Art by Deck Rees

Heinie Heitmuller could always hit.

The San Francisco native started playing independent ball for Oakland in the Pacific Coast League in 1904 after graduating from the University of Berkeley. Along with being a standout outfielder in college, he was also a great football player -- blocking punts that were then recovered for a TD by future two-time World Series champion Orval Overall .

Some might say, although I haven’t seen anybody actually say it, that the mammoth 6-foot-2, 215-pounder was the Bo Jackson of the early 20th century.

But on the diamond is where Heitmuller would make his mark.

After six years of above average hitting in the PCL, Philadelphia manager Connie Mack took notice. He drafted the 26-year-old onto his Athletics team for the 1909 season. The Sp

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