Harry Lord Papers

Harry Donald Lord was born in Kezar Falls, Maine, in 1882. He began playing baseball as a child, and eventually starred at Bridgton Academy in both baseball and football. He entered Bates College in 1904, again playing both football and baseball. Intent on studying for a legal career, he soon, in his words, "settled down to study baseball." Staying at Bates for only one year, he left and began playing for semi-pro teams in the Portland, Maine, area, before signing to play for the Worcester Busters professional team in the New England League in 1906. In 1907 he played for the Providence Grays in the Eastern League, before catching the eye of the Boston Americans (soon to become the Red Sox) in the American League. Debuting in 1908, he quickly became one of the best third basemen in the game, noted for his hitting, defense, and fiery competitive nature on the field. Traded to the Chicago White Sox during the 1910 season, Lord continued to star for the next three seasons. In 1914, after numerous disagreements with club management, he asked for and was granted his release. The following year, 1915, he joined the "outlaw" Federal League, signing with the Buffalo Buffeds (later the Buffalo Blues). One week after signing, he also became the team's manager, and turned around a slumping team so much so that the club held a "Harry Lord Day" for him in August. After the league folded that fall, Lord essentially retired from Major League Baseball, being blacklisted by the Major League for jumping to the Federal. He continued to play and manage in the Eastern League for the next few years, through 1918.

After retiring from professional baseball for good he operated a grocery store in South Portland for some years, while living in Cape Elizabeth. He also served for a time in the Maine House of Representatives, and became a co-owner of a local coal business. He kept his hand in baseball by coaching (at Bates in 1918, and also at South Portland High School), and playing and coaching semi-pro baseball in the Portland area.

Harry and his wife Hazel married in 1905, and they had two children, Harry Donald, Jr., and Corinne (Bates class of 1927). He continued to live in the Portland area, and died in Westbrook in 1948, age 66.