December 7, 2006 John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President George W. Bush. O’Neil was born November 13, 1911 in Carrabelle, Florida. In 1937, he signed a contract with the Memphis Red Sox in the Negro American League. The next year, his contract […]
Tag Archives | baseball
November 12th in African American History – Samuel Peralta Sosa
November 12, 1968 Samuel Peralta Sosa, retired Major League Baseball player, was born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Sosa made his major league debut in 1989 and over his 18 year professional career hit 609 home runs, was a seven time All-Star selection, and in 1998 was the National League Most Valuable Player.
November 2nd in African American History – Toni Stone
November 2, 1996 Toni Stone, the first woman to play Negro League baseball, died. Stone was born Marcenia Lyle on July 17, 1921 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She began playing baseball at the age of ten and by the age of 15 was playing for a men’s semi-professional team. During World War II, she moved […]
October 6th in African American History – John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil
October 6, 2006 John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil, Negro League baseball player and manager and the first African American to coach in the major leagues, died. O’Neil was born November 13, 1911 in Carrabelle, Florida. In 1937, he signed a contract with the Memphis Red Sox in the Negro League. The next year his contract was […]
September 22nd in African American History – James Raleigh “Biz” Macke
September 22, 1965 James Raleigh “Biz” Mackey, Negro League baseball player and manager, died. Mackey was born July 27, 1897 in Eagle Pass, Texas. He began playing professional baseball in 1918 and played until 1947. He was regarded as the premier catcher in the Negro League in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
September 16th in African American History – William Hendrick “Bill” Foster
September 16, 1978 William Hendrick “Bill” Foster, Negro League pitcher, died. Foster was born June 12, 1930 in Calvert, Texas. He pitched for various teams in the Negro League from 1923 to 1936 and had a career record of 132 wins and 62 losses.
August 26th in African American History – King Solomon White
August 26, 1955 King Solomon White, Negro League baseball player, manager, executive, and author, died. White was born June 12, 1868 in Bellaire, Ohio. He joined the Pittsburgh Keystones of the National Colored Baseball League in 1887, starting a playing career that lasted until 1912.