MLB Forgotten Stars: Remembering Paul Hines

Paul Hines was one of the early stars in Major League Baseball, but is essentially forgotten these days.

Born on this day in 1852, Paul Hines was a star seemingly from the moment he set foot on a major league diamond. He broke into the majors in 1872, a 17 year old outfielder with the Washington Nationals of the National Association. He was the second youngest player in the majors that season, as teammate Jacob Doyle was 16 years old in his only major league season.

Unlike Doyle, who left the majors following his nine game stint, Hines continued his career in baseball. Despite being one of the youngest players in the league, he began to blossom as one of the earliest stars in the game. By 1875, Hines had proven himself to be an offensive force, although he was just 20 years old.

With the National Association dissolving after the 1875 campaign, Hines moved on to the Chicago White Stockings, as the Cubs organization was first named. He led the league with 21 doubles, and was a part of the first National League champions. Hines produced a .331/.333/.439 batting line that year, with his 21 doubles and three triples. He was also a drawing card, as his good looks and penchant for wearing a tight uniform top brought women to the ballpark.

Following a down season in 1877, Hines moved on to the Providence Grays. It was at that point that his star would ascend, as he became arguably the best player in the majors. Hines won the first Triple Crown in MLB history that year, leading the league with a .358 batting average, four homers, and 50 RBI. However, as he was listed as the runner up in the batting chase, behind Abner Dalrymple, for years, his accomplishment was not realized until years later.

Paul Hines also had another debated first that year. On May 8, in the eighth inning, Jack Burdock hit a soft fly ball that the shortstop, Tom Carey, was unable to reach. Hines, after a long run, caught the fly ball and stepped on third base, getting the out on Jack Manning, who had been on third. From there, the accounts vary. The most widely accepted story is that Hines then threw to second to put out Ezra Sutton for the third out. However, Hines, as well as the retelling in the Providence Journal the following day, stated that both baserunners had been heading home, indicating that Sutton had rounded the bag as well.

He continued as a solid player after that impressive 1878 campaign. Hines won another batting title in 1879, and led the league with 146 hits. He would lead the league in doubles twice more, doing so in 1881 and 1884. While Old Hoss Radbourn received the majority of the attention for pitching virtually every game of the season down the stretch, Hines produced as well, putting together a .302/.360/.435 batting line. In the World Series that year, he had two hits and three walks in his 11 plate appearances, stealing two bases.

The only player to be a part of the Providence Grays for every season in their history, Hines bounced around the league after the Grays dissolved. He went back to another incarnation of the Washington Nationals for two years, then was traded to the Indianapolis Hoosiers. The Hoosiers dissolved after the 1889 season, with Hines moving on to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. After 31 games in Pittsburgh, he signed with the Boston Beaneaters for the rest of the season. In 1891, he signed with yet another Washington organization, the Statesmen of the American Association, to finish out his career.

Statistically, Hines was one of the best players of the 19th century. At the time he retired, his 7062 at bats were second only to Cap Anson. He produced a career .302/.340/.409 batting line, with 2133 hits, 399 doubles, and 93 triples. His 2133 hits trailed only Anson and Jim O’Rourke. Yet, because of his career occurring so long ago, and in an era when teams routinely played fewer than 100 games, Hines failed to receive much, if any, consideration for the Hall of Fame.

Following his playing career, Hines ended up working in the Post Office of the Department of Agriculture. However, in 1922, at 65 years old, Hines was arrested for three counts of pickpocketing. When the police searched his home, they found numerous purses, pocketbooks, and 25 pairs of glasses. As he had been considered an honest, upstanding player who had many friends in the police department, these charges were a surprise.

Hines passed away at 80 years old in Hyattsville, MD. He had been deaf and blind for years at the time of his passing, his deafness caused by being hit in the head with a pitch in 1886. That beaning had impaired his hearing for years prior to his deafness.

Paul Hines was one of the biggest stars in the majors during his playing days. However, at this point, he is one of the forgotten stars, relegated to the dustbin of history.