Belden Hill

Belden L. Hill

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10" Weight 170 lb.

• Debut August 27, 1890
• Final Game September 4, 1890
• Born August 24, 1864 in Kewanee, IL USA
• Died October 22, 1934 in Cedar Rapids, IA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Belden Hill was the father of baseball in Cedar Rapids." - from a 2007 minorleaguebaseball.com article about baseball in Cedar Rapids

Belden Hill appeared in 9 games for the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association in 1890. The Orioles that year played only 34 games. In 1891 he suffered a broken leg and that ended his major league career.

He was known as "Beldie" and played for Santa Fe in 1888.

He helped to start the Cedar Rapids club in 1891, managed them from 1897-1908 and afterwards continued to have a role in their affairs. He came back to manage them again in 1913 and 1914. They were a top team during some of that tenure. The team's ballpark was named after him. He was a cigar wholesaler and part owner of the team. His brother Hugh was president of a minor league team in Kewanee, IL. Sources: Hill and Cedar Rapids

Smoky Joe Wood tried to catch on with the Cedar Rapids team in 1907 as a position player but Hill was "full up" with infielders and gave his contract free of charge to the manager of Hutchinson.

He was president of the Mississippi Valley League in 1925-1926 and 1928-1931.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish
1897	Cedar Rapids Bunnies	Western Association	84-41	1st League Champs
1899	Cedar Rapids Bunnies	Western Association	22-14	3rd	League disbanded June 16
1900	Des Moines Hawkeyes	Western League	59-45	2nd
1901	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Three-I League	67-45	3rd
1902	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Three-I League	64-55	3rd
1903	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Three-I League	60-60	5th
1904	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Three-I League	70-52	2nd
1905	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Three-I League	63-61	5th
1906	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Three-I League	79-43	1st League Champs
1907	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Three-I League	72-61	5th
1908	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Three-I League		--	replaced by Ted Price
1913	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Central Association	59-65	6th
1914	Cedar Rapids Rabbits	Central Association	64-60	5th

Hill also managed at Cedar Rapids(WA) in 1896. W. "Buck" Ebright was the original manager being replaced by Hill. Hill also managed the 1898 Cedar Rapids(WA) franchise which was omitted here.