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American Heroes
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Mrs Effa Manley Mrs Effa Manley
Owner and Manager - Brooklyn Eagles and Newark Eagles 1935-1948 - first woman selected to the baseball Hall of Fame

Mrs Effa Manley was one of the most fascinating figures in Negro League baseball history. In 1935 Effa and her husband businessman Abe Manley formed the Brooklyn Eagles – naming them for a newspaper in the Bronx. After one season they bought the Newark Dodgers franchise and Effa took over as manager. Renamed the Newark Eagles the team played its games at Ruppert Stadium.

A one-of-a-kind owner she demanded better scheduling for her players, paid higher wages and provided the Newark Eagles players with an air-conditioned ‘Flexible Clipper Bus.’ To provide work for her players during the winter months Effa and Abe Manley had those players that wanted to play in games in Puerto Rico. An attractive lady she often used her big smile and baseball team name to promote causes for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as Effa Manley was the treasurer of the Newark chapter.

Effa Manley’s 1946 Newark Eagles team led by Larry Doby, Monte Irvin and Don Newcombe captured the Negro World Series.

When Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color bearer in 1947 Effa spoke out against the white major leagues raiding the Negro Leagues without paying compensation. But the majors just kept on raiding. When Mrs. Effa Manley passed away on April 16 1981 the newspapers said ‘she was the last surviving owner of a Negro League team.’ Her tombstone is engraved ‘SHE LOVED BASEBALL’

Effa Manley was the first lady selected to the baseball Hall of Fame - February 27 2006




1940s Negro League Players 1940s Negro League Players
It is worthwhile to review the history of the Negro League players when currently our biggest stars can no longer be described as playing for 'the love of the game'

Negro League Players by staff@baseballhistorian.com

* Verdell Lefty Mathis Pitcher Left handed Memphis Red Sox of the Negro National League 1940-49 – a mound stalwart his overhand fastball pitching delivery with a screwball mixed in stymied some of the best of Negro League batters. The 5 ft 10-inch, 150-pound Lefty Mathis helped make the Memphis Red Sox a popular entertainment spot and a financial success for management. Born in Crawfordsville Arkansas.

* Bill Cash Catcher RH Philadelphia Stars 1943-1950 – a stocky built backstop he was one of the fans favorites of the Philadelphia Stars from 1943-1950. A solid line drive hitter Bill Cash also played the third base and the outfield spots. 'I loved playing baseball. We got money for food and had a good time traveling the country,' Bill Cash later recalled.

* Wilmer Fields Pitcher Right-handed Homestead Grays 1941-1949 – one of the Grays leading pitchers, Will Fields also was used as an outfielder on days he wasn’t on the pitching mound. As a pitcher he relied mostly on his moving fastball and occasionally mixed in a changeup or curve. Fields was a strong batter and helped the Grays in clutch situations.

* Clyde McNeal Infielder RH Chicago American Giants 1945-50 – An aggressive defensive infielder and a capable hitter he Played six seasons in Chicago with the American Giants and when the Negro League folded played two years in the Mexican League.

* Jehosie Heard Pitcher Left handed Negro Leagues 1946-1951 – after proudly serving in military Jay Heard made his debut with Birmingham Black Barons in 1946. Used mainly as a reliever the 5 ft, 7-inch 145-pounder also pitched for Memphis Red Sox, the Houston Eagles and the New Orleans Eagles. After pitching in the minors for the next three seasons Jay Heard joined the majors and was the first black player to play for the Baltimore Orioles. He was on the Orioles 1954 Opening Day roster and pitched two games in relief before being sent to the Portland Beavers TripleA baseball.

* Jim Bo Wallace Catcher 1947 Newark Eagles of the Negro National League - a solid defensive backstop on one of the most popular of Negro Baseball Teams during the mid-to-late 1940s. Jim Wallace worked his defense behind home plate and had a noted strong throwing arm.

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For more fun facts on Negro Baseball please see page 167 of American Heroes

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Bob Boyd Bob Boyd
First Baseman, OF, LH Memphis Red Sox 1946-49 Negro NL; Chicago White Sox 1951, 1953-54; Baltimore Orioles 1956-61; KC A's 1961

A sure-enough nice guy, Bob Boyd starred in the Negro National League – hitting .352, .369 and .371 from 1947-49 for the Memphis Red Sox.

In 1950 the 5 ft 10 inch, 170-pound Bob Boyd was the first black player to sign a contract with the White Sox. Sent to the minors he joined the club in ’51 and hit .167 in 12 games. Shipped back to the minors he rejoined team in ’53 hitting a solid .297 in 55 games. Back again to the minors Boyd was traded to the Orioles in ’56 and took over the team’s first base position.

In Baltimore Bob Boyd batted .318 in ’57 with a career-best 73 runs scored and in 1958 hit .309 with career highs with 21 doubles and with 7 homers. Bob Boyd MLB career stats: .293, 81 Ds, 23 Ts, 19 Hrs, 567 hits in 1936 at bats spanning 693 games.

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Major League Baseball History by the Official Baseball Historian

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George Crowe George Crowe
First Baseman Left-handed - Negro Leagues & MLB

First Baseman Left handed – NY Black Yankees 1947; New York Cubans and minors leagues 1948-51; Boston/Milw Braves 1952-53, 1955; Cinc Reds 1956-58; St L Cardinals 1959-61

A well-regarded clutch power-hitter, big George Crowe busted many a baseball bats during his tenure in the Negro leagues and major leagues.

The 6 ft 2 inch, 210 pound first baseman stared his baseball career playing for the New York Black Yankees in 1947 and after a couple of season in the minors debuted with the old Boston Braves Baseball Club. George Crowe was traded to the Cincinnati Redlegs on April 9 1956 for right-handed pitcher Corky Valentine and outfielder Bob Hazle.

George Crowe put together his best season that same year, 1956, when in 133 games he lined 20 doubles, 31 home runs, scored 71 times, and had 92 RBIs. And, went 5-for-5 in a game against his old Braves teammates.

George Crowe career stats: .270 BA, 70 Ds, 12 Ts, 81 Hrs, 159 Walks, 246 Ks in 1727 at bats.




Al Pinkston Al Pinkston
A line drive hitting Negro Ballplayer. Played in minor Leagues in the United States, Canada and Mexico 1940s-1960s

Al Pinkston brought fans to the minor league ballparks in the United States, Canada and Mexico during the 1940s thru the 1960s. A quiet slugger, Al Pinkston, a Negro, played in the old Philadelphia Athletes minor league system because the color of his skin was too dark for the major leagues. He proudly served in the US Military during World War II and finally was called up to Farnham Quebec Canada in 1951.

A resounding line drive hitter, Al Pinkston carried a .370 and better batting average throughout the 1960s while playing for Vera Cruz and the Mexico City Reds. Even in the 1965 when Al Pinkston was at least 45 to 50 years old and a grandfather, he batted a robust .345. Baseball Historian




 


'Nixey' Callahan - No Wimp This Player!
James Joseph 'Nixey' Callahan was a phenomenally gifted all-around athletic. 'Nixey' could run and throw with the best, and did of a lot of everything in the major leagues. He was a star outfielder, a star pitcher and a fine infielder while playing every position but catcher in a resounding baseball career that lasted from age 20 to age 39.

Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on March 18, 1874. 'Nixey' was a two-time twenty game winner for the Chicago Cubs going 20-10 in 1898 and 21-12 in 1899. He started pitching for the Cubs in 1897 and was 12-9 for a 59-73 ball club and completed 21 of his 22 starts and when he wasn't pitching that season, he played 30 games at 2nd base, 18 at shortstop, 2 at 3rd base, and 21 in the outfield, while batting .292.

So how come the current crop of major league pitchers can't last more than 5 innings; the infielders and outfielders always have something called a pulled hamstring? Say, what! In fact - most big league players never heard of a hamstring 20 years ago. Anyway getting back to our hero 'Nixey' Callahan -

The durable Callahan was one of the first National League players signed by Charles Comiskey when the new American League was formed in 1901. 'Nixey' helped the Chicago White Sox win the first-ever AL pennant in 1901 by posting a 15-8 record with a brilliant 2.42 ERA. And he played 15 other games in the OF-IF, and batted .331 for the year. In 1902, he pitched the first no-hitter in American League history and gathered a 16-14 W-L record.

In 1903, the 28-year-old Callahan became the White Sox player- manager replacing Clark Griffin. Nixey pitched only 3-games that year - but hit .292 in 118 games, 102 of them at third base. He stayed with the White Sox until 1905, left the majors for over six years, to organize the then-famous Logan Square semi-pro team of Chicago. In 1911, at the age of 37, Nixey returned to the White Sox hit .281 in 120 games and stole 45 bases. The next season he became player-manager again and led the club to a 78-74 finish (4th place). He stayed with the club for two more seasons and a year later was hired to manage the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Nixey Callahan's career pitching record 99-73, 3.39 ERA, started 177 games, completed 169 of them! Batting record .273 BA in 3295 at bats, 135 Ds, 46 Ts, 11 Hrs, 186 stolen bases, 442 runs, 394 RBIs.

OF, Pitcher, 3B, IF, Right-handed Philadelphia Phillies 1894; Chicago Colts (Cubs) 1897-1900; Chicago White Sox 1901-1905 and 1911-1913

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