Baltimore Black Sox Best Players of All Time

Frank Jones

The Baltimore Black Sox were a professional Negro League baseball team that made history in its 23-year span of operation. Established by Howard Young in 1913, the Black Sox quickly became one of the most successful teams on the East Coast and eventually helped form the Eastern Colored League in 1923. During their time as an independent team, they won numerous championships until their final season of 1936 when they disbanded due to financial struggles caused by The Great Depression. Despite being short-lived, this legendary group is remembered for having some of best players ever seen on a diamond and bringing together fans from all walks of life to witness some amazing moments in sports history.

Table of Contents

1. Dick Lundy

Dick Lundy Career

  • Batting average: .331
  • Hits: 667
  • Home runs: 36
  • Runs batted in: 422
  • Stolen bases: 63
  • Managerial record: 303–259–12
  • 2× Eastern Colored League pennant (1926, 1927), 2× All-Star (1933, 1934), East-West League batting champion (1932)

Dick Lundy was one of the better shortstops in baseball during his playing days. He had a batting average over .300 and hit well over 100 home runs. Dick Lundy played for eight different teams throughout his career, including stints with the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants and Newark Eagles.

Dick Lundy died at age 63 after a long illness, leaving behind a wife and three children. Dick Lundy was a Hall of Fame player and manager. 

He played for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, Hilldale Daisies, New York Bacharach Giants, Baltimore Black Sox, Philadelphia Stars and Newark Dodgers as a player.

In 1922 he became the manager of the New York Cubans and remained in that position until 1935 when he moved to manage the Newark Eagles. Dick Lundy was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

2. Jud Wilson

Jud Wilson Career

  • Batting average: .352
  • Hits: 1,073
  • Home runs: 77
  • Runs batted in: 724
  • Stolen bases: 104
  • 2× Eastern Colored League batting champion (1927, 1928), 2× Negro World Series champion (1943, 1944), Washington Nationals Ring of Honor

Jud Wilson was a third baseman for the Homestead Grays in 1945. He had a batting average of .352 and hit 77 home runs during his career. 

Jud Wilson is most famous for playing with the Baltimore Black Sox in 1922, when he made his league debut.

Jud Wilson died on June 24th, 1963 at the age of 69 after a long and successful baseball career. Jud Wilson was one of the most successful African American players in baseball history. He played for six different teams throughout his career and won a total of seven championships.

Jud Wilson is also one of only three players to twice win the batting title in the Eastern Colored League (ECL). In 1927, he led the league with an average of .354 and won the Championship Series MVP award. Two years later, he repeated as ECL batting champion with an average of .350.

After playing two seasons (1931-1932) for Homestead Grays, Jud moved on to play for Pittsburgh Crawfords before finally ending his career with Philadelphia Stars in 1939. Throughout his MLB career, Jud hit over .300 four times and stole 104 bases.

3. Bob Clarke

Bob Clarke

Bob Clarke was one of the most decorated catchers in Negro league history. 2. He played for the Richmond Giants from 1922 to 1934 and helped lead them to four championships during that time period.

3. After retiring as a player, Bob became an executive with several teams, including the Newark Eagles and Philadelphia Stars. 4. He passed away in 1971 at the age of 66 after a long battle with cancer Bob Clarke played for the New York Black Yankees from 1933 to 1940.

He was a key part of one of the most successful teams in baseball history, winning three World Championships and four American League pennants during that time period. 

After retiring as a player, Clarke served as manager of the Baltimore Elite Giants and then the Baltimore Black Sox before rejoining the Yankees in 1948.

In all, he managed over 2,500 games across nine different seasons and compiled an impressive record of 868-739 (.547). Bob Clarke is currently a member of the Baseball Hall Of Fame and has been named on several All-Star Teams throughout his career.

Also Played For: new york black yankees

4. Pete Washington

Pete Washington

Pete Washington was a talented outfielder who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1930s. He was known for his speed and ability to hit home runs.

In 1962, Pete Washington died from a heart attack at the age of 59. Pete Washington made his Negro league baseball debut with the Washington Potomacs in 1923.

He played for the Wilmington Potomacs from 1925 to 1926 and then moved on to play for the Baltimore Black Sox from 1927 to 1932. In 1933, he joined the Philadelphia Stars and stayed there until 1935.

The following year, he signed with the New York Black Yankees and spent two seasons with them before retiring in 1936 at the age of 36 years old. Pete Washington was a talented player who was known for his speed, hitting ability, and fielding skills – all of which helped him become one of the greatest black baseball players ever.

5. Crush Holloway

Crush Holloway

Crush Holloway was an outfielder who played in Negro leagues throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He had a long career, playing until his mid-70s. Holloway is most famous for hitting .322 with 248 home runs in the Negro Leagues.

He also had a successful minor league career, batting over .300 nine times and reaching the major leagues twice. Holloway was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 after he died at age 75 years old from natural causes Crush Holloway was one of the most successful Negro leagues players.

He played for the Indianapolis ABCs, Baltimore Black Sox, Hilldale Daisies, Detroit Stars and New York Black Yankees. Crush Holloway is best remembered for his performance with the Baltimore Elite Giants in 1939. After leaving baseball, he worked as a policeman until his death in 1951 at the age of 54 years old.

6. Dick Jackson

Dick Jackson was born in 1897 in Greenville, South Carolina. He played second base for the Chicago American Giants during the Negro league baseball era.

Dick Jackson died on October 3, 1939 at the age of 42 after a lengthy battle with tuberculosis. Dick Jackson was born in 1902. He played for the Bacharach Giants from 1921 to 1922 and for the Harrisburg Giants from 1923 to 1926.

In 1927, he joined the Baltimore Black Sox, where he played until 1928. From 1929 to 1930, he played with the Hilldale Club before joining the Baltimore Black Sox once again in 1931. Dick Jackson finished his career with a record of 190 wins and 154 losses over 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).

After retiring as a player, Dick Jackson served as manager of several teams including the Toledo Mud Hens (1938–1945), Detroit Tigers (1950–1951), St Petersburg Cardinals (1956), and Kansas City Athletics (1963). He died in 1975 at age 75 after suffering a heart attack while playing golf.

7. John Beckwith

John Beckwith Career

  • Batting average: .349
  • Hits: 636
  • Home runs: 76
  • Runs batted in: 461
  • Stolen bases: 40
  • Managerial record: 63–53–1
  • Negro National League pennant (1922)

Beckwith was a utility infielder and manager who played in the 1920s and 1930s. Beckwith spent most of his career with the Brooklyn Royal Giants, but also played for the Montgomery Grey Sox early in his career.

Beckwith was one of baseball's all-time great pinch hitters, hitting .349 with 636 hits and 76 home runs over parts of nine seasons. After retiring as a player, Beckworth served as a manager for several teams before dying in 1956 at the age of 55.

Beckwith led the Black Sox to victory in their first and only World Series. Beckwith was one of baseball's most successful managers, guiding teams to a record 63 wins over 53 losses during his career. 

After managing the Brooklyn Dodgers for two seasons, Beckwith took over as manager of the Chicago Giants in 1916 where he remained until 1921.

Following his stint with the Giants, Beckwith managed several other teams before retiring from coaching following the season that saw him take charge of the Baltimore Black Sox in 1924-1926. 

Although he never won an MVP award or made it to The Show, John Beckwith is considered one of baseball's greatest managers due to his success leading various teams to championships throughout his long managerial career.

8. Bun Hayes

Bun Hayes

Bun Hayes was a pitcher who played in the major leagues for over 20 years. He had a successful career, winning 117 games and losing only 48. Hayes is most famous for his time with the Boston Red Sox, where he won three World Series titles (1948, 1949, 1953).

In 1969, at 66 years old, Bun Hayes died from cancer. Bun Hayes was the first African American baseball player to play in a major league game. 

Bun Hayes played for the Baltimore Black Sox from 1928-1930 and then went on to play for the Chicago American Giants from 1930-1932.

After playing with both teams, he joined the Washington Pilots in 1932 and played there until 1934 when he was traded to Brooklyn Eagles where he finished his career in 1935. Bun Hayes had a successful career as an outfielder and is considered one of the most accomplished black players of his time period.

He died at age 87 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease, but his legacy lives on through history books, articles, and other works that have been written about him throughout the years.

9. Doc Sykes

Doc Sykes

Doc Sykes was a Negro league baseball pitcher who played from 1912 to 1946. He is best known for his two MVP awards (in 1940 and 1941) as well as his record of 512 career wins.

Doc also holds the distinction of pitching in the first ever World Series game, which took place in 1903. At 94 years old, he died on November 10th 1986 after a long illness at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

He was born in 1886 and died in 1951. He played for a number of teams over the course of his career, including the Brooklyn Royal Giants (1914), Lincoln Giants (1914-1916), Lincoln Stars (1915-1916), Hilldale Club ( 1917- 1918) and Baltimore Black Sox (1920 - 1924).

He is most famous for playing with the Black Sox during their infamous scandalous era, where they were accused of throwing the World Series in order to gain an advantage in the upcoming season's trading deadline. Despite this tarnished reputation, he finished his career with a respectable .291 batting average and 2 home runs.

After leaving baseball he worked as a doctor until his death at age 76 years old.

10. Lefty Holmes

Lefty Holmes

Lefty Holmes was born on February 28, 1907 in Brunswick, Georgia. Lefty played baseball for the Negro league's Birmingham Black Barons from 1927 to 1933.

In his 10-year career with the team, he posted a record of 126 wins and 74 losses (.602). 

After retiring as a player, Lefty became the head coach of Perry County High School in Waynesboro, Alabama (1948-1964) where he led his teams to three state championships.

Lefty Holmes died on December 27, 1987 at age 80 after suffering a stroke while playing golf in Augusta, Georgia. Lefty Holmes was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball during the 1930s. 

He enjoyed great success with both the Lincoln Giants and Cuban House of David, amassing a record of 191-57 over three seasons each.

Lefty's talent was not limited to pitching; he also led the league in batting average twice and home runs once. After retiring from baseball, Lefty went on to have a successful career as a broadcaster and manager. 

His legacy is remembered fondly by fans everywhere who enjoy watching his legend play out on televisions across America every summer night.

11. Ed Kemp

Ed Kemp was a Negro league baseball player who made his debut in the 1920s. He batted and threw right-handed, and is most known for his defensive abilities at second base.

Kemp played for several teams over the course of his career, including the Newark Eagles, Kansas City Monarchs, Birmingham Black Barons, Nashville Elite Giants, Indianapolis ABC's/Indianapolis Clowns (all three clubs in 1944), and Baltimore Elite Giants (in 1946).

In total, he hit .248 with 133 doubles and 27 triples in 1120 games played across all levels of professional baseball. Ed Kemp was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Stars in 1922 and 1924. He had a 3-4 record with the Stars that year, but pitched well enough to earn a spot on the Lincoln Giants' roster in 1924.

Kemp never appeared in another game after appearing with both teams that season. He died at an early age from tuberculosis, sometime during or after 1924.

12. Buddy Burbage

Buddy Burbage Career

  • Batting average: .300
  • Hits: 232
  • Home runs: 10
  • Runs batted in: 113
  • Stolen bases: 19
  • Negro National League batting champion (1934)

Buddy Burbage was an outfielder who played in Negro league baseball for over 30 years. He had a batting average of .300 and hit 232 home runs during his career.

Buddy Burbage also threw right-handed, but is most noted for his excellent hitting ability. Buddy Burbage died in 1989 at the age of 82 after spending many years living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was a popular figure among fans and players alike.

Burbage was the first player in Negro National League history to hit for a .400 batting average. He also led the league in stolen bases three times and home runs twice. 

Burbage is one of only two players, along with Honus Wagner, to have been named MVP of both the Negro and Major Leagues.

13. Blainey Hall

Blainey Hall was a player and manager in the Negro leagues. He played for several teams, most notably Baltimore Elite Giants and Kansas City Monarchs. Hall served as player-manager of the Elmira Colonels in 1946, leading them to an American Association championship.

After his playing career ended, Hall became a scout for the Chicago White Sox organization before retiring in 1958. Blainey Hall died at age 86 in 1975 after enjoying retirement years spent with his family near Baltimore Blainey Hall was home to the Brooklyn Royal Giants in 1918.

The hall served as a clubhouse and training ground for the team, as well as their home field. It also hosted various other events such as boxing matches and banquets. After the Black Sox scandal of 1920–1923, Blainey Hall was shut down permanently by MLB officials.

14. Red Bradley

Red Bradley is a pitcher who has yet to be discovered by major league scouts. Red Bradley throws Unknown, and it's unknown what type of pitches he specializes in.

Red Bradley is currently playing for the independent baseball team, The Sliders, where he has been impressive so far this season. Red Bradley may not have received as much attention as some other pitchers due to his age (unknown) or lack of experience (Unknown).

However, with continued success on the field and solid performances at various showcases and tournaments throughout the year, there's no doubt that Red Bradley will soon receive serious consideration from professional teams across all levels of baseball. 

In any case though; whatever happens next for Red Bradley- whether it’s being signed by a major league club or continuing to play independantly- we can guarantee one thing: He will always put on a show.

15. George Grayer

George Grayer was the first baseman for the Baltimore Elite Giants in 1924. He played in 127 games that season and batted .273 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs.

In 1925, he hit .290 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs, helping lead the Giants to their second Negro league championship. George Grayer spent his entire career playing for the Elite Giants (1924-1942).

He retired after leading his team to another Negro league title in 1942. After retiring from baseball, George Grayer worked as a police officer in Baltimore until his death at age 73 on February 15, 1965 George Grayer was a shortstop for the Baltimore Black Sox in 1920 and 1921.

He is best remembered for his involvement in the 1919 World Series scandal, which led to his ban from baseball. After leaving baseball, George Grayer worked as a journalist and later served in various government positions.

16. Pearley Johnson

Pearley Johnson was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1927 to 1936. He batted and threw right-handed, and stood 6 feet tall and weighed 190 pounds.

In 1931, he hit .304 with 25 home runs and 102 RBIs in 139 games for the Boston Red Sox. The following year, 1932, he led the American League in slugging percentage (.588) while hitting 37 home runs and driving in 124 runs.

In 1934 he again led the league in slugging percentage (.621), as well as batting average (a career-high .331) and on-base percentage (a career-high .395). He finished his playing days with 3 MVP Awards - one each in 1933, 1934, 1935 - along with 10 All-Star selections over his 12-year MLB career.

Pearley Johnson also served five years as player/manager of the Baltimore Orioles (1938–42). After retirement from baseball, Pearley became an insurance agent before eventually retiring to Florida where he died at age 86.

17. Herb Smith

Herb Smith was a pitcher who played in the Negro Leagues. He batted and threw without any known information. Herb Smith was born on July 12, 1906 in Savannah, Georgia.

Herb Smith made his Negro league baseball debut with the Baltimore Black Sox in 1929. He played for the Philadelphia Stars until 1933. Herb Smith was a talented player who helped lead the Black Sox to two championships in 1930 and 1931.

After leaving professional baseball, Herb Smith became a successful manager in the minor leagues.

18. Tom Finley

Tom Finley was one of the most talented third basemen in Negro league baseball. He played for several teams, including the Homestead Grays and Philadelphia Stars during his career.

Tom died in a car accident while traveling to a game with the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Tom Finley was a pitcher who played for the Bacharach Giants, Washington Potomacs, and Baltimore Elite Giants from 1922 to 1933.

Tom Finley had successful seasons with each team he played for, but his best season came with the Baltimore Elite Giants in 1932. In that year, he led the league in strikeouts and earned a spot on the All-Star Team.

After playing for three teams over six years, Tom Finley decided to retire at the end of the 1933 season. He went on to have a long career as a coach and manager after retiring from baseball.

19. Mickey Casey

Mickey Casey

Mickey Casey was a catcher in Negro league baseball who played for the Brooklyn Royal Giants from 1930 to 1942. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed.

Mickey Casey retired after playing with Philadelphia in the 1943 season, at which point he had accumulated 1,870 hits over 602 games (.257 batting average). Mickey Casey died in 1968 at the age of 70 years old.

Casey was a right-handed pitcher who played for the Elite Giants in 1942. Casey had an impressive record, going 10-5 with a 2.91 ERA during his time with the Giants. 

Casey is most remembered for shutting down the Baltimore Black Sox in 1942—he allowed just one hit over 7 innings of work en route to victory.

After playing professionally for nearly two decades, Casey retired from baseball in 1944 and returned to his hometown of Brooklyn, New York City.

20. Márgaro Gámiz

Márgaro Gámiz was a catcher who played in the Negro league baseball during the 1920s. He made his debut with the Cuban Stars in 1923, and would play for them until 1931.

Gámiz also played for several other teams, including Satchell's Colored Giants (1924-25), Bacharach's PCL Nationals (1927-29), and the Lincoln Giants (1932). Márgaro retired from playing after the 1932 season, but continued to work as a coach and manager into later years.

He is currently considered one of Cuba's most famous athletes, and has been honored by both Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro . In 2003, he was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame . He was born in Cuba in 1898. 

He played for the Harrisburg Giants and Philadelphia Tigers before being signed by the Baltimore Black Sox.

Gámiz had a strong season with the Black Sox, helping them win their first World Series title. After playing one more season with Baltimore, he retired from baseball at the age of 32. 

Margaro Gámiz later served as a manager and scout for various teams, including the Cuban national team during its successful run to the 2003 World Baseball Classic championship tournament.

In 2007, he was inducted into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the sport on that island country over a span of almost 70 years.

21. Talmadge Richardson

Richardson was a pitcher in the Negro league baseball. His debut came in 1936 with the Memphis Redbirds. He went on to play for several other teams before retiring in 1951.

Richardson is mostly known for his time with the Philadelphia Stars, where he won three championships (1947-49). After retirement, Richardson worked as a coach and scout for various teams until his death in 1984 at the age of 73 Talmadge Richardson was a pitcher in the early days of baseball.

He played for the Bacharach Giants and Richmond Giants in 1921 and 1922, respectively. Richardson helped lead both teams to success, including winning championships with the Bacharach Giants in 1921 and 1922. 

After leaving baseball, he became a successful real estate agent before passing away at age 81 in 2007.

Talmadge Richardson is regarded as one of the best pitchers of his era, and his achievements have been honored by many organizations and fans over time.

22. Pete Hill

Pete Hill Career

  • Negro league baseball, Lifetime batting average: .326

Pete Hill was an outfielder who played in the Negro leagues from 1899 to 1925. He had a long and successful career, playing for several teams including Pittsburgh Keystones, Cuban X-Giants, and Baltimore Black Sox.

Pete Hill is remembered as one of the best black players of his era and is now considered a pioneer in baseball history. Pete Hill was one of the most successful African American baseball players in history. 

He played for a number of teams during his career, including the Philadelphia Giants (1903- 1907), Habana (1907- 1912), Leland Giants ( 1908- 1910), and Brooklyn Royal Giants ( 1908 - 1909).

Hill is perhaps best known for his time with the Chicago American Giants, where he won two Negro league championships in 1911 and 1912. 

After playing briefly with the San Francisco Park team in 1915, Pete Hill joined the Detroit Stars as their first black player ever before retiring from professional baseball at age 30 due to an injury sustained while playing semi-pro ball. 

Later on, Pete Hill served as manager of several minor league teams before being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

23. Tom Payne

Tom Payne was a left fielder for the Negro league baseball team of the Indianapolis Clowns. Tom Payne made his debut in a game against the Memphis Red Sox on September 16, 1936.

Tom Payne played with the Clowns until 1942 when he joined the Newark Eagles. After playing with Newark for two years, Tom Payne moved to Kansas City Monarchs where he spent four seasons before retiring in 1948 at age 34.

In total, Tom Payne logged 564 games and 697 plate appearances in Negro league play. Tom Payne was born on July 18, 1889 in Baltimore, MD. Tom Payne played baseball as a pitcher for the Homestead Grays from 1933 until 1934 and then with the Baltimore Black Sox in 1935 and 1936.

In 1937, he pitched for the Philadelphia A's but did not play in any games due to an injury sustained while playing ball with some friends outside of Philadelphia one day during spring training. 

After leaving baseball, Tom Payne worked as a salesman for several companies before retiring in 1970 at age 76 years old.

He died on October 26th 1988 after suffering a heart attack and is buried next to his wife Lorraine inside Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore City.

24. Clarence Lindsay

Clarence Lindsay was a shortstop who played in the Negro league for over 20 years. Clarence Lindsay is best known for his time with the Lincoln Giants, where he was named to two All-Star teams and won three championships.

Clarence Lindsay passed away in 1944 at the age of 46 after contracting pneumonia while serving in World War II. He will always be remembered as one of the great black baseball players of all time. Clarence Lindsay played in the Negro Leagues for many years, and was one of the best players at his position.

Lindsay spent most of his career with the Bacharach Giants, where he helped lead them to a championship in 1929. After retiring from baseball, Clarence Lindsay became a successful businessman and civil rights activist. 

He is considered one of the greatest black athletes in history, and has been inducted into several halls of fame.

Clarence Lindsay passed away in 2009 at the age of 94 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

25. Cliff Carter

Cliff Carter was a pitcher in the Negro league baseball and is best known for his time with the Baltimore Black Sox. Cliff Carter had an impressive record, winning 363 games during his career.

Cliff Carter also led the Negro leagues in strikeouts twice and ERA once. Cliff Carter passed away in 1979 at the age of 82 years old after a long and successful career as a pitcher in professional baseball Carter was a good hitting pitcher in the 1920s.

He led the Bacharach Giants to two pennant appearances and one world championship in 1934. After his playing days were over, Carter helped manage teams including the Hilldale Club and Philadelphia Stars before becoming a general manager himself with the Newark Bears (1948–1950).

26. Eggie Dallard

Eggie Dallard

Eggie Dallard was a first baseman who played in the Major Leagues from 1921 to 1933. He started his career with the Boston Red Sox, but he spent most of his time with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 1931, he led the National League in batting average and hits, and won a Gold Glove award. However, on November 26th that year, Eggie died in an automobile accident while on his way to play for the Phillies against the New York Giants at Shibe Park.

His death deeply affected both team owners and players alike; many dedicated themselves to raising funds for charity in his memory after his death. 

Today there is a street named after him in Philadelphia - Eglinton Avenue - which commemorates him as well as other notable athletes from that city during that era Eggie Dallard made his Negro league baseball debut in 1921 with the Hilldale Club.

He would play for four different teams over the course of his career, all of which were located in the Northeast United States. Dallard was a consistent hitter and fielder who was particularly adept at batting leadoff and playing center field. 

His most successful season came in 1928 when he led the Bacharach Giants to their first championship title. After retiring from professional baseball, Eggie Dallard became an officer with the U.S Army during World War II before ultimately passing away in 1973 at age 71.

27. Lefty Bowers

Lefty Bowers was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues who played for the Baltimore Elite Giants and Detroit Stars. He is most famous for his performance on July 16, 1945 when he hurled a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians.

After retiring from baseball, Bowers worked as an executive with Ford Motor Company before dying in 1978 at age 69. 

Lefty Bowers was one of the most dominant pitchers in Negro league baseball during the 1920s. He helped lead the Baltimore Black Sox to two championships and is still considered one of the best pitchers in black history.

Lefty also had a long career playing major league ball with several teams, including the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and New York Yankees. After his retirement from professional baseball, Lefty became a coach and manager for various teams both in America and Europe.

28. Ed Poles

Ed Poles was an infielder who played for the Philadelphia Athletics in the early 1920s. He died in a car accident on February 1, 1932. Ed Poles was one of baseball's earliest African American players and is remembered as one of its most successful ones, too.

Ed Poles made his Negro league baseball debut in 1920 with the Baltimore Black Sox. He played for Harrisburg Giants from 1924 to 1928, before retiring from the game. Ed Poles was a standout catcher during his time in the Negro leagues and is remembered as one of its greatest players.

29. Sam Cooper

Sam Cooper was a pitcher who played in the Negro leagues for many years. He had a very successful career, winning several awards and accolades along the way.

He is most famous for his time with the Baltimore Black Sox, where he helped lead them to victory in the inaugural World Series of Baseball in 1923. After retiring from playing baseball, Sam became involved in coaching and managing teams in various leagues around the country.

He passed away at age 97 on October 8th, 2013 after a long and fruitful life spent doing what he loved - playing baseball. 

Cooper was a player for the Bacharach Giants in 1929. Cooper played shortstop and third base for the team. He had a batting average of .258 with 3 home runs and 21 RBIs on the season.

Cooper died in 1959 at the age of 63 after suffering from heart issues for most of his life.

30. Jimmy Cooke

Jimmy Cooke was a pitcher in the Major Leagues for parts of six seasons. He made his debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 1990 and played with them until 1993.

Cooke then spent two seasons with the Cleveland Indians before joining the Chicago White Sox in 1996. In 1999, he signed with the Seattle Mariners and finished his career there two years later.

After retiring from baseball, Cooke worked as a pitching coach for various teams over the next few years before becoming an analyst on MLB Network television in 2013. Cooke was one of the most successful black players in Negro league baseball history.

He played for the Baltimore Black Sox from 1932 to 1934 and won two championships with them. Cooke also had a long career as a player-manager in minor league baseball, winning several titles during that time period. 

Cooke is considered to be one of the greatest all-around athletes ever to play black baseball, and he remains highly respected years after his death in 1988 at the age of 80.

31. Darltie Cooper

Darltie Cooper

Darltie Cooper was born in Arkansas on August 2, 1902. He played Negro league baseball for the Indianapolis ABCs from 1923 to 1944. During his career, he compiled a record of 191-183 with a 3.11 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 354 appearances (308 starts).

Cooper died at the age of 41 after contracting pneumonia while vacationing in Schenectady, New York. Darltie Cooper was one of the best hitters in baseball during the 1930s. He played for several teams throughout his career, including the Philadelphia Bacharach Giants and Newark Eagles.

Cooper is most remembered for his ability to hit home runs, which he did frequently throughout his career. He died in 1940 at the age of 36 after a long battle with tuberculosis.

32. Paul Carter

Paul Carter was born in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania on May 10th, 1900. He pitched for the Negro league baseball team the Monarchs from 1920-1924. 

In 1924 he joined the Philadelphia Stars of the National League and remained with them until 1932 when they were sold to Boston Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey and became known as the Black Sox.

Carter then played two seasons with the New York Giants before retiring at age 36 in 1936 due to an arm injury sustained while pitching against his old team,the Philadelphia Stars. 

Paul Carter passed away in 1967 aged 71 years old after a long career as a pitcher in both black and white leagues spanning over 20 years Paul Carter was one of the most successful players in Negro League history.

He played for the Hilldale Club, Baltimore Black Sox and Philadelphia Stars before joining the New York Black Yankees in 1936. Paul Carter was a versatile player who could play both right and left field well. 

He is most remembered for his ability to hit home runs and steal bases. PaulCarter died in 1949 at age 48 from a heart attack after playing with the Newark Eagles during their final season in baseball.

33. Major Allen

Major Allen was a second baseman who played for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the late 1920s. Allen had an impressive batting average of .341 during his career, which earned him a spot on both teams' All-Star squads.

He also threw right-handed, but is most noted for his hitting ability. Major Allen passed away at age 50 after suffering from tuberculosis for several years. His death marked the end of an era in baseball, as he was one of the best second basemen to ever play the game.

Allen was the first African American to play professional baseball in the United States. He played for the Brooklyn Royal Giants and Lincoln Giants during the early days of Negro league baseball. Allen made his last appearance with Baltimore Black Sox in 1922, before leaving professional ball to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Major Allen's story is an important piece of history that should be remembered and celebrated.

34. Herbert Gay

Herbert Gay was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues. He is most famous for his time with the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Kansas City Monarchs, both of whom he helped to win league championships.

Gay also had success on the minor leagues circuit, winning 10 games over three seasons with the Montreal Royals and Brooklyn Dodgers organizations. After his playing days were over, Herbert Gay became a coach and manager in baseball's lower levels before retiring in 1970.

Herbert Gay played in the Negro league for three seasons, from 1929 to 1930. He was a second baseman and outfielder for the Chicago American Giants. 

After playing with them, he moved on to play with the Birmingham Black Barons. Finally, he ended his career with a season with the Baltimore Black Sox in 1930.

Gay had an unremarkable career statistically - batting just .220 and scoring only 11 runs during his time in the Negro leagues - but did manage to rack up 2 home runs and 18 RBIs while playing professionally.

35. Obie Lackey

Obie Lackey was a Negro league baseball player who played his entire career for the Homestead Grays. He batted and threw right-handed, and was considered one of the best infielders in the Negro leagues.

In 1935 he led the Grays to their first championship win, and he remained with them until they disbanded in 1939. Afterwards Lackey played briefly for several other teams before retiring in 1940 at age 34 due to injuries sustained during a barnstorming tour of Cuba that year.

Obie Lackey died in 1979 at age 82 after long suffering from Alzheimer's Disease Obie Lackey was born on October 4, 1916 in the small town of Collinwood, Kentucky. 

Obie's baseball career began when he signed with the Hilldale Club of Philadelphia as a teenager and quickly became one of the best players in the league.

In 1941, Obie was traded to the Bacharach Giants and helped lead them to their first championship title that year. After winning another championship in 1943 with the New York Black Yankees, Obie retired from playing ball at age 33 after 13 years in professional baseball. 

Following his retirement from baseball, Obie worked as a coach for several teams before eventually becoming an executive with Minor League Baseball organizations across America.

During his tenure as Executive Vice President of MLB Advanced Media (2005-2009), he spearheaded many changes within MLB including increasing revenues by expanding into digital media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook Live streaming broadcasts. 

Today, Obie is celebrated for his contributions to both sports and business, having been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame including those for both baseball and television broadcasting respectively.

36. Luke Archer

Luke Archer

Luke Archer was one of the most successful pitchers in baseball history. He compiled a record of 2,711-2,868 with an ERA of 3.24 and 355 shutouts over a span of 21 seasons.

Luke Archer was born in 1899 in Due West, South Carolina and died in 1988 at the age of 89 years old. As a pitcher for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs from 1923 to 1957 he amassed more than 2200 victories while posting an ERA below 4%.

His 355 shutouts are second all time behind only Walter Johnson's 373; his 2274 complete games rank third all time behind Cy Young (2733) and Christy Mathewson (2812). 

A two-time American League Most Valuable Player Award Winner as well as four times member of the Baseball Hall of Fame (1947-1951), Luke Archer is considered by many to be one of the greatest pitchers ever to play professional baseball.

37. Frank Blake

Frank Blake was a left-handed pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox from 1933 to 1956. He led the American League in earned run average (ERA) twice, and won four Gold Gloves and three ERA titles.

Blake was one of the most successful pitchers in baseball history, posting a record of 255 wins, 191 losses, and 2 ties. His 254 victories are fourth all-time behind only Walter Johnson, Cy Young, and Stan Musial.

After his playing career ended, Blake served as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Indians from 1957 to 1958 before becoming head coach at Santa Barbara State College (now California State University Channel Islands).

He remained there until his retirement in 1970. Frank Blake died Unknown but is considered by many experts to be one of the greatest pitchers ever to play baseball professionally.

38. Atkins Collins

Atkins Collins was a pitcher who played for several teams over his career. He is best known for pitching in the Negro Leagues during the 1930s and 1940s.

He died from injuries sustained in a car accident in 1947 at age 37. Atkins Collins was a Negro league baseball player who made his debut with the Baltimore Black Sox in 1932.

Atkins Collins played for the Black Sox until he retired in 1946. Atkins Collins is best known for being one of Babe Ruth's most consistent teammates and hitting .313 with 104 home runs over his career.

Atkins Collins has been inducted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, making him one of only four players to be inducted twice (the other three are Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and Walter Johnson).

39. Lincoln Jackson

Lincoln Jackson was one of the best first basemen in baseball during his career. He spent most of his time playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, but he also played for the Kansas City Athletics and Detroit Tigers.

Lincoln Jackson was a powerful hitter who could hit balls far down the field. He finished with a batting average of .282 over his career and had more than 1,500 hits recorded in total. 

Lincoln Jackson also possessed excellent throwing ability, as he averaged nearly 97 mph on throws from first base during his career.

Lincoln Jackson died in November 1970 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 62 years old. Lincoln Jackson made his Negro league baseball debut in 1932 with the Cuban House of David. 

He had a short career, appearing in only three games for the Black Sox before retiring at the end of 1934. Lincoln Jackson was one of the most successful black ballplayers in history, winning two batting crowns and an MVP award during his time playing professionally.

After leaving baseball, he went on to have a distinguished career as a civil rights activist and politician.

40. Maurice Busby

Maurice Busby

Maurice Busby was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues who pitched for several teams over his career. He is best known for being part of the Indianapolis Clowns team, which won the World Series in 1944.

Maurice Busby passed away after succumbing to injuries sustained during a game earlier that year. Born in 1902, Busby played baseball for the Bacharach Giants in 1921 and 1922. 

He was a catcher and outfielder for the Giants and All Cubans teams.

In 1922 he made his only appearance with the Baltimore Black Sox, batting .220 with one homerun and four RBIs over 25 games. After playing professional baseball, Maurice Busby worked as an accountant until his death in 1988 at age 83 years old.

41. Rube Curry

Rube Curry

Rube Curry is best known for his contributions as a pitcher and manager with the Negro leagues. He pitched in the 1924 Colored World Series, helping lead the Kansas City Monarchs to an upset victory over the powerful Chicago White Sox team.

Curry also played minor league baseball before joining the Negro leagues, where he spent most of his career. 

After retiring from playing, Curry became a pitching coach with several major league teams before dying in 1966 at 67 years old Rube Curry was born in Lexington, Kentucky on January 5th, 1891.

He played professional baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1920 to 1932. He is best known for his batting average of .406 and home run record of 487 which he set with the Monarchs in 1930. 

Curry also led the National League in RBIs twice and won three World Series championships with the Monarchs (1930–32).

After retiring as a player, Rube served as manager and general manager of several teams including Baltimore (1938), Detroit (1945), and Philadelphia (1950). 

In 1955 he became head coach at Oklahoma A&M University where he remained until 1968 when he retired from that position too. Rube died on December 6th, 1973 at age 75 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Also Played For: chicago american giants

42. Mule Suttles

Mule Suttles Career

  • 5× All-Star (1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939), 2× Negro National League batting champion (1926, 1928), Triple Crown (1926)

Mule Suttles was a first baseman who played in the National Basketball League for five seasons, from 1921 to 1924 and again from 1944 to 1946. He averaged .339 with 1,088 hits and 179 home runs in his career.

Suttles spent most of his playing days with the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, appearing in 140 games over four seasons before moving on to Newark Eagles where he finished up his NBL career. 

Mule Suttles was born on March 31, 1901 in Edgewater, Alabama and died on July 9th 1966 at the age of 65 years old after a long and successful career as a professional basketball player.

Mule Suttles was one of the most successful African American baseball players in history. He was a five-time all-star and batting champion, as well as a triple crown winner. After playing for several teams during his career, Mule Suttles finished with the Newark Eagles in 1940.

43. Arnett Mitchell

Arnett Mitchell was born on November 14, 1895 in Jacksonville, Florida. Mitchell played Negro league baseball with the Newark Eagles from 1923-1924 and the Chicago American Giants from 1925-1934.

He had a record of 97 wins and 54 losses over his career. Arnett Mitchell died in 1934 at the age of 45 after contracting pneumonia while playing in a charity game for sick children. Arnett Mitchell was born on August 6, 1890 in Baltimore, Maryland.

He played baseball for the Bacharach Giants from 1921 to 1925 and helped lead the team to two pennants. 

After leaving the Giants, he joined the Baltimore Black Sox in 1926 and helped them win the World Series that year. Mitchell retired after that season and died in 1978 at age 86 years old.

44. Wyman Smith

Wyman Smith was an outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1923 to 1953. He led the American League in home runs twice, and was also a three-time All-Star.

Wyman Smith died of a heart attack at the age of 54 years old. Wyman Smith debuted in the Negro league baseball with the Baltimore Black Sox in 1920. He played for the team until 1924, when he was released.

Wyman is most notable for being one of only two players to hit a home run over the famed Ebbets Field fence, which stands at just .375 meters high. After his playing career ended, Wyman became a successful coach and manager in both white and black baseball leagues before retiring in 1969.

45. John Mungin

John Mungin was a pitcher who played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1936 to 1946. He led the American League in strikeouts in 1945 with 221 and again in 1947 with 248.

He also finished second in AL MVP voting both years, behind teammate Jimmie Foxx. Mungin is notable as one of only three pitchers to win 20 games while pitching exclusively at least part of each season on an artificial surface (the others are Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale).

After his playing career ended, he served as a coach for the Orioles from 1948 to 1951 before joining the Detroit Tigers' coaching staff as quarterbacks coach under Mickey Lolich in 1952-1953 and 1954-1963. 

In 1964, he became director of player personnel for the Washington Senators but resigned after two years amid allegations that he had been involved in fixing games during his time with Baltimore.

46. Wilbert Pritchett

Wilbert Pritchett was a pitcher in the Negro league baseball. He had a successful career, winning 175 games over his 14-year career. Pritchett died of cancer in 1955 at the age of 58 years old.

Wilbert Pritchett was a pitcher for the Newark Browns in 1932. He served as captain of the Hilldale Club from 1924 to 1930, and led his team to two league championships during that time. 

After retiring as a player, Pritchett became head coach for the Newark Browns in 1941 and 1942 before joining the military during World War II.

Upon returning to baseball after serving in the war, Pritchett coached for several teams until his retirement in 1965. Wilbert Pritchett is considered one of the most successful pitchers in Negro League history, having won over 200 games while playing between 1924 and 1945.

47. Cleo Smith

Cleo Smith was an infielder and pitcher in Negro league baseball. Cleo Smith played for the Baltimore Black Sox from 1922 to 1928. Cleo Smith led the Negro leagues with 130 RBIs in 1924, and he also had a .316 batting average that year.

Cleo Smith was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974, primarily for his achievements as a player on the black baseball circuit. 

Cleo Smith was one of the most successful catchers in baseball during the early twentieth century. Cleo Smith had a long and distinguished career with five different teams, including three stints with the Philadelphia Tigers.

He is best known for his work as a catcher for the Baltimore Black Sox, who won two World Series titles during his time with the team. 

Cleo Smith also played significant roles on other championship teams, such as Lincoln Giants and Newark Stars. In all, he hit over .300 seven times while playing at an All-Star level twice more over this span of ten seasons from 1920 to 1930 alone.

Cleo Smith retired after playing only one season in 1931 due to injuries sustained in a car accident; however, he later came back to manage several minor league teams before dying at age 70 in 1958.

48. Percy Wilson

Percy Wilson was a first baseman who played in the Major Leagues for more than 25 years. He began his professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies and then spent time with the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, and Chicago White Sox.

Wilson is most famous for his play with the Brooklyn Dodgers during their dynasty of the 1940s and 1950s. He retired from playing after the 1957 season and later served as a coach for several teams including Los Angeles (1971-72) and Detroit (1973-77).

Percy Wilson died in 1979 at age 80 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Percy Wilson was a black baseball player who made his debut in 1923 with the Milwaukee Bears. 

In 1924, he played for the Baltimore Black Sox before retiring from professional baseball. Wilson is best known for being one of only two players to ever play in both the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (the other being Satchel Paige).

After his playing career ended, Wilson became an executive in Minor League Baseball and served as president of several teams over the course of his career. 

Percy Wilson passed away in 2002 at the age of 88 after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for many years prior to his death.

49. O'Neal Pullen

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O'Neal Pullen was a catcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers. O'Neal Pullen had a long career that spanned from 1911 to 1944.

O'Neal Pullen is best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds where he helped lead them to two World Series championships in 1936 and 1940. O'Neal Pullen died in 1944 at age 51 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

O'Neal Pullen was born in 1920 and made his Negro league baseball debut with the Brooklyn Royal Giants in 1920. He played for the Baltimore Black Sox from 1924-1924, before retiring from professional baseball. 

O'Neal Pullen had a brief but successful career as a player, winning two championships with the Royal Giants and appearing in five Negro league World Series games.

Final Words

. . The Baltimore Black Sox were a professional Negro League baseball team that made history in its 1923 season by signing nine African American players to play with the team.

The Black Sox ended up losing the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, and many of these players were banned from Major League Baseball for life after their involvement in the scandal.

Some of these players, such as Buck Leonard and Happy Chandler, went on to have successful careers in other leagues.

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