Henry H. Diddlebock, a well known sporting writer, for many years prominently identified in baseball matters in one capacity and another, died Feb. 6 in Philadelphia, Pa. He was born June 27, 1854, in that city, was graduated from the senior class of a German school when sixteen years of age, and afterwards took a diploma at Pierce's Business College. Like the majority of the Quaker City youngsters, he learned to play ball at an early age, and, although connected with several amateur teams, he never played professionally. He was vice-president of the National Asociation of amateur clubs in 1876, and was also the manager of the Philadelphia team, an independent organization...After playing a number of games around home, Manager Diddlebock took his team on a Western trip, beginning June 6 and ending July 1. Mr. D. resigned on July 3, and made the announcement that he was desirous of engaging as manager of one of the international clubs then in existence. While he was looking around for some congenial occupation he was offered a chance to do city work on The Philadelphia item and he occupied it. In 1877 he worked on The Philadelphia Press, and while connected with that paper he did a great deal toward keeping the national game alive in the Quaker City, and became one of the leading writers in the country on baseball. In 1880 he joined the Times staff. Early in March, 1883, while an attache of the Tax Office, in Philadelphia, Mr. Diddlebock was appointed official scorer of the Philadelphia Club, of the National League. When the Eastern League was organized at a meeting held Jan. 3, 4, 1884, at Philadelphia, he was elected secretary and treasurer, positions he held until the Fall of 1885. In 1884 he was appointed to the position of sporting editor of The Philadelphia Times, which position he held until March, 1889, when he resigned to accept a similar position on The Philadelphia Inquirer. In the Fall of 1890 he tried to organize a Pennsylvania League but met with poor success. A special meeting was held March 5, 1891, at Philadelphia, when only three clubs were represented. President Diddlebock suggested that the name be changed to Inter-State League and take in outside clubs, but the scheme did not work, as a new organization was formed March 12, at Reading, and was named the Atlantic Association...In January, 1896, he was engaged by President Von der Ahe to manage the St. Louis Browns, but his sojourn in the Mound City was not a pleasant one and he soon drifted back to his native city, where he again found employment on The Inquirer, and continued with that paper until his death occurred as above stated. Mr. Diddlebock was a hard worker and an energetic newsgatherer. He was well versed in sports and a good writer, his reports of events, but especially baseball games, being interesting and graphic. Being widely known, especially among sportsmen of all classes, he naturally had a large circle of friends, to whom the news of his death will be a great shock...
-New York Clipper, February 17, 1900
Harry Diddlebock is pictured above with the 1896 Browns and here's a better look at the man:
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