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Bob F. Hyatt

Image Robert Fee Hyatt Jr., born November 29th, 1888 in Monticello, AR1 was a collegiate baseball player with the Arkansas Razorbacks and the United State Military Academy.

Biography

Hyatt with Arkansas.
Hyatt with Arkansas.
Robert Fee Hyatt Jr. was the son of Robert Fee Hyatt Sr. and Effie Daniels. He grew up in Monticello, AR before attending the University of Arkansas where he pitched for the baseball team2 . In 1908, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and became a cadet3 . At West Point, Hyatt starred at baseball and was well-recognized as one of the best collegiate players in the country. Very athletic, Hyatt also played football and captained the team in 19114 .

In late 1911, the Detroit Tigers became interested in signing Hyatt to play professional baseball5 . Hyatt, preferring to maintain his amateur status, decided not sign. It was well reported that he would in fact sign after he graduated at West Point in June, 1912, but he apparently never did. This may have been a result of his promotion in the Army upon graduation to the rank of Second Lieutenant. Hyatt went on to have a long career in the military that took him overseas several times. He rose to the rank of Major and fought and in World War I before becoming a Recruit Colonel in Little Rock, AR6

Hyatt married Marguerite Duke in Drew County, AR in 1916. He died on November 8th, 1957 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA7

Excerpts

"Cadet Robert F. Hyatt, of Arkansas, was unanimously elected captain of next year's football eleven yesterday. Hyatt will graduate in 1912, is 21 years old, weighs 164 pounds and in 5 feet 11 inches tall. As a plebe he made the team and has now played three years. Besides football, Hyatt is the star baseball pitcher and has the reputation of being the coolest and hardest man to rattle that West Point has ever had in the box. A sprain early in the season kept him out of football this year until the Yale game, but his generalship in that game was a big factor in the Army's defeat of Yale this year. Another injury deprived the cadets of his services against Harvards."8

"For the first time in the history of major league baseball, if the plan of President Navin of the Detroit team is carried out, a commissioned officer of the United States Army will be enrolled on a pitching staff. Unless plans miscarry, President Navin expects to secure the contract of Pitcher Hyatt of the West Point baseball team next summer. Hyatt was also captain of the 1911 football team. It is said that the athlete wishes to preserve his amateur standing during the remainder of his career as a West Point Cadet. Hyatt pitched several remarkable games for the Army team and has been highly recommended to President Navin."9

"Robert Fee Hyatt, the West Point football and baseball star who will make his bow as a big leaguer with the Detroit Tigers next June, is nothing if not a versatile young soldier. In Eastern collegiate pastiming last summer the Monticello, Ark., athlete was rated the equal of any twirler, and, better still, he performed faultlessly at first and second base, in left field and back of the log during his three years of service for the army nine. Back in 1909 Hyatt cavorted about the initial base when not assigned to duty on the firing line. Breaking into an even dozen games he walloped the pellet for a percentage of .265 and fielded his position without a skip. The following season, Hyatt pitched and on the sundry occasions donned the chest protector. Moreover, when the pinches arose he tried his hand at first and second sacking. In fifteen combats the budding defender of the Stars and Stripes registered a batting mark of .268, while his fielding record footed up to .945. Appearing in fifteen games during the season of 1911 Hyatt held down left field and second base at various times, batting .261, while in the field he earned a rating of .908. As a hurler he shone brilliantly, pitching the Army nine to victory in five contests. Two of his starts resulted in drawn scores, while three times the opposing team put the soldiers to rout. Hyatt will be hte Army's mainstay this year. At the close of the West Point Season he goes to Detroit."10

Gamelog

The following is a gamelog of Hyatt's pitching with Arkansas:



The following is a gamelog of Hyatt's pitching with West Point:


1 Robert Fee Hyatt U.S. Passport Application
2 Kansas City Star, 5/12/1907
3 Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y
4 Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/8/1910
5 Kansas City Star, 12/8/1911
6 1940 U.S. Census
8 Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/8/1910
9 Kansas City Star, 12/8/1911
10 Washington Post, 2/11/1912