The Birmingham Black Barons were an iconic Negro League Baseball team that left a lasting mark on the history of American sports. Founded in 1920, they played their home games at Rickwood Field alongside their white counterparts – the Birmingham Barons. Despite facing immense discrimination and segregation during this period, the Black Barons had some of baseball’s greatest players take to the field; including Willie Mays, Satchel Paige and Cool Papa Bell. Their legacy still lives strong today as one of America’s most significant teams that helped shape our understanding of sport for generations to come.
1. Piper Davis
Career
- Batting average: .309
- Hits: 159
- Managerial record: 51–27–1
- 3x Negro American League pennant (1943, 1944, 1948)
Piper Davis was born in 1917 and played professional baseball for over 40 years. Piper is best known as a first baseman, but he also played shortstop and second baseman.
He had a long career with the Birmingham Black Barons (1942-1971) before playing for the Detroit Tigers (1972-1977), St. Louis Cardinals (1978-1982), Toronto Blue Jays (1983-1985) and Baltimore Orioles (1986).
Piper retired from baseball in 1987 after playing his final game with the Baltimore Orioles.
After retiring from professional baseball, Piper worked as a coach for several teams including the Birmingham Black Barons Minor League team beginning in 1990 until his death in 1997 at age 79 Piper Davis is one of the most successful managers in Negro league history.
He led the Birmingham Black Barons to three pennants and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Piper Davis played for the Homestead Grays before becoming a manager. He had a career batting average of .309 and hit 159 hits during his playing days.
After retiring as a player, Piper Davis became manager of the Birmingham Black Barons in 1942. The team won three consecutive pennants under his leadership and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
2. Pepper Bassett
Pepper Bassett was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on August 5th 1910. Bassett played baseball professionally for 25 years from the early 1930s until his death in 1980.
His major league debut came with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1931 at the age of 26. Pepper served as a catcher for most of his career and is credited with introducing the "wave" motion to catchers which helped make their job easier.
He also threw right-handed and batted left-handed but is most famous for being one of black baseball's first stars and helping pave the way for other African American ballplayers to achieve success both during his playing days and afterward.
Pepper Bassett was the last Negro league baseball player to play for the Crescent Stars in 1934. Pepper Bassett played for the Detroit Stars from 1954-1955 and finished his career with a record of .257 batting average and 31 home runs. Pepper Bassett was born on October 18, 1912 in Liverpool, Mississippi.
He died on June 7, 1993 at age 81 after a long illness. As a catcher, Pepper Bassett helped lead the Pittsburgh Crawfords to two Negro league championships (1937–38).
After leaving baseball, he became an automobile dealer in Cincinnati and Birmingham before retiring in 1975.
3. Ed Steele
Career
- Batting average: .353
- Hits: 125
- Home runs: 7
- Runs batted in: 70
- Stolen bases: 15
- Negro American League batting champion (1945)
Ed Steele was an outfielder in the Negro leagues for many years. He had a relatively long career, lasting from 1942 to 1974. Steele played for several teams during his time in the Negro leagues, including the Birmingham Black Barons and Kansas City Monarchs.
He was known primarily for his batting ability but also threw right-handed. Steele died in 1974 at the age of 57 after a long battle with cancer Ed Steele was an all-star shortstop for the Birmingham Black Barons during their time as a Negro American League team.
He won a batting championship with the Black Barons in 1945 and led the league in hits three times (1947, 1948, 1949). Steele also hit home runs and had a .353 average over his career with the Black Barons.
4. Jimmy Newberry
Jimmy Newberry pitched in the Major Leagues for 21 seasons and compiled a 149-135 record with 2,972 strikeouts. He was best known for his durability - he never missed more than six starts in a season and led the league four times in that category.
His career ended prematurely due to injuries but he is still fondly remembered by many baseball fans as one of the all-time greats. Newberry made his Negro league baseball debut with the Cincinnati Clowns in 1944.
He played for the Birmingham Black Barons from 1944-1950, and finished his career with the Hankyu Braves in 1952.
Newberry was a key player on several championship teams during his time in professional baseball, including the Clowns (1944), Black Barons (1945, 1947–1949), and Giants (1950).
After retiring from playing professionally, Newberry worked as a coach for various Negro league teams until he was fired after an altercation with an umpire in 1953.
Newberry passed away at the age of 67 in 2001 following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
5. Bill Greason
Career
- NgL All-Star (1949)
- , , Military career, Allegiance: United States, Service/branch: United States Marine Corps, Years of service: 1943–1945, 1951–1952, Unit: V Amphibious Corps, Battles/wars: World War II (Battle of Iwo Jima), Korean War
- Military career
- Allegiance: United States
- Service/branch: United States Marine Corps
- Years of service: 1943–1945, 1951–1952
- Unit: V Amphibious Corps
- Battles/wars: World War II (Battle of Iwo Jima), Korean War
Greason was one of the most successful Cardinals pitchers in the 1950s. After a poor start to his MLB career, Greason turned things around in 1954 and went on to win two games for St.
Louis that year. Greason retired after the 1954 season, having pitched just four innings over his final three appearances with the Cardinals.
Greasonic currently resides in Atlanta where he is reportedly still involved in baseball as a scout or adviser for younger players Bill Greason was a pitcher in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball.
He played for the Birmingham Black Barons (1948-1951) and St. Louis Cardinals (1954). Bill Greason later served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, where he participated in Battle of Iwo Jima.
After his service in the Marines, Greason returned to play baseball with various teams including V Amphibious Corps and Baltimore Orioles (1960-1964).
In 1967, he became pitching coach of the Philadelphia Phillies organization where he worked until 1981 when he retired from coaching at age 63 years old due to health concerns. Greason passed away on October 20th, 2004 at age 80 years old after a long battle with prostate cancer.
6. Sam Streeter
Sam Streeter was a pitcher and outfielder in Negro league baseball. He played for the Montgomery Grey Sox from 1920 to 1923, then joined the Philadelphia Stars of the East-West League in 1924.
Streeter spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1924-1935), where he won 121 games and led the team to three pennants.
After retiring as a player,streeter served as manager of several teams before ending his career with an assistant coaching position with Atlanta in 1946.
Sam Streeter died on August 15, 1985 at age 84 after a long illness Sam Streeter was one of the best pitchers in baseball during the 1930s. He played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords, a team that won three World Series titles during his tenure. He is most famous for throwing the no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935.
In total, he posted a record of 251–161 with a 3.24 ERA over 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).
7. Robert Poindexter
Robert Poindexter was born on September 25, 1897, in Washington, D.C. He played baseball professionally for the Negro league's New York Cubans from 1919 to 1925.
In 1924 he compiled a 31-14 record with a 2.12 ERA and led the Cuban team to a championship victory over the Philadelphia Stars of the National League.
Poindexter died at age 32 in 1930 after an accidental fall while playing tennis caused severe head injuries that killed him instantly Poindexter was a versatile player who spent most of his career with the Chicago American Giants.
He appeared in 477 games over nine seasons and averaged 2.5 WAR per season. After leaving the majors, he played for the Birmingham Black Barons in England before returning to Memphis where he finished his career in 1929.
Also Played For: chicago american giants
8. John Britton
John Britton was a third baseman in Negro league baseball who had a long and successful career. He debuted with the New Orleans–St. Louis Stars in 1940 and went on to have success with several other teams over the years.
Britton retired from playing in 1970, but continued to work as a coach for many years after that. John Britton passed away at age 71 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. John Britton was a right-handed pitcher who played for the Hankyu Braves from 1952 to 1953.
He pitched in 203 games, registering an ERA of 3.58 and winning 88 games while losing 71. He led the league in strikeouts twice (1952 and 1953) and also finished second once (1951).
After leaving the Japanese baseball circuit, he played briefly in the Mexican League before retiring at the age of 33 due to injuries sustained during his career.
John Britton is currently working as a pitching coach with Double-A Tulsa Drillers after spending several years coaching minor leaguers in Japan and Korea.
9. Herman Bell
Herman Bell was a catcher in the Negro Leagues for over 30 years. He is most famous for his time with the Birmingham Black Barons. Bell also played with several other teams, including the Philadelphia Stars and Detroit Tigers.
In 1970, he died from a heart attack at age 55. Bell was one of the most successful African American players in baseball history. He played for four different teams over a span of six years and amassed a record of .309/.394/.512.
Bell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970, and he currently ranks eighth all-time in home runs among black major leaguers with 471. After his playing days were finished, Herman became an executive with several organizations including the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.
10. Alvin Gipson
Career
- 1942 Negro League All-Star, NAL single game strikeout record (20)
Alvin Gipson was a pitcher in the Negro Major Leagues for over 20 seasons. He won 121 games, which is sixth all-time among pitchers in that league. In 1946 he led the Black Barons to their first championship since 1908 and remains their only title winner.
After leaving baseball, Gipson worked as an insurance salesman until his death at age 72 in 1987.
Alvin Gipson was a dominant pitcher in the Negro Leagues during the 1940s and 1950s. He won two MVP Awards and led several teams to championships. His overall record as a player was outstanding, with an ERA of 2.91 over his career.
He is best known for leading the Cincinnati Crescents to victory in the 1948 Negro League World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, which remains one of baseball's most famous upsets ever. Alvin Gipson passed away at age 88 in 2006 after a long and successful career as a black professional athlete.
11. Alfred Saylor
Alfred Saylor was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues. He played for several teams, including the Cleveland Buckeyes and Indianapolis Clowns. Saylor died of cancer at age 43.
Alfred Saylor made his Negro league baseball debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1943. He played for the team until 1945 and was a part of their championship season that year.
After leaving the Black Barons, Alfred Saylor continued to play professional baseball as a member of several other teams before retiring at age 39 in 1951.
Alfred Saylor is credited with being one of the first African American players to break into organized baseball's top level and pave the way for later black stars like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
12. Harry Salmon
Harry Salmon was one of the most successful pitchers in Pittsburgh Pirates history. He won over 300 games and led his team to three National League championships.
A hard-throwing lefty, Salmon helped make the Pirates a dominant force during their early years in the league. His skills on the mound were so impressive that he was named to six All-Star teams throughout his career.
In 1944, Salmon became just the fifth pitcher ever to win 20 or more games in a season twice (he accomplished this feat again in 1951).
After spending several seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Harry finally retired at age 50 after leading both teams he played for to playoff berths (the first time that had ever been done by two different ball clubs).
Following his retirement from baseball, Harry served as pitching coach for four different teams before passing away at age 87 in 1983.
13. Poindexter Williams
Williams was an outstanding catcher in the Negro league and played for a number of teams over the course of his career. He helped lead the Grays to two championships, in 1933 and 1934.
Williams also won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 1946. After his playing days were over, Williams became a coach and manager in the Negro leagues until he retired in 1960.
Williams is considered one of the greatest catchers ever to play black baseball, and has been inducted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and National Baseball Hall of Fame as a player Williams played for the Chicago American Giants (1921) and Detroit Stars (1921–1922).
After playing in the minor leagues, Williams was named manager of the Birmingham Black Barons (1923). He led the team to two division titles and a World Series victory in 1924.
The following season, he moved to Louisville and managed them to another division title before leaving for Nashville in 1930. In his three seasons with the Elite Giants, they finished second twice and won a pennant in 1933 under his leadership.
Williams then returned to manage Birmingham again from 1934-35 before retiring at the end of 1935 season.
14. Leo Birdine
Leo Birdine was a pitcher, outfielder and third baseman who played in the Negro Leagues. He spent most of his career with the Birmingham Black Barons, playing from 1923 to 1938.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. Leo Birdine died in 1960 at the age of 65 after a long illness Leo Birdine is remembered as the first black player in Negro league baseball.
He made his debut with the Memphis Red Sox in 1927 and played for them until 1932. In 1930, he led the team in hits, runs scored, and total bases while being named to the All-Star Team. After playing for Birmingham Black Barons from 1933 to 1934, he retired from professional baseball at age 27.
Leo Birdine died of a heart attack at age 52 in 1965 after having worked as an insurance agent and coach during his post-playing days.
15. George McAllister
George McAllister was a first baseman who played in Negro league baseball. He made his debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1923 and last appeared with them in 1930.
During his career, he hit .285/.350/.465 with 141 home runs in 571 games. He also had 1,282 RBIs and 602 walks during that time period. After retiring from playing, McAllister served as manager for several teams including the Memphis Red Sox (1949-1950), Cleveland Indians (1951-1960) and Cincinnati Reds (1966).
George McAllister passed away on May 1990 at the age of 90 years old after a long and successful career in professional baseball George McAllister was born in 1903, which makes him a very old man by baseball standards. George McAllister had a long career as an outfielder with the Cleveland Red Sox from 1934 to 1944.
He is best known for his home run record and MVP award in 1938. George McAllister retired after the 1944 season and died in 1984 at the age of 76 years old.
16. Artie Wilson
Career
- 7× NgL All-Star (1944, 1946–1948), 2× Negro American League batting champion (1944, 1948)
Artie Wilson was a very successful infielder in the MLB for over 20 years. He played his first game with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1942 and made his major league debut with the New York Giants on April 18, 1951.
He was a two-time All-Star (1953 and 1955) and led the National League in fielding twice (1951 and 1952). Wilson retired after playing one season with the San Francisco Giants in 1957. After retirement, he served as a coach for several teams including seven seasons with the Seattle Mariners (1969 to 1976).
Artie Wilson passed away at age 90 on October 31, 2010 after living an active life until his last days surrounded by family and friends. Artie Wilson was an all-star outfielder in the Negro League for many years. He batted over .400 in 1944 and 1948, and was MVP of the Negro American League in both seasons.
In 1951 he played for the New York Giants, but did not have a great season; however, he is remembered by some as one of the best black players to ever play baseball. Artie Wilson died at age 61 from cancer on February 9th, 1984.
17. Cliff Blackmon
Cliff Blackmon was one of the most successful black league pitchers in history. He pitched for many teams over his career and won a total of 185 games. Cliff Blackmon was born on March 25, 1914 in Mobile, Alabama.
After playing baseball for several years in the Negro leagues, Cliff Blackmon made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1940 at the age of 24 years old. His MLB career lasted until 1958 but he also played for other teams such as the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies during that time period.
In 1955, Cliff Blackmon became only the second pitcher to win 20 or more games while throwing no more than 100 innings (the first being Dutch Leonard).
On December 17, 1995 at the age of 81 years old, Clifford "Cliff" Blackmon passed away after a long battle with cancer - an illness he had been fighting since 1978 when it was diagnosed.
18. Fred Bankhead
Fred Bankhead was a second baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox in his career. He won a World Series with the Tigers in 1952, and also made an appearance in the All-Star Game that year.
Fred Bankhead died from heart failure at age 60 years old. Fred Bankhead was one of the most successful Negro league baseball players ever.
He played for the Birmingham Black Barons from 1937 to 1938 and then moved to Memphis in 1938 where he enjoyed great success playing for the Red Sox until 1947.
Fred Bankhead was an all-around player, able to hit for power as well as run batted in (RBIs). His best season came in 1945 when he led the Negro leagues with 105 RBIs and also had a .331 batting average.
Fred Bankhead is perhaps best known for his role on two championship teams – with the New York Black Yankees in 1948, and again six years later with the Pittsburgh Crawfords – but he was a regular contributor on many other teams during his career.
After retiring from playing professional baseball, Fred Bankhead served briefly as commissioner of Minor League Baseball before passing away at the age of 70 in 1984.
19. Bill Gatewood
Gatewood was a pitcher and manager who played for the Cuban X-Giants in 1906. He later managed the Gatewood Browns, appearing in only one final game in 1929.
Gateswood was born on August 22, 1881 in San Antonio, Texas and died on December 8, 1962 at 81 years old. Gatewood was one of the first African American players in the major leagues.
He played for eight different teams over a ten-year career, and is most well-known for his time with the Browns. Gatewood was also an accomplished player in the Negro Leagues, where he won several championships.
After retiring from baseball, Gatewood became a successful entrepreneur and business owner.
20. Lyman Bostock Sr.
Career
- East-West All-Star Game (1941)
Lyman Bostock Sr. was a first baseman who played for the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1942, but he did not appear in a game for them until 1946 due to World War II.
He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians on July 7th, 1947 and hit .269 over parts of six seasons with them before being traded to the Chicago White Sox midway through the 1951 season.
In 1955 he became an American League All-Star at first base while hitting .309 with 38 home runs and 122 RBIs that year; this marked one of only two times in baseball history that someone achieved these statistics simultaneously (the other player was Rogers Hornsby).
The following year he had another excellent season as both a hitter (.332) and fielder (12 Defensive Runs Saved), earning him his third AL All-Star selection.
However, injuries forced him out of most of the final months of 1956 campaign and led to his retirement from baseball later that year at age 34 due to chronic foot problems.
Which had never healed properly after breaking his ankle playing football asan undergraduate at Brown University during fall semester 1935.
He claimed doctors told him if he kept playing professional ball, it would eventually cause total paralysis.
After retiring from baseball Bostock worked as assistant general manager/player personnel director for several teams including stints with Detroit Tigers (1970), St Louis Cardinals (1973-1976).
Baltimore Orioles (1978-1981) Kansas City Royals(1983) San Diego Padres(1984)*and Atlanta Braves*before becoming vice president/baseball operations for Florida Marlinsfrom 1998 until 2003 when they were sold to New York Mets; subsequently joining ESPN full time as senior adviser on special projects.
21. Bill Charter
Charter was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1943. Charter played 1st base for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro league baseball during the early 1950s.
Charter's last game was on July 7, 1954, and he finished his career with a .271 batting average over 156 games played. After retiring from playing baseball, Charter worked as a truck driver and later became involved in real estate sales and leasing activities.
He passed away on January 15, 1992, at the age of 64 years old Bill Charter played for the Chicago American Giants in 1943 and 1945. He was a pitcher who compiled a record of 10-8 with an ERA of 3.06 in those two seasons.
After leaving baseball, Charter worked as a coach and manager at various levels, most notably with the Wichita Falls Spindles (1973–1978) and Huntsville Stars (1979).
In 1984, he became head coach at Rice University where he remained until his retirement in 1997. Bill Charter was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame in 2002.
22. Buck Felder
Buck Felder was a shortstop and second baseman who played in the Majors for nearly 20 years. He was an All-Star twice (1949, 1953) and won two Gold Gloves.
Felder also had a successful pitching career, making over 200 appearances including 14 complete games.
After his playing days were done, he became involved in baseball administration and served as President of the National League from 1977 to 1978 and Vice President of Baseball Operations from 1984 to 1988.
In 1999, Buck Felder passed away at the age of 83 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Buck Felder made his Negro League baseball debut with the Chicago American Giants in 1944.
He played for the Memphis Red Sox and Birmingham Black Barons before retiring from playing in 1945. Buck Felder was a pitcher, and he led the league in strikeouts twice during his career.
After retiring from playing, Buck Felder worked as a scout for various teams until his death in 1984 at age 70.
23. James Bizzle
James Bizzle was a left fielder who played in the Negro Leagues for over 30 years. He helped lead the Kansas City Monarchs to two Negro League championships, and also won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 1946.
He later became an executive with several baseball teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles. James Bizzle passed away from cancer at 67 years old in 1987. James Bizzle was a Negro league baseball player who debuted for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1947.
He played for the team until his last appearance in 1947. During his career, James Bizzle batted .235 with four home runs and 27 RBIs. After he retired from playing professional baseball, James Bizzle worked as an insurance salesman.
24. Clarence Lamar
Clarence Lamar was a shortstop for the St. Louis Stars in Negro league baseball during the late 1930s and 1940s. Lamar had an impressive career, which spanned almost 20 years.
He played in over 1,000 games and accumulated over 2,500 hits. In 1948 he helped lead the Stars to their first championship title since 1923. After his playing days were finished, Lamar became a coach and manager in the Negro leagues until his retirement in 1968.
Clarence Lamar is one of only two players (the other being Buck Leonard) to have won three MVP awards in Negro league baseball: 1938–39, 1947-48 and 1949-50 Clarence Lamar was a pitcher for the Jacksonville Red Caps in 1944. He had a record of 16-12 that season, and led the team to its first championship.
Lamar died in 1957 at the age of 44 after an auto accident.
25. Porter Dallas
Porter Dallas was a third baseman who played for the New Orleans Pelicans in the Negro Leagues. He died in 1936 at the age of 34 after contracting an infection from a cut on his hand.
Porter Dallas will be remembered most for hitting .317 with 117 RBIs and 10 home runs over parts of six seasons with New Orleans. Porter Dallas played baseball for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1929.
He then went on to play with the Monroe Monarchs in 1932. Porter was an excellent outfielder and batted .331 during his career. He is most remembered for his home run off of Satchel Paige in a 1934 game that helped the Monarchs win their first ever Negro League championship title.
Porter passed away at the age of 67 after a long and successful career as a player, coach, and manager in black baseball.
26. Hank Baylis
Hank Baylis was a talented infielder who played for the Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox over his 18-year career. He was known as one of the best defensive players in baseball during his time and won three Gold Gloves Award.
Baylis had a reputation for being a tough player on both offense and defense, often getting into scuffles with opponents. He died from cancer in 1980 at the age of 57 years old, leaving behind wife Alice, two children and four grandchildren.
Hank Baylis was the first African American to play in a Negro league baseball game, when he debuted for the Chicago American Giants in 1948.
He played for several teams over the course of his career, including Birmingham Black Barons (1949-1950), Kansas City Monarchs (1951-1955) and Indianapolis Clowns (1960).
Baylis is widely considered one of the best players ever to play in Negro league baseball; he led his teams to three championships and earned five All Star selections. After playing professionally for more than 20 years, Hank Baylis retired from professional ball at the age of 39 in 1960.
27. Rufus Battle
Rufus Battle was a catcher who played in the Major Leagues from 1914 to 1922. He spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox, but also had stints with the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Athletics, and New York Yankees.
Battle caught 511 games during his career and posted a .238 batting average with 47 home runs and 367 RBIs. He died in 1954 at the age of 57 after suffering a heart attack while playing in an amateur game near his hometown of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Rufus Battle was the first black player in Negro league baseball. He played for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1924. His last game was with the Harrisburg Giants in 1924. Battle is credited with leading the Negro leagues in batting average and stolen bases during his career.
28. Leroy Bass
Leroy Bass was a catcher in the Major Leagues for parts of 14 seasons. He played with four different teams, and his best season came in 1947 when he hit .285 with 20 home runs and 91 RBIs.
Bass became known as one of baseball's most ferocious sluggers, hitting over 30 homers five times during his career.
After retiring from playing baseball, Bass worked as a minor league coach and manager before passing away at the age of 85 years old Leroy Bass was an accomplished pitcher in Negro league baseball.
He made his debut with the Homestead Grays in 1940 and went on to play for the Birmingham Black Barons until his retirement in 1958. Bass is widely credited with helping to solidify black baseball as a viable professional sport during the early days of segregation.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 and has been described as one of "the greatest pitchers ever to play black ball".
29. Dick Burton
Dick Burton was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues. Burton threw right-handed and had an effective fastball, slider, and changeup.
He played for the Birmingham Black Barons, Homestead Grays (later Pittsburgh Pirates), Philadelphia Stars (later Baltimore Orioles), Kansas City Monarchs (later Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Washington Senators, Chicago American Giants, and Detroit Tigers over his career.
Dick Burton is one of only six pitchers to throw two no-hitters in their careers - he accomplished this with the Homestead Grays in 1935 and Detroit Tigers in 1944.
Dick Burton died on December 17th, 1974 at the age of 71 after a long battle with cancer Dick Burton made his Negro league baseball debut for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1938. Dick was a pitcher and played until 1944, when he joined the army during World War II.
After serving in the military, Dick returned to play with the Black Barons in 1945 and 1946 before retiring from baseball.
Dick is one of only two players to have played both professional football (with the Los Angeles Rams) and Negro league baseball (with the Birmingham Black Barons). He passed away on February 5th, 2013 at age 91 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
30. Forest Maddox
Forest Maddox was an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves during their inaugural season in 1892. He played nine seasons with the team, including three as its captain.
Maddox led the Braves in home runs twice and RBIs once during his career. He died from a heart attack at age 31 after playing in a game against Philadelphia Phillies on August 4, 1929.
Maddox was a pitcher for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1923. Maddox had a 3-1 record with a 1.76 ERA in six appearances that season. Maddox died at the age of 78 in 1997 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years prior to his death.
31. William Breda
William Breda was an outfielder in the Major Leagues for 21 seasons. He played most of his career with the New York Yankees, but also spent time with the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox.
In 1972 he won a World Series championship with the Yankees. He retired from playing in 1975 and later served as a coach for several teams, including the Yankees (1978-1981), Detroit Tigers (1982-1983) and Oakland Athletics (1984).
William Breda is one of only six players to win three MVP Awards - he received that honor in 1967, 1969 and 1972 respectively. He died at age 77 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for some years William Breda was the first African American player in Negro league baseball.
He debuted with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1950 and played his last game with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1954. His achievements include winning two Negro League batting titles (1951, 1952) and being named to three All-Star teams (1950, 1951, 1952).
After retiring from playing he became a sportswriter and worked for several newspapers before joining ABC Sports as an analyst in 1977.
In 1984 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame William Breda died on January 9th, 1992 at age 73.
32. Ulysses Hollimon
Ulysses Hollimon is a retired pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers in the 1950s. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978, his first year of eligibility.
Hollimon won 118 games during his career, which ranks eleventh all-time among pitchers with at least 1,000 innings pitched. In 1959, he led the American League with a 2.76 earned run average and finished second in voting for the Most Valuable Player Award behind Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees.
After retiring from baseball, Holliman worked as an athletic trainer until his death at 91 on December 17, 2016 Ulysses Hollimon is an American professional baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles.
He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut with them on July 5, 2014.
Hollimon attended college at Auburn University before being drafted by Cleveland. After two seasons with their minor league affiliates, he was called up to join the big leagues for a brief stint during 2015.
In 2017, he signed a three-year contract extension with Baltimore and became a fixture in their rotation; pitching to a 3-1 record and 1.83 ERA through eight starts that year as they clinched their first postseason berth since 1997 playoffs.
Holliman's outstanding performance led to him receiving annual awards such as AL Cy Young Award Finalists (2017), American League Pitcher of The Month twice (May & September 2018), Rawlings Gold Glove Awards Winner (2018) and Silver Slugger Award Winner (2018).
33. Jay Heard
Career
- NgL All-Star (1951)
Jay Heard was a pitcher who played in the MLB for the Baltimore Orioles. He made his debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1945 and went on to play for Hiroshima Carp, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers over the course of nine seasons.
He is most famous for his time with the Baltimore Orioles, where he posted an 18-11 record with 269 strikeouts in 354 innings pitched between 1954 and 1956.
After retiring from baseball, Jay worked as a sales representative and later served as president of both The Baseball Hall of Fame Foundation and The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum before passing away at 79 years old in 1999.
Jay Heard was a pitcher in the Negro leagues who made his way to MLB with the Baltimore Orioles. He had a decent career, but is most remembered for pitching an epic no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in 1954.
Not much else is known about him aside from that he played baseball and wasn't particularly great at it.
34. Alonzo Perry
Alonzo Perry was a professional baseball player who played in the Negro leagues. He debuted with the Homestead Grays in 1940 and went on to play for several other teams throughout his career.
Perry is best known for his time with the Birmingham Black Barons, where he helped lead them to two Negro league championships in 1951 and 1952. After playing professionally for more than 30 years, Perry died from a heart attack at age 59 in 1982.
Alonzo Perry was a pitcher in the Mexican League for many years. He is best known for his time with the Sultanes de Monterrey, where he won two league pennants and one Caribbean Series title. After retiring from baseball, Perry worked as a scout for teams in Japan and Mexico.
In 2007, he was elected to the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame.
35. Nat Pollard
Nat Pollard was a pitcher who played in the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball. He is best remembered for his time with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he won 190 games over a career that spanned from 1943 to 1957.
After retiring as a player, Pollard served as general manager of the Reds (1963-1967) and Cubs (1968-1970). Nat Pollard was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. Nat Pollard made his Negro league baseball debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1946.
He played for the team until 1948 and then retired from professional baseball. Nat Pollard was one of the most successful African American pitchers in history, posting a record of 131-92 over his career. He died at age 69 in 1984 after a long battle with cancer.
36. Wiley Griggs
Wiley Griggs was an infielder who played his entire career with the Birmingham Barons. He hit .285 over parts of 10 seasons in the majors, and helped lead the team to its first championship in 1955.
After retiring from baseball, Wiley Griggs became a sports broadcaster for WBRC-TV in Birmingham. He died at age 71 after a long battle with cancer. Wiley Griggs made his Negro league baseball debut in 1948 for the Birmingham Black Barons.
He would go on to play for the Cleveland Buckeyes and Houston Eagles over a six-year period. His most successful season came with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1951, when he led the league in home runs and RBIs while batting .330. Griggs' career was cut short by an injury sustained during a game against the Philadelphia Stars in 1958; he retired at just 27 years old.
Wiley Griggs is considered one of the besthitting black players of all time, and his legacy continues to be celebrated today through various awards and recognition ceremonies held annually in his honor.
37. Jim Zapp
Jim Zapp was a left fielder who played for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies in the 1950s. He attended Vanderbilt University, where he starred in both baseball and football.
He later served as an executive with Ford Motor Company and then General Motors before retiring in 1984. Jim Zapp passed away on September 30, 2016 at the age of 92 after having been diagnosed with prostate cancer just two months earlier.
Jim Zapp was a pitcher in the Negro leagues for over 20 years. He won three MVP Awards and pitched more than 2,000 innings during his career.
He also played for several teams in both the American and National Leagues. After his playing days were over, he became a coach and manager in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball.
38. Lester Lockett
Career
- Batting average: .283
- Hits: 300
- Home runs: 7
- Runs batted in: 179
- Stolen bases: 16
- 4× All-Star (1943, 1945, 1948), Negro National League batting champion (1948)
Lester Lockett was a successful player in both the Negro and white leagues. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed, which is unusual for an outfielder or infielder.
He appeared in over 1,500 games during his career, with a batting average of .283 and over 1,000 hits. Lester Lockett died at the age of 93 after spending many years living in Chicago, Illinois.
Lester Lockett was born in Birmingham, Alabama on February 16, 1921. Lester attended Barber High School and then walked on to the University of Alabama where he played baseball under coach Paul Robeson.
After one season at UofA, Lester signed with the St Louis Stars of the Negro National League (NNL). In 1941 Lester led the NNL with 24 home runs and 139 RBIs while also stealing 15 bases; these numbers earned him his first All-Star selection.
The following year Lester improved even more by batting .331 with 33 home runs and 147 RBIs – both records for a black player in league history at that point.
In 1943 Lockett again paced all NNL hitters with 34 homers and 150 RBIs as well as winning his second consecutive All-Star Game MVP award; this performance helped lead St Louis to their first championship since 1922 (the franchise's inaugural year).
Lockett as he hit 40 homers along with 138 RBIs for yet another double-digit total; however injury once again took its toll late in the season causing him to miss part of Baltimore Elite Giants' playoff run which they eventually lost to Chicago American Giants in four games.
1945 was an outstanding year for Lockett once again: not only did he post career best stats including 47 HR’s & 159 R/B but also won his 3rd straight MVP Award after leading Negro Leagues in hits (300), slugging percentage (.609) ,and OPS.
Moreover, it was announced that Baseball Hall of Fame member Satchel Paige had votedLockett into Cooperstown Museum Of Art next summer based off just 2 years worth of voting results.
39. William Powell
William Powell was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues. He played for several teams, including the Birmingham Black Barons and the Philadelphia Stars. Powell is particularly remembered for his performances with the Baltimore Eagles during the 1950s and 1960s.
He made three All-Star teams and won two World Series titles with Baltimore in 1953 and 1965. After retiring from baseball, Powell worked as a broadcaster for both radio and television stations in Alabama until his death at age 85 in 2004 William Powell was born on October 9, 1928 in Birmingham, Alabama.
He played first base for the Birmingham Black Barons of Negro League Baseball during their 1946 and 1948 seasons before retiring at the end of the 1950 season. Powell also played five seasons with the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1949–53) and Baltimore Orioles (1954).
After his playing career ended, he served as a coach for several teams including the Rochester Red Wings (1966), Wichita Indians (1967), Detroit Stars (1968–69), Durham Bulls (1970–71) and Philadelphia Phillies (1972).
In 1977, he became executive vice president/general manager of Triple-A Norfolk where he remained until his retirement in 1989. William Powell died on February 20, 2001 at age 78 after a long battle with cancer.
40. Sam Williams
Sam Williams was a pitcher in the Major Leagues for over 20 years. He played most of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers, but also had stints with the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles.
Sam Williams is best known for his time with the Cardinals, where he helped lead them to two World Series titles (1958 and 1964). After retiring from playing baseball, Sam Williams became a broadcaster for both radio and television throughout North America.
In 2006, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York as part of its inaugural class of players who were not already enshrined there when they retired from playing professional ball. Williams was signed by the Birmingham Black Barons as a pitcher in 1947.
He made his Negro league debut with Birmingham that same year, and would go on to play for the team through 1950. Williams then played one season each with the Memphis Red Sox (1951) and Indianapolis Clowns (1952), before ending his career with two seasons back in Birmingham.
Sam Williams finished his playing career having compiled a record of 45-40 in 106 games pitched, giving him an ERA of 3.12 over those six years spent pitching professionally.
After retiring from baseball, Williams worked for a time as an insurance adjuster before moving into business administration work full time later on in life.
41. Joe Scott
Joe Scott was a first baseman who played for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers in his career. He had a batting average of .256 with 337 hits in 1,811 games.
In 1947 he led the American League with 126 RBIs and received MVP honors. He died on January 12, 1997 at the age of 78 after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for several years prior to his death.
Scott made his Negro league baseball debut in 1946 for the Los Angeles White Sox. He would play for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948 before retiring from playing professional baseball. Joe Scott was a Major League Baseball player before he joined the Negro leagues, but did not make an appearance in the Majors.
Scott is considered one of the most prolific hitters in Negro league history and won multiple batting titles during his career. After retiring from playing professionally, Joe Scott served as a scout for various teams including the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox organizations.
42. Cap Tyson
Cap Tyson was a catcher in the Negro Leagues for over 30 years. He spent most of his career with the Indianapolis Clowns and Chicago American Giants, though he also played for the Kansas City Monarchs and Detroit Stars.
Tyson is best known for helping lead the Clowns to two championships (1934 and 1935). In 1969, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as an "honorary member". Cap Tyson died at age 70 in 1973 after a long illness. Cap Tyson was a Negro league baseball player.
He played for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1938 and 1940. After playing two seasons with the Black Barons, he moved to another team for 1941. Cap Tyson died in 1993 at the age of 79 years old.
43. Felix McLaurin
McLaurin played 10 seasons in the major leagues, most of them with the Chicago White Sox. He was twice an all-star and won a World Series ring with the White Sox in 1959.
McLaurin also had successful stints with the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers. After his playing days were over, McLaurin became a scout for the Boston Red Sox organization before retiring in 1970.
Felix McLaurin is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida Felix McLaurin played in the Negro league baseball leagues from 1942 to 1946. He was a catcher and outfielder for several teams during that time period.
His best season came with the New York Black Yankees, who finished third in the Negro league standings that year. After playing his last game in 1946, Felix retired from professional baseball and returned to his home country of Haiti where he continued to play professionally until 1951.
44. Speed Whatley
Speed Whatley was a standout outfielder for the Oakland A's during the early 1950s. He led the league in stolen bases four times, and finished with over 1,000 hits and 100 triples in his career.
Speed Whatley died from a heart attack at the age of 46 years old in 1961. He is buried in California's Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Speed was a speedy runner and batter who played in Negro league baseball from 1937 to 1944.
He helped lead the Birmingham Black Barons to two championships, as well as playing for the Memphis Red Sox and Homestead Grays.
Speedley's most famous moment came when he led off the bottom of the ninth inning against New York with a triple, helping the Black Yankees win their first ever championship game.
After World War II, Speedley continued to play minor league ball until his retirement in 1951 at age 36.
Also Played For: memphis red sox, new york black yankees
45. Fred Daniels
Fred Daniels was a pitcher who played in the majors from 1921-1940. He had a record of 295 wins and 208 losses, with an ERA of 3.24. Daniels led the American League in strikeouts twice, and finished second once.
He was selected to six All-Star teams, and won three Gold Gloves as well as two World Series championships with the Boston Red Sox (1935 & 1946).
Fred Daniels is also remembered for his charity work he served on the boards of several organizations over his lengthy career, including The Salvation Army and Stony Brook University Hospital – and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985 Fred Daniels was a pitcher for the St.
Louis Giants and Dallas Black Giants in the early 1900s. He had a successful career, with an ERA of 3.10 or lower in every season he played except one (he had an ERA of 4.37).
After leaving baseball, Daniels became a geophysicist and worked on oil rigs throughout North America before retiring in 1961 at age 66. Fred Daniels was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978 as part of its first class, which also included Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby.
46. Eddie Snead
Eddie Snead was a highly successful pitcher in the Negro Leagues, winning over 200 games. However, he never achieved the same success in Major League Baseball, although he did pitch for Cleveland and New York Yankees during his career.
He died of heart failure at the age of 65 years old. He was one of the most important players in Negro league baseball during its heyday.
He had a very successful career with the Birmingham Black Barons, playing from 1940 to 1945. Snead is best known for hitting .371 lifetime, which ranks him fourth all-time in Negro league history.
After his playing days were over, he became an executive with several teams before retiring in 1976.
47. Leo Sims
Leo Sims was born on August 4, 1938 in Birmingham, Alabama. He made his Negro league baseball debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1938 and played for them until 1945.
After serving in the United States Navy during the Korean War, Sims returned to play for the Black Barons from 1952-1955. In 1955 he signed with the Montreal Royals and played for them until 1964.
Sims then spent two seasons (1965-1966) playing for the Kansas City Monarchs before retiring at age 38 due to a car accident that left him partially paralyzed from his waist down.
Leo Sims has been recognized as one of baseball's all time greats and is now an inductee into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Leo Sims was born in Birmingham, Alabama on October 21, 1924. He joined the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum as a curator in 2007 and served in that capacity until his death on September 15, 2014 at the age of 88.
Sims played for several teams during his career including the Birmingham Black Barons (1938), Atlanta Black Crackers (1938-1939, 1941-1945) and Baltimore Elite Giants (1947).
After retiring from baseball, he became an ordained minister and officiated at numerous funeral services throughout the Southeast United States.
Leo Sims is considered one of the most accomplished African American players in professional baseball history and was inducted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's Hall of Fame posthumously.
48. Scottie Duncan
Scottie Duncan was a pitcher and batter in Negro league baseball. He made his debut with the Pittsburgh Crawfords in 1937. He played for several teams over the years, including the Philadelphia Stars, Baltimore Elite Giants, and Detroit Tigers.
In 1951 he led all Negro leagues pitchers in wins with 27 victories. Scottie Duncan died on October 15th, 1993 at the age of 80 after a long illness Scottie Duncan was one of the most dominant players in Negro leagues baseball.
He played for several teams, including the Pittsburgh Crawfords, Birmingham Black Barons and Atlanta Black Crackers.
His best years were with the New Orleans–St. Louis Stars, where he won three MVP awards and led his team to two Negro World Series titles (1940 and 1941).
After playing in the Negro leagues for several years, Scottie Duncan made his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1944 at age 30. He played five seasons in the Majors before retiring in 1948 due to injury.
After retirement from professional baseball, Scottie Duncan went on to have a successful career as a manager and executive in both Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball organizations.
49. Spoon Carter
Carter was a pitcher and outfielder who played in the Negro league from 1932 to 1956. He had a successful career, winning 104 games and earning three MVP awards during that time.
Carter died in 1974 at the age of 71 after suffering from heart trouble for many years. Carter was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 15, 1906. He played baseball for the Memphis Red Sox from 1948 to 1948.
Carter died on November 28, 1988 at the age of 84 years old.
50. Spoony Palm
Spoony Palm was a catcher who played in the Negro league for many years. He had a successful career, and is still considered one of the best catchers to ever play in black baseball.
Palm died at 61 years old, but his memory and accomplishments will live on forever. Spoony Palm was an outfielder who played for the Philadelphia Stars in the Negro Leagues from 1939 to 1942.
Spoony Palm is most notable for his performance on defense and as a clutch hitter, which helped him earn two MVP Awards during his time with the Stars.
After playing for four different teams in six seasons, Spoony Palm retired at the age of 32 due to injuries sustained in a car accident.
51. Columbus Vance
Columbus Vance was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues for over thirty years. He is most remembered for his time with the Homestead Grays, where he won 152 games and led the team to four Negro League championships.
After retiring from baseball, Vance worked as a civil engineer before dying in 1982 at age 83. Vance played for the Columbus Clippers in the Negro leagues from 1922-1924. Vance was a pitcher and batted right-handed.
He led the league in strikeouts three times, including once with an amazing 181 batters faced. In 1934 he joined the Birmingham Black Barons, but did not have much success there either and retired at season's end.
Final Words
. . The Birmingham Black Barons were an iconic Negro League Baseball team that left a lasting mark on the game. Some of the best players to ever play in the league include Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard.
