Clark, Lester J.

Lester J. Clark, 78 year old former minor league baseball pitcher, died in the Picher hospital at 5:25 pm Sunday. He had been hospitalized about a week. A resident of the Tri-State district since 1921, Clark was employed by the Eagle-Picher Company until he retired several years ago. While pitching in the Southern association and Texas league from 1904 to 1907, "Old Hickory" as he was known in baseball circles, hurled many tight games, including an 11 inning no- hitter for Houston against Beaumont in the Texas league on June 23, 1905. A newspaper story in a scrap book at his home, 209 South Francis Street, Picher, related how Clark "set a new record in base ball history," but the narrative did not mention the score. Today, the former ball player's wife recalled seeing her husband hurl a 17 inning no hit and no run game for San Antonio in a game with Houston in 1905. The game which ended in a scoreless tie, was called on account of darkness, Mrs. Clark said. A member of the Christian church, Clark also is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Neil Terry of Wichita Kansas, a brother, Bert H. Clark of Gridley Kansas, two sisters, Mrs. Carrie Hyde of Topeka Kansas and Mrs. Alice Elliott of Gridley, and a grandchild. Funeral services will be conducted in the Thomas chapel at 10 am Tuesday. The Rev. O. C. Bean of Quapaw Oklahoma will officiated. Pallbearers will be Walter Rigg, Paul Amphlett, Jerry Fezzell, William Baughman, Paul Johnson and Earl Bowman. Burial will be in the cemetery at Toronto Kansas.