Roy Hartzell

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Roy Hartzell

|image=Roy Hartzell 2163488524 75e200a610 o.jpg

|position=Infielder / Outfielder

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1881|7|6}}

|birth_place=Golden, Colorado, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1961|11|6|1881|7|6}}

|death_place=Golden, Colorado, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 17

|debutyear=1906

|debutteam=St. Louis Browns

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=July 25

|finalyear=1916

|finalteam=New York Yankees

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.252

|stat2label=Runs batted in

|stat2value=397

|stat3label=Stolen bases

|stat3value=182

|teams=

St. Louis Browns ({{mlby|1906}}–{{mlby|1910}})
New York Highlanders / Yankees ({{mlby|1911}}–{{mlby|1916}})

|highlights=

}}

Roy Allen Hartzell (July 6, 1881 – November 6, 1961) was an American professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1906 to 1916.

Hartzell started his career with the St. Louis Browns (now known as the Baltimore Orioles), and was later traded to the New York Highlanders (also now known the New York Yankees) for two other players, Jimmy Austin and Frank LaPorte.

Early life

Hartzell was born on July 6, 1881, in Golden, Colorado. His parents were James and Nellie Hartzell, who were both from Illinois. James G. Hartzell was an American Civil War veteran who died and was buried in California. He had two brothers, Lester and Harry.

Hartzell played baseball and football in the Denver area. He worked in the smelters in Montana before signing with the pros. He later married Ella Stebbins in Philadelphia in April 1911.

Major Leagues

Hartzell was 24 years old when he played his first game in the big leagues on April 17, 1906, with the St. Louis Browns. He played many positions including at second base, third base, shortstop, and in the outfield in each of his 11 seasons of baseball.

Hartzell played in 1,290 games with a lifetime batting average of .252. His last MLB game was on July 25, 1916. He signed on to play for the 1917 Toledo Iron Men of the American Association.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/12/27/archives/toledo-signs-hartzell-former-yankee-captain-to-cover-third-bag-for.html|title=Toledo Signs Hartzell; Former Yankee Captain to Cover Third Bag for American Team|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 27, 1916|accessdate=November 25, 2011}}

Accomplishments

On July 12, 1911 when Hartzell was the cleanup hitter, he hit a 3-run double and another double in the same inning, then added a sacrifice fly and a grand slam, driving in a total of 8 runs. It was a Major League Baseball record until Jimmie Foxx hit 9 runs batted in during a game in 1933.

Hartzell's 595 at-bats for the Browns led the American League in 1909, and his 91 RBI for New York in 1911 were the most by a player in the Yankees' first 13 years.