Rothfuss started his professional baseball career in 1896 with the Atlantic League\'s Newark Colts. That season, he was one of the best hitters in the league, leading the circuit with 26 triples, 13 home runs, and 87 stolen bases. His batting average of .351 would end up being his career-high.\n', '

\n', 'Rothfuss continued his good play in 1897. He had batted .323 through 89 games when his release was bought by the Pittsburgh Pirates for $2,000 in July. According to one Newark, New Jersey, sportswriter:

Rothfuss made his major league debut on August 2, 1897. He batted .313 during the season\'s final two months and earned a job as the Pirates\' starting first baseman. On August 22, the Newark Sunday Call wrote, "National League papers are unanimous in the opinion that \'Jack\' Rothfuss is one of the \'comers\' of the big league. Some of them say Newark should feel proud of him. Well, she does."\n', '

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