The 1913 season was the last for Fremont in the Nebraska State League. They won the league in 1910 and 1912 and came in second in 1911. The 1913 season was not as successful as the Pathfinders fell to fourth place.
At the end of the year the franchise wound up in the red. Attempts to make up the deficit with contributions from local business ventures was unsuccessful and the franchise was moved to Norfolk for the 1914 season. Fremont would not participate in any of the other incarnations of the NSL.
For the 1913 season, Fremont was last in hitting and second in fielding. The pathfinders lost pitcher Ramey, who moved up to the Western League with the Denver Grizzlies and Kingdom who was acquired by the Rourkes. The Pathfinders also changed managers for the 1913 season as Wesch replaced Bennett. Cap Bennett moved to Grand Island for the 1913 season and moved to Hastings during the season.
Opening day saw the typical parade and ceremony in Fremont. The parade down to the Association lot was followed by the ceremonial first pitch being tossed by Fremont Mayor Herre. The opening day pitcher for the Pathfinders was Getchell.
Ray Bohner started the year in the outfield for the Pathfinders. He quit the team and moved to Colume South Dakota to play independent ball.
The league changed its financials for 1913. In the past, the teams split the gate for games in a percentage fashion. For 1913, the visiting team got a flat $30.00 and the home team could keep the rest. Home game attendance was the make or break factor for the teams in the NSL. For example, a home game in June in Fremont drew 127 fans. After paying the umpires and the visiting team the Pathfinders did not break even for the game. At Hastings, the Pathfinders vs. Hastings game drew fans and a gate of $456.00. After paying the Pathfinders their $30.00, the home club kept the rest.
At the end of the year the Pathfinders were about $500 in the hole. They arranged to play in a tournament at Clarinda. The Clarinda Fair association had advertised a purse of $800.00 for a three day tournament. The weather did not cooperate and Fremont went home with $126 from the first day's double header and $25.00 for the second day. After expenses the tournament did not help with the debt.
There was speculation that they could keep the team via a subscription drive, but the feeling in Fremont was that the team had to be self supporting and the drive did not get off the ground. After some discussions with both North Platte and Norfolk, the franchise was sold to Norfolk.
That was the end of professional baseball in Fremont. While towns like Norfolk, York and Beatrice provided community support and encouragement for baseball, Fremont was never able to get enough people on the same page to ever offer baseball again.
Roster:
Dutch Henry , the young man from South Omaha, returned to
his first base position for 1913. He averaged .326 for the season. He also
played for Quincy in 1913. He played for Wichita in 1914 and 1915, and in
the Central League in 1920 and 1921.
The keystone sack was held down once again by Harry Reis . He dropped from his .314 average in 1912 to .268 for the 1913 season.
Third base saw Fresco Thompson replaced by manager H. Welch. The hot corner artist averaged .261 for the season.
Gourley played short stop for the Pathfinders during the season. He appears in the picture of the Pathfinders in the Reach guide but is not listed anywhere else that I can find.
Clyde Neff returned for the 1913 season. He was a regular behind the mask and averaged .252 for the year.
The outfield had Archie Turpin in left field. He played in the garden for all four years of the Pathfinders existence. In 1913 he had a .262 average. Butch Wetzel (Weysyel) was in center field for the Pathfinders and averaged .301 in 1913. He played in the minors from 1912 through 1926.
Rouse was the third outfielder for most of the season.
Tait Clarke played in 105 games and averaged .388.
Albert Strange played in 59 games as catcher and averaged .318.
Pitchers:
Harold Hinkley was an 18 year old rookie for Fremont in 1913. He pitched a no hit game against Beatrice in July and had a 14-12 record for the season.
Pat Conway pitched 14 games for the Pathfinders and had a 6-8 record. He started the season with the Nebraska City franchise in the MINK league and was picked up by Fremont after the MINK league folded.
Russell Routt was on of the strongmen in the box for Fremont in 1913. He played in 28 games and had a 16-12 record. According to the Fremont Tribune, he had played independent ball for Hooper and Scribner during the fall of 1912 after playing in the south during the summer. He played for Beatrice and Wichita in 1912 and for Norfolk in 1914.
Roy Getchell had a 16-13 record in 31 games. He also averaged .277 as a batter in 1913.
Ed Thiessen returned to the Pathfinders for 1913. He pitched in 10 games and had a 4-6 record.