Kistler’s Record
lie liit more homerims during
his llirei» years al lluke than any
other player in the history of
college sports.
В;/
H. W. (“CAP”) CARO
LAST year I sent in the great record
of George Byarn, the second base-
■man who hit 12 home runs in the
Inst t h ree years of varsity play. I
referral to hint as the "I lome Run
King” n« a part of this scries I have
been writing on the ‘‘kings” of college
sport s over the years I have watched
them.
Ted Mann, the genial and efficient
former Duke sports publicist, now a
lieutenant in the Navy, wrote me that
as well as he could recollect Henry
Kistler had hit more than 12 home-
run' during his three years at Duke
and suggested that I go through his
files and check up ou
К
is tier’s record.
With the help of
Л. Л.
Wilkinson,
we wont through Ted’s record hook
and found that Kistler was the real
“Homorun King.” for he hit 15 dur¬
ing the years of 1928-29-30. He also
hit 20 doubles and 10 triples.
So on the broad and powerful
shoulders of the “Big Train." as his
teammates called him, rests this
honor. Byatu, however, still has his
claim to fame in that his three home-
runs in a single game still stands
and in addition to this he hit 16
doubles and 10 triples which is some
slugging in any man's league.
“Big Train” Kistler also won fame
as a football tackle. He was a smil¬
ing and good-natured fellow hut when
he donned his football or baseball togs
and went to war on the gridiron or
diamond, all the opponents looked
alike to him and he asked no favors
from any player.
Opposing teams that know his power
always played their infield out on
the gra>- hoping to hold him to a
-ingle. To pull an infield in on
Kistler was a great responsibility for
the opposing coach— he was taking the
risk of getting one of his players
knocked out. Ted Mann said that he
saw
К
i -tier hit a grounder so hard
that it knocked the glove right off the
infielder who went after it.
Kistler played first base, with
Dayton Dean at second, Bill Werber
at short. “Boley” Farley at third. Big
Nick Warren behind the bat and Lefty
Jenkins on the mound, and that was
the greatest infield I have ever seen
during my many years at Trinity Col¬
lege and Duke University.
To finish that team out. Bed Mur¬
ray was in left field. Little Adams
in center and Hawkins and Rochelle
in right. Yes. that is my greatest ball
club and that was the season of
192!».
Kiel tor's home run record is tabu¬
lated as follows:
1928— April 19, one against North
Carolina; May 5. one against North
Carolina.
1929 — March 31, one against Uni¬
versity of Pennsylvania ; April 2, one
against University of Pennsylvania;
April II. one against Wofford; April
13, two against Washington and Lee;
April 27, one against North Carolina;
Mav 13, one against Washington and
Lee.
1930 — April 5, one against Navy;
April 22, one against Georgia; April
29, one against Villa Nova; May 7.
two against Virginia; May 17, one
against North Carolina.
The “Big Train" signed with the
Cincinnati Reds following his gradua¬
tion and spent a couple years in the
Three I League. Ho was doing very
well too, although hampered at times
by an old knee injury.
Just after ending a fine season with
Peoria, Kistler decided to give up
baseball and go into business.
lie has a husky looking youngster,
Henry, Jr., who will he eleven years
old in April and tips the scales at 150
lbs. He is headed toward Duke and
may turn into the athlete his father
was although that is a right big as¬
signment.
When Henry Kistler (right hand
hitter) and George Byam (left hand
hitter) blasted out 27 homoruns. 20
triples, and 36 two baggers, those two
Duke stalwarts left a slugging record
that will stand the test for ages. They
hit for 240 extra base*.
“Big Train” Kistler, Duke Uni¬
versity football and baseball star,
who could hit a ball so hard it would
knock the mitt off of an infielder.
Opposing teams had to protect their
infields by playing them out on the
grass. •
з