February 25, 1951 Joseph “Cyclone Joe” Williams, hall of fame Negro League baseball pitcher, died. Williams was born April 6, 1886 in Seguin, Texas. He began playing baseball professionally in 1905. Then known as Smokey Joe Williams, he spent 5 years with southern black baseball before moving in 1910 to the Chicago Giants. When playing [...]
Tag Archives | Baseball Hall of Fame
William DeKova White – January 28th in African American History
January 28, 1934 William DeKova White, retired professional baseball player, sportscaster, and executive, was born in Lakewood, Florida. White made his major league debut in 1956 and during his 13 season professional career was a five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove Award winner. After retiring as a player in 1969, White had an 18-year career [...]
December 13th in African American History – Ferguson Arthur Jenkins
December 13, 1942 Ferguson Arthur Jenkins, hall of fame baseball player, was born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Jenkins was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1962 and made his major league debut in 1965. Over his 18 season professional career, he was a three-time All-Star selection and in 1971 won the Cy Young Award as [...]
July 23rd in African American History – Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson
July 23, 1962 Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson became the first African American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Robinson was born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles, where he was a star athlete, from 1939 to 1941 and served in the United States [...]
March 28th in African American History – Cumberland Willis “Cum” Posey
March 28, 1946 Cumberland Willis “Cum” Posey, basketball and baseball hall of fame Negro League player, manager and team owner, died. Posey was born June 20, 1890 in Homestead, Pennsylvania. In his early years, basketball dominated Posey’s life. From the early 1900s through the mid-1920s, Posey was considered the best African American basketball player of his time [...]
March 19th in African American History – John Henry “Pop” Lloyd
March 19, 1964 John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, hall of fame Negro League baseball player and manager, died. Lloyd was born April 25, 1884 in Palatka, Florida and began his professional baseball career in 1905. Over his career, Lloyd batted .343 and was generally considered the greatest shortstop in Negro League history. Lloyd was often referred [...]
March 14th in African American History – Kirby Puckett
March 14, 1960 Kirby Puckett, hall of fame baseball player, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Puckett earned All-American honors for baseball in high school. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1982 and made his major league debut in 1984. Over his 12-season professional career, Puckett was a ten-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove Award [...]