Norman “Turkey” Stearnes was born on this date in
Nashville, Tennessee; 1901. Although not
built like a home run hitter, being 6 feet and only weighing 175 pounds, Stearnes
was one of the most prolific power sluggers in Negro League baseball during his
nineteen year career (1923 – 1942). He was the league leading home run hitter a
reportedly six times. An excellent
fielder with base stealing speed, Stearnes was the marquee player for the Detroit
Stars (1923 – 1931, 1933, and 1937). But,
he also played for pennant winning teams; Chicago American Giants (1932 and
1933) and the Kansas City Monarchs (1938 – 1941). Stearnes was the player that received the most
votes from fans for the first Negro League East - West All Star Game in 1933
and got two hits in the game. Played at
Comiskey Park in Chicago, the game became a yearly showcase for Negro League
baseball. Stearnes was chosen to play in
four of the first five of them; 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1937. He was inducted into the National Baseball
Hall of Fame in 2000.
No comments:
Post a Comment