James Paschal

James H. Paschal, born January 1st, 18761 in Arkansas,2 was a baseball player who received a tryout with the 1899 Cleveland Spiders. He was the brother of Shannon Paschal.

Biography

---

Paschal lived in Little Rock, AR, most his life and frequently participated in amatuer baseball around the city during the 1890s. He may have played professionally as early as 1895,3 but this is not confirmed. In 1899, when the Cleveland Spiders traveled through Little Rock enroute to Hot Springs, AR, Paschal was invited to tryout with the team. He went to Hot Springs and participated in practice games, but was ultimately not signed, primarily as a result of his small physique.4 Cleveland went on to have the worst season in major league history, finishing with a record of 20–134 (.130).

Paschal died on July 22nd, 1905. He was buried in Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock, AR.1

Excerpts

---

"Pat Tebeau and his team arrived here today and are quartered at the Avenue hotel. At Little Rock the party was met by James H. Paschal, an outfielder who played in the Southern League in 1895. He will be given a trial."5

"Paschal, the new man, shows up well in practice and fielders well when the rough condition of the ground is taken into consideration. He is rather light for League company, however."6

"Paschal, the new man from Little Rock, has confined himself, up to date, with fielding. He shows up well on fly and ground hits, using good judgment and covering quite a lot of territory. Whether he can hold his own with the stick remains to be seen."7

"Paschal, who has been at Little Rock since Saturday, returned in time to take part in the game and covered second base for the colts in good style."8

"Jim Paschal, the old Southern Leaguer, is practicing with Tebeau’s men at the Springs. His physique is against him, but he is playing a fast game just the same." 9

"Tebeau is trying out at Hot Springs a young outfielder from the Southern League named James H. Paschal."10

"James Paschal, the outfielder, will undoubtedly be let go. He is hardly heavy enough for the major leagues, but is regarded as good enough for some of the minor organizations."11

"James Paschal is one of the star infielders of the [Little Rock Athletic Association] team, playing short-stop, third base and second base with equal brilliance, and is one of the team's best hitters and base runners. He, too, was a member of the Uncle Joe's and Dickinson Arms. Co. Club."12

"James Paschal, deputy Chancery Court clerk, died last evening at St. Vincent's Infirmary at *:40 after an illness of two months. Mr. Paschal had been at St. Vincent's since Friday, where he had been taken to undergo an operation. The operation was performed yesterday afternoon and at first the patient seemed to rally strongly, but later a relapse came and he passed away. Mr. Paschal was aged 28 years. He was one the best-known young men of the city and was held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends. He served two terms as county assessor, having been appointed to that position on the death of his father, James H. Paschal. After he left that office, he became deputy Chancery Court clerk, which position he held at the time of his death. Besides a wife Mr. Paschal leaves his mother, Mrs. Sallie B. Paschal, two brothers and one sister. The funeral will be held from the residence of his mother, 2015 Arch street, Monday afternoon at 5 o'clock. Interment will be at Mt. Holly."13

"The funeral of James Paschal was held yesterday evening at Twenty-first and Arch streets, and was conducted by Rev. Ben Cox and Dean Robottom. The pallbearers were George McFadden, Roy Griffey, Al Reichardt, Tom Koen, Will Hutton and Ed Hale. An unusually large concourse of people attended the obsequies."14