Jack Dalton Mystery Death Shows Rofo Roots

The following clips come from David Sturm of The Baltimore Sun:

New information has surfaced about Tolbert Percy "Jack" Dalton, a one-time Catonsville resident who disappeared in 1948.

A researcher of baseball history has discovered the missing man's death certificate, which shows that Dalton, who once played major league ball, died in a Pittsburgh hospital of a heart ailment on Feb. 17, 1950...

...The certificate notes he was a single, white male who lived at 402 Penn Ave., in Pittsburgh ,and that he was buried Feb. 23, 1950, at Hollywood Cemetery (now Hollywood Memorial Park), in Pittsburgh.

Dalton was, in fact, not single. At the time of his death he still was legally married to Thelma Dalton. Using the Social Security Death Index, Quimby found that she died in March 1966 in Royersford, Montgomery County, Pa.

"I have no idea why Jack is 'single' on his death certificate, or whether she (Thelma Dalton) was ever aware of his death. Royersford and Pittsburgh are at opposite ends of Pennsylvania," Quimby said.

A right-handed outfielder, Dalton started out with a team in Des Moines, where he batted .308. His performance resulted in an invitation to join the Brooklyn Robins, a predecessor to the Dodgers, in 1910.

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