The baseball career of James Buster “Buzz” Clarkson, born 2/13/18
in Hopkins, South Carolina, covered a large amount of ground; not much different
than his Negro League contemporaries. It
included stints in Negro League baseball, the Mexican and Canadian Leagues, and
the winter leagues in Puerto Rico and Cuba; in addition to serving in the
military (1943 – 1945). In the 1950s,
Clarkson also played Major League baseball and helped integrate the minor
leagues.
At 5’11’ and a solidly built 210 pounds, Clarkson could play any
infield or outfield position. He began
his Negro League baseball career with the Pittsburgh Crawfords in 1937. When Clarkson played shortstop for the
Newark Eagles in 1940, fans selected him to participate in the Negro League East-West
All Star game (scored a run). He also
played right field in 1949 All-Star Game while with the Philadelphia Stars
(one hit and one RBI).
Clarkson signed with the Boston Braves in 1950 as a third
baseman. After hitting over .300 in two
minor league seasons, he made his Major League debut on April 20,1952, at 37
years old per Major League Baseball records.
Knowing being older may hinder their careers, many former Negro League
players did not give their true age when signing with a Major League team. His advanced age and the Braves having 20-year-old
rookie Eddie Mathews at third base that year, the first of a 17-year Hall of
Fame career, made Clarkson expendable. In
his only Major League season, he played in 14 games with the Braves that year
hitting .200; five singles in 25 AT Bats (.200).
Spending the remainder of his career in the minor leagues,
Clarkson became as one of the first African-Americans to play in the Texas
League (Class AA); hitting 42 home runs in 1954.
To read more about the Negro League baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown
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