Hays Copeland

Hays Copeland, born August 31st, 1913 in Mountain View, AR,1 was a professional baseball player from 1934-1935. He was the twin brother of Mays Copeland.

Biography

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During his time in the minors, Copeland displayed the unique ability to play both pitcher and catcher.

Copeland died on November 19th, 1989 in Louisiana.2 He was buried in Mimosa-Pines South Cemetery in Carlyss, LA.3

Excerpts

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"Hays Copeland, catcher, was among the 17 players released last week [by the Western League Springfield club], but his twin brother, Mays, a pitcher, remains."4

"For the first time since 1918, when Clarence and Claude Jonnard played together with Nashville in the Southern Association, Organized Baseball may see twins on the same club next season, with Springfield in the Western Association. They are Mays and Hays Copeland, who look almost as much alike as their first names sound alike. One of them Mays doesn't have to convince anyone that he will stick around after the pruning period, for his fine work on the mound the past season stamped him as a comer. His twin also tried out with the Springfield Cardinals last spring, but didn't make the grade. However, he is convinced that he will stay next season. Hays can play anywhere, but has performed mostly behind the bat. Mays, however, thinks his brother should be a pitcher. It will be up to the Cardinal staff of coaches to decide where Hays belongs next spring, although it would be a unique combination if Springfield could turn out a twin battery. Mays, who spent the entire season with Springfield for his first year in Organized Ball, is on the right in the above picture. Looking, walking, talking and performing exactly alike, the Copeland twins comprise one of the strangest pairs in the game. They are both redheads. One weighs 174 pounds and the other 178. Even close friends cannot tell them apart. The boys were born and reared in Mountain View, Ark., where their parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Copeland, now reside. Unlike most promising players, they played no sand-lot ball in their early youth. They knew practically nothing about the game when they began playing with the Mountain View team two years ago, but both developed rapidly. Hays is the kind of utility player every manager dreams about. He can play any position and is a good hitter. When the Copelands began their baseball careers, Hays was the pitcher and Mays the catcher. Later, the order was reversed. While playing together on the Mountain View club in 1932, Hays was by far the better batter and frequently batted for both himself and his brother, with the umpires, opposing players and fans blissfully ignorant of the switch."5

"Hays Copeland, twin brother of Mays Copeland of the Springfield Western Association club, has been signed by the Memphis Chicks of the Southern Association. If he makes good, it will break up the novel battery combination Springfield expected to have this season. Hays is a catcher, while his brother is a pitcher."6

"Hays Copeland, young catcher from Mountain View, Ark., obtained from the Springfield Western Association club by the Memphis Chicks, has been optioned to the Tyler West Dixie League club."7

"Red Copeland put aside the catching mask for Tyler, May 21, and going to the mound in a relief role, proved he was almost as good a pitcher as he is a receiver. He gave Palestine only two hits in four and one-third innings and received credit for the 10 to 7 victory."8

Stats

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Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.