The Negro League Baseball History Fact For Today - Eddie Dwight

In celebration of Black History Month, here is Today’s Negro League Baseball History Fact:  Eddie Dwight.

Eddie Dwight kneeling first right to left

Born in Dalton, Georgia on February 25, 1905, Eddie Dwight played for the Kansas City Monarchs for two periods of time; 1928 – 1929 and 1933 – 1937.  He made his home in Kansas City, Kansas, my hometown on the west end of Kansas City’s Intercity Viaduct.  The Dwight’s lived on the northeast side of KCK, his children went to school with members of my family.

Although a good outfielder with speed and range, Dwight could not break into the Monarchs’ starting line up during his first stint with the team.  However, he returned in 1933 to become the No. 1 center fielder.   A good contact hitter and bunter with base stealing speed, Dwight primarily led the Monarchs offensive attack batting first.  Negro League fans selected him to play in the 1936 East-West All Star Game.

After retiring, Dwight owned a retail store in the 1950s.  In 1962, his son Eddie Dwight, Jr. became the first African-American chosen by NASA for astronaut training.

Negro League baseball is not just a part of African American history, but is woven into the fabric of 20^th Century American history.

To read more about the Negro League Baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown

The Negro League Baseball Fact For Today - John Henry Russell

In celebration of Black History Month, here is Today’s Negro League Baseball History Fact:  John Henry Russell

Although primarily a second baseman, John Henry Russell’s versatility gave him the ability to also play first base, third base, or shortstop during his 12 year Negro League baseball career (1923 – 1934).  Born February 24, 1898 in Dolcito, Alabama, he gained the reputation of being excellent on defense by using quick hands and feet combined with a strong throwing arm.  He did not consistently have a high batting average, but his speed made him a better than average base runner. 

After starting his career with the Memphis Red Sox, Russell played with the St. Louis Stars (1926 – 1930).  He paired with Hall of Fame shortstop Willie Wells for the Stars to have one of the best double play partners in the Negro Leagues during that time.  St. Louis, who also had Hall of Fame center fielder James “Cool Papa” Bell and Hall of Fame first baseman George “Mule” Suttles, won the Negro National League championship in 1928 and 1930.

While with the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1931 – 1933), Russell received honor from Negro League fans by being selected to play in the inaugural East-West All Star Game.  On that September 10^Th at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, Russell shared the field with such Negro League greats as Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, and others.  

Negro League baseball is not just a part of African American history, but is woven into the fabric of 20^Th Century American history.


To read more about the Negro League baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown

The Negro Baseball History Fact For Today - Charlie Peete

In celebration of Black History Month, here is Today’s Negro League Baseball History Fact:  Charlie Peete.

Born February 22, 1929 in Franklin, Virginia; Peete had a short and unproductive stint in Negro League baseball.  He played 31 games with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1950, batting only .231.  However, this did not prevent him from going further in baseball.

After serving in the military, Peete become one of the African-American players that integrated the Piedmont League (Class B minor league) in 1953.  The speedy center fielder got the attention of the St. Louis Cardinals who signed him in 1954.  Peete won the batting title hitting .350 in 1956 with the team’s Omaha Class AAA minor league club.

When given the opportunity to play with the Cardinals towards the end of the 1956 season, Peete only hit .192 with six RBIs in 23 games.  However, the team kept him on roster for the upcoming 1957 season.  After team officials saw he had the skills to play center field and had promise as a hitter, they still considered him a good prospect.  In addition, the Cardinals had been criticized for misfiring on two previous African-American players.  Pitcher Brooks Lawrence, who they traded to the Cincinnati Reds, won 19 games in 1956.  Tom Alston, who in 1954 became the first African-American to play for the Cardinals who had been demoted to the minor leagues.  He and Peete were teammates at Omaha in 1955.

The center fielder for the Cardinals in 1956, Bobby Del Greco, only hit .216.  Depending on how he would have hit in spring training of 1957, Charlie Peete had the opportunity to be the Cardinals’ main center fielder.  However, on his way to play winter baseball in Venezuela; Peete, along with his wife and three children were killed in a plane crash on November 11, 1956.

Negro League baseball is not just a part of African American history, but is woven into the fabric of 20^Th Century American history.

To read more about the Negro League baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown

The Negro League Baseball History Fact For Today - Bill Cash

In celebration of Black History Month, here is Today’s Negro League Baseball History Fact:  Bill Cash.

Born February 21, 1919 in Round Oak, Georgia; William (Bill) “Ready” Cash played his entire Negro League baseball career (1943 – 1950) with the Philadelphia Stars.  A good catcher known for his strong throwing arm, Cash also proved himself as an above average hitter. He played in the 1948 and 1949 East-West All Star Game, hitting two doubles in the latter to help the East squad to a 4 – 0 victory. 

He signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1952 when 32 years old and never rose above the Class C level during two years in the teams’ minor league system.

Negro League baseball is not just a part of African American history, but is woven into the fabric of 20^th Century American history.

To read more about the Negro League baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown

The Negro League Bseball History Fact For Today - Henry Kimbro

In celebration of Black History Month, here is Today’s Negro League Baseball History Fact:  Henry Kimbro.

Born 2/19/12 in Nashville, Tennessee, Henry Kimbro spent the prime years of his Negro League baseball career (1937 – 1950) with the Baltimore Elite Giants.  Considered one of the best center fielders in the Negro National League during the 1940s, Kimbro played in six Negro League East-West All-Star games.

Defensively, he had speed for great range in the outfield and he challenged base runners with his strong throwing arm.  A good lead-off batter who consistently hit over .300, the left-handed swinger also had home run power.  Kimbro gained the reputation of being a doggedly determined competitor who was not friendly with opponents and combative with teammates.

During his years with Baltimore, Kimbro's teammates included Roy Campanella, Joe Black, and Junior Gilliam; all of which went on to play in the Major Leagues. However, Kimbro did not.  Scouts deemed him beyond his prime, over 35 years old, once the door to play Major League baseball opened for African-American ballplayers.     

Negro League baseball is not just a part of African American history, but is woven into the fabric of 20^Th Century American history.

To read more about the Negro League baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown

Celebrating Negro League Baseball History - Frank Duncan

In celebration of Black History Month, here is Today’s Negro League Baseball History Fact:  Frank Duncan

Frank Duncan spent 20 of his 28 years (1920 – 1948) in Negro League baseball with his hometown Kansas City Monarchs.  Born February 14, 1901 in Kansas City, Missouri, he played on both Monarch teams that were Negro League World Series Champions; although almost two decades apart.

Known mostly for his defense as a catcher, Duncan’s strong throwing arm helped Monarch pitchers hold opposing base runners close to first or second base.  A smart catcher, he worked with Hall of Fame pitchers Jose Mendez, Bullet Rogan, Satchel Paige, and Hilton Smith during his years with the Kansas City team.

He first played with the Monarchs from 1921 -1934.  During that time the team won four Negro National League (NNL) pennants (1923 – 1925, 1929).  They defeated the Hilldale Club of Darby, Pennsylvania in the first Negro League World Series (1924).  Duncan got the key hit to drive in two runs and help the Monarchs win Game Seven of the best five out of nine series.

Although the Monarchs continued to operate when the NNL went out of business after the 1931 season, Duncan left to play for teams in New York and Pittsburgh.  He returned to the Monarchs in 1937, the first year of the Negro American League (NAL).  The next season he played with the Chicago American Giants, but returned to the Monarch’s in 1940 and became the team’s player/manager.

In 1942, the Monarchs won the NAL pennant and defeated the Homestead Grays in the Negro League World Series; the team’s second World Series championship.  Duncan led the team to another NAL pennant in 1946, but it lost a closely contested Negro League World Series to the Newark Eagles.

Duncan and his son Frank, a pitcher, were the first Negro League father-son battery in 1941.

Negro League baseball is not just a part of African American history, but it is woven into the fabric of 20^th Century American history.


To read about the Negro League baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown

Celebrating Negro League Baseball History - "Cool Papa" Bell

In celebration of Black History Month, here is Today’s Negro League Baseball History Fact:  James “Cool Papa” Bell.

On February 13, 1974; Negro League outfielder James “Cool Papa” was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Many of the stories describing Bell’s speed were exaggerations (“He turned off the light switch and he got in the bed before the lights went off”).  But; clocked at 12 seconds circling all the bases, he is considered one of the fastest runners in all baseball history.

Bell started his playing career as a pitcher.  His manager called him “Cool Papa” because he kept his composure during pressure situations on the mound.  The nickname stayed with Bell even though he hurt his pitching arm and played outfield the rest of his career.

His Negro League baseball career spanned three decades (1922 – 1946).

From 1922 – 1931 he played for the St. Louis Stars.  He teamed with fellow members of the Hall of Fame shortstop Willie Wells and first baseman George “Mules” Suttles to help the team win three National Negro League championships (1928, 1930 – 1931).

While in his 30’s, Bell wore the uniform of the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1933 – 1938); one of the best teams assembled in Negro League history.  Hall of Fame players Oscar Charleston, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, and Jud Wilson were all teammates of Bell at times during this period.  The Crawfords were National Negro League champions in 1935.

Still playing while in his 40’s, Bell helped the Homestead Grays win Negro League World Series championships in 1943 and 1944.

Negro League baseball is not just a part of African American history, but it is woven into the fabric of 20^th Century American history.

To read more about the Negro League Baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown