Born
on January 5, 1923 in San Diego, California, John Franklin “Hoss” Ritchey
played only one year in Negro League baseball.
The 5’10”, 170 pound catcher played with semi-pro teams in his hometown
after returning from the Army when World War II ended. Then in 1947, he was signed by the Chicago
American Giants. Ritchey won the Negro
American League (NAL) batting championship that season hitting over .360.
The
next season he was signed by the San Diego Padres and became one of a group of
African American players to integrate the Triple AAA minor league level Pacific
Coast League (PCL). Former Negro League
players Luke Easter, Arte Wilson, and Minnie Minoso were all Ritchey’s
teammates in 1949 when the Padres became a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland
Indians.
Ritchey
spent eight seasons in the minor leagues (1948 – 1956), mostly with PCL
teams. A good hitter, he had some seasons
when he hit over .300. But Major League
scouts believed he did not possess the strong throwing arm catchers needed at the
next level.
Who won the 1947 Negro American League
(NAL) pennant?
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