The Courier A Publication of SABR s Negro Leagues Committee We are the Ship, All Else the Sea Editor, Larry Lester December, 2007 In the News 10th Annual Jerry Malloy Conference Centering on the theme of Barnstorming Baseball, the largest Malloy conference ever (over 100), started out with a pitch from Mayor Dr. James W. Holley, III. While Eddie Webb, president of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, provided the site for Negro League aficionados to explore, dissect and examine black baseball history. In keeping with the tradition of excellent presentations and exhibitions, one of the highlights of the conference was the display of extremely rare artifacts, documents and jerseys by Dr. Layton Revel of the CENTER FOR NEGRO LEAGUE RESEARCH out of Carrollton, Texas. Eduardo Valero Honored The Latin American Committee is proud to announce the creation of the Eduardo Valero Award, which honors the best article/story published in La Prensa Del Beisbol Latino. A panel of impartial judges will select the best submissions of articles and stories received from the Summer of 2007 through the Spring of 2008. Send your award winning articles to Anthony Salazar at salazar8017@yahoo.com. Some of the presenters included; Tim Gay (of Vienna, VA), Stephanie Lisco (Carlisle, PA), Rick Kenney (Orlando, FL), Leslie Heaphy (Canton, OH), Ted Knorr (Harrisburg, PA), Bryan Steverson (Maryville, TN), Bob Mayer (Putnam Valley, NY) and Todd Peterson (Kansas City, MO). Conventioneers also enjoyed a Ferry boat ride to Harbor Park for a game between the Norfolk Tides and the Buffalo Bison. Does anyone remember the score? The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame also hosted an evening of family type entertainment that included shooting basketballs, throwing footballs, and arcade games, etc. Buck s in the Hall Continued on page 3........ On the eve of the first World Series game the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced the Buck O Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be given out at a maximum of every three years, starting next summer, with Buck as the first recipient. Officially, the award is for, an individual whose extraordinary efforts enhanced baseball s positive impact on society, has broadened the game s appeal, and whose character, integrity and dignity are comparable to the qualities exhibited by O Neil. Can someone say Minnie Minoso? Dr. Ernest C. Withers, 1922-2007 Recently the sports world lost photographer Ernest Withers, 85, in Memphis, TN, on October 15 th. Nationally known for his iconic images of the Civil Rights Movement, he also produced important photos of black baseball as published in his 2004 book, Negro League Baseball by Harry N. Abrams. His three other books are; Let Us March On, Pictures Tell the Story and The Memphis Blues Again. Those who attended the 2002 JERRY MALLOY CONFERENCE in Memphis, had an opportunity to meet the gracious Withers and tour his historic studio that featured images of the three kings, Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., along with hundreds of historic views of social life on Beale Street and beyond. His death is a great loss to every historian & American. To learn more... this man! Page 1
Babe and Josh Team Up! The pre-balco Bambinos Josh Gibson and Babe Ruth are finally together on canvas. The painting by sports artist Bill Purdom is limited to 300 copies and can be viewed at http://www.joshgibson.org/index.php?page=merchandise. Proceeds, in part, will go to the nonprofit Babe Ruth Scholarship and the JOSH GIBSON FOUNDATION. If the Shoe Fits.... Babe Ruth did not have a candy bar, or a shoe named after him, but Josh Gibson & Satchel Paige did! Gibson s tenure with the Mexican Veracruz Blues is showcased in Nike s Latin Legacy/Untold Truth Collection. Get your kicks at a FOOTACTION store near you. Upcoming Events The Chicago White Sox recently announced that the Cuban Comet and Barrier Breaker Minnie Minoso has been recognized via the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Minnie is probably the most popular player in the history of the [White Sox] franchise, claimed Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. People who never saw him play love him. He has an amazing magnetic personality. He draws people to him. People sit and listen to him speaking and they are just transfixed. He is just a genuinely nice person and really an ambassador of good will. Minoso, & others, will be honored in Kansas City, MO, on January 12, 2008. Call for Papers: Black Ball Journal McFarland & Company is gearing up to publish the first bi-annual Black Ball, a peer-reviewed journal with emphasis on original research. The journal will promote the study of Negro Leagues and pre-negro Leagues baseball, with a focus on their role in the popular black culture. Black Ball welcomes articles on all subjects related to black baseball, major or minor leagues, barnstorming, segregation and integration, the business of black baseball, the teams and the players. A wide range of disciplinary and academic perspectives are welcome. Articles should be between 2,000-7,000 words, exclusive of the required endnotes and abstract and should be submitted to the Editor as both double-spaced hard copy and a disk, or as an email attachment in Microsoft Word. Editorial decisions will be made within 60 days of receiving your manuscript. Call for Papers: Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference The conference will be held in Willowbrook, outside of Chicago. Theme for next year s conference is All Stars of the Game. Proposals are due by March 1st with topics related to the East-West All-Star classic, the North-South game, players chosen, managers, highlights and lowlights, record breaking performances, etc. Abstracts should no more than 350 words, with a very brief curriculum vitae. Graduate students are encouraged to submit proposals. Submit your papers to Dr. Leslie Heaphy, Kent State University, 6000 Frank Road, North Canton, OH 44720 or email: LHeaphy@kent.edu Page 2
Research Find(s): 1) Historian Lucky Smith located Frank Crosson living in the Detroit area. Crosson played first base for the Memphis Red Sox in 1954-55 and was the roommate of country western singer Charlie Pride. Perhaps you will find a former Negro Leaguer in your neighborhood, if you re lucky. 2) Wayne Stivers, a frustrated Colorado Rockies fan, discovered perhaps the first perfect game thrown by a Negro League pitcher against a Major League team. According to a Washington Post article on July 19, 1914, Jose Acosta of the Long Branch (NJ) Cubans walked none, gave up no hits and shut out the St. Louis Browns en route to a 3 to 0 victory. Acosta is one of 17 players to have played for all-black teams AND Major Leagues teams before Jackie Robinson integrated the 47 Brooklyn Dodgers. At the age of 29, Acosta debut ed with the Washington Senators on July 28, 1920 and stayed with the team through 1921. He closed out his M.L. career with the Chicago White Sox in 1922. Research is under way to find the actual box score. DVD Library Just received a copy of The Bases Are Loaded: Divided by Politics, United by Baseball DVD. This documentary reunites Cooperstown Hall of Famer Monte Irvin and his Cuban teammate and Cuban Hall of Famer and ex- Major Leaguer Connie Marrero after 50 years. The film reveals the complexities of Cuban baseball and America s relationship with the island nation, while highlighting their unique friendship. It also offers the viewers an exclusive opportunity to experience Cuba and its thriving baseball culture, the beautiful and electric streets of Havana and the music that is the soundtrack of Cuban life. Narrated by SABR s very own Kit Kreiger. NOTE: Marrero born in 1911 pitched five years in the Majors but has never received his pension. This DVD produced by 4 th Street Films is Outstanding! Check out Irvin s All-Time All-Star team on page 5. In the News continues..... Wilber Bullet Rogan Honored On September 17 th, Oklahoma City honored native Rogan with a bust at their AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma RedHawks, a Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. His bust joins life-size statues of Mickey Mantle, Warren Spahn and Johnny Bench. Rogan s grandson Carl gave a 10-15 minute speech. I thought it was a great tribute to my grandfather, said Carl. Bullet Rogan was inducted into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame in 1998 & the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. 10th Annual Jerry Malloy Conference continues..... Saturday evening highlights included the banquet, auction and awards with Ike Brooks and Jim Kastro serving as masters of ceremonies (or comedy). Their RBI (Really Bad Imitation) program mirrored the antics of Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon s show Pardon the Interruption (PTI). On Sunday morning an educational program was held, with local educators and students in attendance. What a fun weekend as several players joined us; Sam Allen, Ted Toles, Champie Drew, Pop Durham, Ken Free, Ed Hudson, (Rev.) Cliff Layton, Larry LeGrande, Pete Venable, Joe Cherry, Tom Burt and Elzie Todd. This year s site coordinator was sports archeologist Tom Garrett, a SABR member since 1990. He is co-author of two books Baseball in Norfolk and Baseball in Portsmouth by Arcadia Publishing. A special THANK YOU to retired educator Mr. Garrett for making this event our biggest event ever. See you next year in Chicago. IMPORTANT NOTE: The dates for the 2008 Malloy Conference have been changed to July 24-27. Reserve those calendar dates NOW. Page 3
Sunrises! SEND YOUR FAVORITE NEGRO LEAGUER A BIRTHDAY CARD. DECEMBER 2 ND - HENRY ELMORE - 66 3 RD - - BILL HAYDEN - 83 4 TH TED TOLES - 82 6 TH BILL LITTLE - 73 7 TH ENRIQUE MAROTO - 75 9 TH QUACK BROWN 77, BENNY FELDER - 81 14 TH WILLIE POPE 89, HENRY SAVERSON - 78 16 TH FRANK EVANS 86, JOE MARBURY - 69 20 TH MAL DUCKETT - 85 21 ST CHARLES W ILLS 76, PAUL CASANOVA - 66 23 RD MAYNARD JORDAN - 79 25 TH JOHN MITCHELL - 70 26 TH ORLANDO O FARRILL - 85 27 TH JIM COBBIN - 73 JANUARY 8 TH DAVE WHITNEY - 78 9 TH FRANK MARSH 77 21 ST PORTER REED 85 26 TH RON TEASLEY 81 27 TH SAM TAYLOR 79 28 TH TOMMY TAYLOR 71 30 TH LONNIE HARRIS 78 31 ST ERNIE BANKS - 77 FEBRUARY 4 TH ERNIE NIMMONS 78 5 TH HANK AARON - 74 9 TH MIKE HOULEMARD - 75 12 TH BILL DUMPSON - 78 14 TH JOE CAFFIE - 77 20 TH WALTER MCCOY - 85 21 ST BILL CASH 89 23 RD WILLIE SHEELOR - 80 25 TH MONTE IRVIN - 89 26 TH MICKEY STUBBLEFIELD 82 SUNSETS: Sammy C. Williams passed away August 8, 2007 in San Jose, California. Williams pitched for the 1947-52 Birmingham Black Barons. He was 84 years old. Library Checkouts! BOOKS: Willie Mays Art in the Outfield by Mike Shannon. The editor/publisher of Spitball magazine has assembled 40 works of arts from contemporary artists portraying the skill, fame and sheer love of the game that made the former Birmingham Black Baron so remarkable and memorable. The artistry is on exhibit at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky and will soon tour the country. The Negro Leagues Chronology by Christopher Hauser. This work documents the events and achievements in organized black baseball from 1920 to 1948. For that important date in Negro League history, look here first. Black Baseball Out of Season by William F. McNeil. This history of black baseball recounts the experiences of African Americans playing outside of the Negro Leagues, in various winter leagues in Florida, California, Caribbean & Latin American countries. Heroes of the Negro Leagues by Mark Chiarello & Jack Morelli. 60 anecdotal stories on Negro league greats. Brilliant rainbow watercolor artworks are highlights of this book. It also includes a bonus DVD of the classic documentary Only the Ball Was White. Plus a Foreword by Hall of Famer Monte Irvin. CALENDAR: The 2008 Negro Baseball Leagues calendar by Shades of Color is now available. It features Black Baseball s 3 rd String All-Star team of Quincy Trouppe, Lou Santop, Ben Taylor, Larry Doby, Ray Dandridge, Dobie Moore, Willard Bro wn, Pete Hill, Spot Poles, Hilton Smith, Leon Day and Chino Smith. For a personal copy of historical images and daily knowledge go to: http://www.theforgottenleagues.com/. Page 4
Monte Irvin s Few & Chosen Read here about a power-hitting, smooth-fielding and base-stealing legend s All-Time All-Star team. Published by Triumph Books, 2007. Third Basemen 1. Ray Dandridge 2. Judy Johnson 3. Oliver Marcell 4. Jud Wilson 5. Hank Thompson Left Fielders 1. Neil Robinson 2. Minnie Minoso 3. Vic Harris 4. Sandy Amoros 5. Willard Brown Center Fielders 1. Willie Mays 2. Oscar Charleston 3. Cool Papa Bell 4. Larry Doby 5. Turkey Stearnes Catcher 1. Josh Gibson 2. Roy Campanella 3. Biz Mackey 4. Louis Santop 5. Elston Howard First Basemen 1. Buck Leonard 2. George Giles 3. Mule Suttles 4. Luke Easter 5. Bob Boyd Second Basemen 1. Jackie Robinson 2. Sammy T. Hughes 3. Newt Allen 4. Jim Gilliam 5. Piper Davis Shortstops 1. Willie Wells 2. Pop Lloyd 3. Ernie Banks 4. Dick Lundy 5. John Beckwith Beck Cooperstown Hall of Famers in BOLD Right Fielders 1. Hank Aaron 2. Cristobal Torrienti 3. Bill Wright (on the left) 4. Sam Jethroe 5. Jimmie Crutchfield Right-Handed Pitchers 1. Smokey Joe Williams 2. Satchel Paige 3. Leon Day 4. Bullet Rogan 5. Martin Dihigo Left-Handed Pitchers 1. Willie Foster 2. Slim Jones 3. Roy Partlow 4. John Donaldson 5. Barney Brown Managers 1. C.I. Taylor 2. Candy Jim Taylor 3. Buck O Neil 4. Vic Harris 5. Dave Malarcher Owners 1. Rube Foster 2. Gus Greenlee 3. Cum Posey 4. Effa Manley 5. Alex Pompez Page 5
Research Requests: 1) Pete Gorton is looking for statistics on John Donaldson the great All Nations and Kansas City Monarchs pitcher. You may contact Gorton at 1227 Washington St., NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 or email him at pwgortonmb@hotmail.com For articles about the Negro Leagues, contact Len Levin, 282 Doyle Ave., Providence, R.I. 02906-3355. Or 401.351.3278 or lenlevin5@hotmail.com. See the latest SABR Bulletin for a list of available articles.. 2) Jerry Mikorenda is writing a children s book called, Black Knights, the Early Heroes and Teams of the Cool Game. He is looking for information on team owners, umpires and sportswriters from the 19th Century. You can contact him at 1118 Fifth Avenue, East Northport, NY 11731 or email him at jmikore@yahoo.com 3) Contact home run expert Bill Jenkinson at billjenkinson@verizon.net if you have any information on long dingers hit by Negro League sluggers like Lou Santop, Mule Suttles, Josh Gibson, Turkey Stearnes, John Beckwith, Ed Wesley and others. The 1st Latinos in Major League Baseball Revisited...... Rick Swaine, author of Black Stars Who Made Baseball Whole: The Jackie Robinson Generation in the Major Leagues sent a correction for the first Latino with the St. Louis Browns. Instead of Oscar Estrada in 1929, it was Cuban Armando Marsans in 1916. Marsans also integrated the Cincinnati Reds in 1911, making him the first Latino to integrate two major league teams, a wonderful trivia question. Judy Johnson Night The 12 th annual Judy Johnson Night was held in Wilmington, Delaware on August 11 th. A Frawley Stadium crowd of 4,882 honored several former Negro League veterans including Harold Gould, Stanley Glenn, Mahlon Duckett, Bob Scott and Bert Simmons. The game featured the local Blue Rocks donning cream-colored Kansas City Monarchs duds with red stirrup socks. The visiting Lynchburg Hillcats wore Homestead Gray jerseys. The locals defeated the Hillcats 10-9. Fellow committee member Gregg Truitt is instrumental in hosting this event each year. ====================================== SABR s Negro Leagues Committee Larry Lester Dick Clark Co-chair, Editor Co-chair (Tstearnes@comcast.net) The Courier is a quarterly newsletter published by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); March, June, September and December. Inquiries, submissions and research requests can be sent to Larry Lester at NTresearch@comcast.net. Copyright 2007 SABR. All Rights Reserved TRIVIA: What Negro Leaguer player became the first African American to integrate two Major League teams? (Hint: St. Louis Browns and New York Giants) First correct answer receives a 2008 N.L. calendar. Page 6 To receive your personal copy of this newsletter join the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) at: http://www.sabr.org/sabr.cfm?a=cms,c,67,35