OUR VIEW: Hill story gives county its second hall of famer

» The story of Pete Hill was one of the most interesting untold stories of Culpeper County, we owe great appreciation to Zann Nelson for uncovering the mystery

John Preston “Pete” Hill’s story would be remarkable no matter where he was from. A Negro League baseball player, Hill was one of the best in baseball history, eventually earning a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

That’s where his story becomes intertwined with Culpeper County. Turns out Hill was listed as being born in Pittsburgh, Pa., but new evidence shows that Hill was more than likely born in Buena, Culpeper County.

The significance of Hill having been born in Culpeper County and not Pittsburgh is vast. In Virginia history, there are only four players enshrined in the hall of fame. One of those is from Culpeper, the legendary Eppa Rixey, one is from Remington and the other two from Richmond and Norfolk. If Hill were to be re-inducted with his birthplace corrected to Buena or Rapidan, as his Social Security application has his birthplace listed, it would give Culpeper two Baseball Hall of Famers.

It seems amazing that Culpeper could have more hall of famers than Richmond or Norfolk, vastly larger cities and ones known for their ability to turn out baseball talent.

We owe our newfound knowledge of Hill and his playing career to longtime Culpeper historian Zann Nelson. Zann has engaged in several history pieces for us in the past, but she has outdone herself this time. Her extensive research and attention to detail has left no stone unturned in the Hill saga.

One of the more interesting tidbits from the series was the migration of African Americans to Pittsburgh in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Now, nearly a hundred years later, that migration has shifted, bringing young professionals down south as they search for employment.

So the next time you make a visit to Cooperstown, be sure to look up Pete Hill’s plaque. And when someone mentions he’s from Pittsburgh, be sure to correct them. You’ll have quite a story to tell.