June 16th, 1909
On this day, Jim Thorpe made his pro baseball pitching debut for Rocky Mount of the Eastern Carolina League with 4-2 win. His brief baseball career later caused him to forfeit the Olympic gold medals he won in the 1912 for the pentathlon and decathlon.
Apparently Thorpe's crime was to play ball under his own name. College players regularly spent summers playing professionally but most used aliases, unlike Thorpe.
Apparently Thorpe's crime was to play ball under his own name. College players regularly spent summers playing professionally but most used aliases, unlike Thorpe.