They called Cool Papa Bell the fastest man in spikes (though Negro Leaguer Oscar Chalston stole more bases). In 1948, the 46 year-old Bell wrapped up his ancient legs for one last game against white big leaguers. With Bell on first and the Cardinals’ Murray Dickson pitching, Satchel Paige laid down a bunt. Bell was [...]
Big Bill Foster of Calvert Texas was 19 years younger than his half-brother, Rube, and was probably the greatest black left-hander of all time. In 1926 his Chicago American Giants faced the Kansas City Monarchs in the playoff and went into the final game losing four games to three. On a snowy day in Chicago, [...]
UNIVERSITY PARK — Willie Fordham, Jim Weedon and Dan Werner spent more than an hour before Sunday’s State College Spikes game against the Brooklyn Cyclones describing the conditions they endured to play baseball. Too bad the players lounging on the leather furniture, munching on fresh fruit and watching television didn’t stop by Porter Gardens for [...]
Bill Pinkney also played for the New York Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball Leagues in the 1940′s and early 1950′s. Rhythm and blues singer Bill Pinkney, the last surviving member of the original lineup of The Drifters, was found dead in his hotel room hours before he was due to perform in a [...]
Silas is second from the right in the second row. In 2006, he was 111 years old. He never played in the Major Leagues because of the Color Line. He was born in 1895. He’s likely the oldest living professional baseball player from either the Majors of the Negro Leagues. Wayne Stivers, who spearheaded the fact-finding [...]