January 20, 1947 Josh Gibson, Hall of Fame Negro League baseball player, died. Gibson was born December 21, 1911 in Buena Vista, Georgia. He made his professional debut with the Homestead Grays, the preeminent Negro League team of that time, in 1930.
Tag Archives | Negro League
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 […]
November 27th in African American History – Walter Fenner “Buck” Leonard
November 27, 1997 Walter Fenner “Buck” Leonard, hall of fame Negro league baseball player, died. Leonard was born September 8, 1907 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He left school at the age of 14 because no high school education was available to black children in his hometown.
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.