In saying that the local amateur wasn’t totally responsible for losing 16 – 9 to Philadelphia, the Buffalo Commercial noted, “Duzen certainly should not be judged by what he did yesterday, though he was hit hard. He has a good delivery, the necessary speed, most of the curves, and apparently a good, cool head. With cultivation Duzen might make a valuable man, and he should be given another chance.”  Duzen was hit around some by Philadelphia in his first start with Buffalo in the Players League.  They gave him a second chance and he was wild in losing an 8 – 3 decision to New York in the second game of a double header a week later.  And with that, Bill Duzen was back to playing amateur ball in his home town of Buffalo.

After his baseball days, Duzen became a Buffalo police officer and served for 44 years in one capacity or another.  Among the interesting exploits captured by the local papers, the former pitcher earned a save by quickly identifying a fire that started in the basement of a saloon; the owner of the saloon and his family were asleep in a back room. And, Officer Duzen once convinced an extremely intoxicated man to stop talking to his stubborn friend (a lamp post) who wouldn’t head home with him after a night of drinking…

William G. Duzen took his first and last breaths in Buffalo…  Born to William J. and Elizabeth (Black) Duzen, he was the third of six children born to the machinist and his wife.  He married Ida Spitler in 1892 and they had four children. 

Duzen died at his home on March 11, 1944; he was buried in White Chapel Memorial Park in Amherst, New York.

Sources:

1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 US Census
NY Death Records, NY Marriage Index
Baseball-Reference.com
FindAGrave.com

“A Buffalo Amateur,” Buffalo Commercial, September 23, 1890: 10.
“A Slugging Match,” Buffalo Courier, September 23, 1890: 8.
Box Score, New York Sun, September 28, 1890: 5.
“Stubborn Friend,” Buffalo Courier Express, November 18, 1897: 10.
Newspaper Image, Buffalo Enquirer, August 14, 1905: 3.
“Bill Duzen’s Good Nose,” (Black Rock,NY) International Gazette, April 20, 1907: 5.
“Funeral Yesterday for William Duzen Former Policeman,” (Black Rock, NY) International Gazette, March 15, 1944: 1.