In the major leagues of the era, he managed the Louisville Colonels and the Boston Beaneaters for parts of three seasons.

The professional National League of Baseball of Great Britain was started in 1890.

Spalding sent Hart as a skilled manager along with several players: William J. Barr, Charles Bartlett, J. E. Prior and Leech Maskrey.

The first three used Jim Hart to decide the line-up of their teams, while Francis Ley at Derby made his own decisions.

[4] Hart was a director of Preston North End Baseball Club Limited.