the Reds. With changes to the scoring rules in recent years, this game is no longer considered as a no-hitter for Vaughn; but it is still the only occasion in major league history in which a regulation nine innings was played without either team logging a hit. Vaughn died at age 78 in Chicago, Illinois.

Stabbing incident
Hippo Vaughn was residing in Kenosha, Wisconsin when he was stabbed by his father-in-law at midnight on November 24, 1920, during an argument at the Vaughn home. At the time he was in divorce proceedings with a hearing set in a few days. His wife’s father, former Kenoshan Harry DeBolt who now lived in the east, returned to Kenosha to attend the hearing. Newspaper reports at the time said DeBolt was angered over charges made by Vaughn that his wife had been friendly with other men.

However, James and Mrs. Vaughn had already effected a reconciliation before the case was to be heard. Their 9-year-old son was with them.

As Vaughn was returning to his home he was met on the street by his father-in-law, and an argument followed. DeBolt, according to the police report, slashed at the pitcher with a razor, cutting through his overcoat and inflicting a wound to the stomach. Vaughn was taken to the Kenosha Hospital and was able to leave the facility within a few days. Following the stabbing incident, DeBolt fled the city and was sought by police in several jurisdictions.

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Factoids, Quotes, Milestones and Odd Facts

Played For
New York Yankees (1908-1912)
Washington Senators (1912)
Chicago Cubs (1913-1921)

Awards and Honors
1918 NL Triple Crown

Post-Season Appearances
1918 World Series

Other Resources & Links