At the 1896 Springfield Bicycle Meet, a 2-day event that took place in Springfield, MA, Tom Cooper won both the Half-Mile Open and the One-Mile Record events (both were Professional category races) which were held on September 3, 1896. In the Half-Mile Open, referee Robinson imposed a $50.00 fine on Mr. Cooper for fouling fellow racer, Mr. Bald. Cooper`s prize winnings for the day were $245.00. Bald captured second place in the Half-Mile Open Professional.
  Bald was one of the `hot` racing men of the late 1800`s. He competed with other `crackers` at the August 22, 1894 National Cycle Meet in Kansas City, MO put on by the Kansas City Athletic Club. A few of the competitors who had raced in Denver-Pueblo, CO, and were on their way back to the east coast, stopped to race in Kansas City(glad to have a rest after a long 36-hour dusty trip across the plains).