Hastings started the season with a strong run. In late june the team faltered falling to as low as fifth place in the standings. A 24-7 run late in the season vaulted them into first place at the end of the year.
Bert Shaner was a player/manager in 1912.
As with most years in the NSL there were a number of charges and counter charges at the end of the year. Fremont claimed that Hastings had too many men under contract and should have to forfeit a number of games for the alleged transgression. The charges went for naught however and history records that the Third Citys took the championship.
Roster:
Tacke was a regular at first and averaged .278 for the season.
In the dirt at second was C. Watson. He averaged .287 for the year. He played for Hastings from 1910-1913 then moved up to class "A" ball with St. Joseph in the Western League.
The hot corner was handled by J. Smith. One of many Smith's in the league he averaged .251 with 41 stolen bases.
William Fortman played short for 109 games. All four of the infielders played in at least 109 games making Hastings one of the most stable infields in the league. Fortman also played for Hastings in 1911 and averaged .216.
Wakefield played in just 14 games and averaged .309.
Frank Coe put on the tools of ignorance for the franchise in 1912. He averaged .253. He also played for Grand Island for part of the season. Frank played for Hastings and Galveston in 1911, GI and Hastings in 1912 and Beatrice in 1914.
Lou Bachant also caught in 1912. He played in 64 games and averaged .245. The 23 year old from Kankakee Illinois played for Des Moines in 1910 and 1911 and part of 1912 was spent with St. Joseph. He played minor league ball through the 1923 season.
Outfield:
George Harms averaged .317 while tending the garden for Hastings in 1912.
Harry Bromley returned to Hastings for the 1912 season. He was in the outfield for 110 games and averaged .298. Downey also played in the outfield. He played in 97 games and averaged .295.
Pitchers:
Joe Doyle was picked up from Lincoln in midseason. The former Western League player was very strong in the NSL and had a 6-1 record for Hastings.
Bert Shaner returned for the 1912 season. He was the manager of the Third Citys franchise. He had a strong year and managed a 17-5 record. He started in the Western Association in 1905 and played for Wichita in the Western League in 1909 and part of 1910. He was in the NSL from 1911-1913.
McCullough was in his first year as a professional and had a 17-13 record for the Third Citys.