Knott, Jack H 1971-10-01

Jack Knott, former pro-baseball player, reviews his career in both the minor and major leagues from 1926 until retirement in 1946, and then describes subsequent jobs as a coach, baseball scout, insurance salesman, and manager of Brownwood Coliseum.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Jack H. Knott

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: October 01, 1971

Location: Brownwood, Texas

Interviewer: Fred Carpenter

Length: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Family background and education, Early baseball participation, Attending Southern Methodist University on scholarship, Joining Dallas Steers baseball team (1926), Contract offer and mother’s objections, Steers’ team members recalled, First games as a pro, Early teammates who became "pros" listed, Traveling conditions.

Tape 1, Side 2: Life on the road (continued), Marriage to Alice Marshall (1927), Courtship and early married life, Release from Dallas Club (1928), Moves to Palestine Club, Joins Los Angeles Club (1928), Anecdote about streetcar, Recalls teammates, Describes 1929 season, Carpenter discusses microfilming scrapbooks, Knott’s employment at insurance company, Release from California team (1930), Move to Milwaukee, in American Association, Help from teammate, Clyde Manion, Recalls team members, Knott’s injuries.

Tape 2, Side 1: 1931 season at Milwaukee Training at Hot Springs, Arkansas First association with major league players Sold to St. Louis Browns (1931 season) 1932 season with Milwaukee Spring training—Palm Beach, Florida Off-season activities described Exhibition games affected by illness Salary (1933) Crowd size (1933) Trouble with kidney stone (1933) Teammates on Browns (1933-1938) Trade to Chicago White Sox (1938) 1934 season described.

Tape 2, Side 2: Developing 2nd base pick-off play Detroit game (1935) Describes 1935 season Spring training (1936) Trade to White Sox Treatments for shoulder Watching World Series (1938) Anecdote about petrified log Describes 1939 season Speeding incident recalled Trade to Philadelphia Athletics (1941) Recalls Connie Mack.

Tape 3, Side 1: Friendship with Sammy West, Connie Mack at death of Mrs. Knott’s mother (1940), Beating pennant winners 5 times, 1941 season plagued by knee injury, 1942 season—coaching pitchers recalled, Induction into Army (1942), Recalls Army years, Reactivated by Philadelphia, Decision to retire (1946), Brief coaching experience at Jersey City (1946), Move back to Brownwood, Scouting for Cincinnati (1946-49), General manager of Austin, Texas, ball club, Selling insurance, Manager of Brownwood Coliseum (1961-1971).

Tape 3, Side 2: Activities of baseball families, Mrs. Knott during early years, Defines a "baseball sadie", Story about Joe DiMaggio, Families and spring training, Pension plan, Comments to young baseball players.

Range Dates: 1926-1971

Bulk Dates: 1926-1971

Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

---

Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.