My Fourth of July holiday was spent in Holly
Springs, Mississippi; 38 miles east of Memphis, Tennessee on Highway 78. Holly Springs is also three miles from Potts
Camp, Mississippi; birthplace of the Negro League baseball hitting machine of
the late 1940’s, Bob “The Rope” Boyd. Born
October 1, 1919, Boyd hit over .330 in his four seasons with the Memphis Red
Sox (1946 – 1949). The 5’9’’, 168 pound
left hand hitting first baseman played in three Negro League East West All Star
games, getting two hits in the 1948 contest.
In 1950, he became the first African-American player
signed by the Chicago White Sox.
Although Boyd hit over .300 throughout the team’s minor league system,
he was never able to get a permanent spot on their Major League roster. In five years, 1950 – 1954, Boyd played in
only 96 White Sox games.
However, beginning in 1956, Major League baseball
fans got to witness the hitting skills of Bob Boyd when he was 36 years old playing
with the Baltimore Orioles. During four
of the next five seasons, 1956 – 1960, Boyd hit over .300. His nickname, “The Rope”, did not come when
he played Negro League baseball; but from his white Oriole teammates based on
the line drives they saw Boyd consistently hit when batting. In 1956, Boyd (.311) and teammate Bob Nieman
(.322) were the first Orioles in franchise history with over 100 at bats to hit
.300. In 1957, Boyd’s .318 batting average was 4th highest in the American League behind Hall of Fame sluggers
Ted Williams (.388) and Mickey Mantle (.365); and Gene Woodling (.321).
Boyd had a ten year (1951
– 1961) Major League career batting average of .293
