Harold Matthew Betts (June 19, 1881 – May 22, 1946) was a professional baseball

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

in the Major Leagues in 1903 for the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...

and in 1913 for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

. In 1905, a pitcher named Brown signed with the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...

of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

. He was later confirmed to be Harold Betts and to have assumed a pseudonym because of his family's objections to his playing professional baseball. Betts played for the 1913 Reds under the name Fred Betts. It was not until 1985 that the

Society for American Baseball Research The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is a membership organization dedicated to fostering the research and dissemination of the history and statistical record of baseball. The organization was founded in Cooperstown, New York, on Au ...

published researching showing that the two players were the same.

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1881 births 1946 deaths Major League Baseball pitchers St. Louis Cardinals players Cincinnati Reds players Baseball players from Stark County, Ohio Newburgh Taylor-mades players Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players Oakland Oaks (baseball) players Jackson Senators players Yazoo City Zoos players 20th-century American sportsmen {{US-baseball-pitcher-1880s-stub