Joe Wilhoit

A native of Hiawatha, Kansas.^{[citation needed]} He attended and played baseball at DePaul University (then St. Vincent's College). He was also a hurdler, shot putter and pole vaulter. In 1906, he set a pole vault record in Southern California of 10 feet, 9 and 3/4 inches.^[1]

Wilhoit joined the Vernon Tigers, led by Happy Hogan.^[1] He then joined the Boston Braves in 1915. He was later sold to the New York Giants. He played with the Giants from 1917 to 1918.^[2] In 1919, he joined the Wichita Jobbers of the Western League.^[3] He retired from the Salt Lake City Bees in 1923.^[2]

In a four-season career, Wilhoit was a .257 hitter (201-for-782) with three home runs and 73 RBI in 283 games, including 93 runs, 23 doubles, nine triples, 28 stolen bases, and a .323 on-base percentage. He also appeared in Games 2 and 6 of the 1917 World Series as a pinch-hitter and went 0-for-1 with a walk.

After the war, Wilhoit and his wife eventually settling in Santa Barbara, California. They opened up a luggage store on State Street, called Wilhoit's Luggage. It was later sold to Lindy Lindhorst, the top salesman at the store, who renamed it Lindy's.

Wilhoit married Zulekiah Katherine Hicks, who worked as the personal secretary to one of the top Generals during World War I at the Department of War.

Wilhoit died on September 25, 1930, in Santa Barbara.^[2] He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara.^[4]

• Wilhoit posted the longest hitting streak in baseball history with 69 games while playing for the Wichita Jobbers of the Western League.^[2][3] From June 14 to August 19, 1919, he went 153-for-297 for a .515 batting average to set the record streak. His hits included four home runs, nine triples and 24 doubles.