The Springfield Giants

Hello,

My grandfather is John T. Kimbrough.  He was the manager of the Springfield Giants softball team in Springfield, Missouri.    If Micky Mantle were still alive, he would want something placed somewhere on behalf of my grandfather.

I loved my grandfather who passed away in 1987 near his 74th birthday.  He was an African American, born in Mississippi, grew up in Tennessee and moved his wife, Mary C., and his children to Springfield, Missouri to work for a canning company.  He had six boys and one girl.  The girl was my mother, Peggy Ann Kimbro-Lay.

He could not read or write and would oftentimes ask me to look up names and phone numbers in the phonebook, read his mail, or write letters on his behalf.  Aside from the fact that he grew up in the segregation of the South, the death of his mother (Rose) and he quit school to help raise his brother (Doc) and his sister (Maureen), he was an AMAZING MAN!

My grandfather built his own home, he was active in several black social groups in Springfield, he was a deacon at the Washington Avenue Baptist Church, had his own profitable lawn mowing business, and was the manager of the Springfield Giants.

What I remember most about the Springfield Giants is that they were well-known throughout the Ozarks and the states surrounding Missouri.  The team was often in the newspaper.  I remember being so proud to be a part of that organization.  As a child growing up, I remember hearing grownfolks talk about the team and say my grandfather’s name.  My grandfather was a hero for many and the team was a great opportunity to bring the towns black and white people together.  Each year, my grandfather would host a picnic at the Silver Springs Park which used to be known as “the black park” in Springfield.  Black and white families would come together to listen to music, eat great food, talk, laugh, and celebrate the victories of the Springfield Giants.  My grandfather would dust off EVERY SINGLE trophy that had been won and would haul them to the park alongwith the slaw, chips, and beans.

For some reason, the city of Springfield has neglected my grandfathers’ and the Springfield Giants’ successes by not including them in their sports history hall of fame.  I contacted the Chamber of Commerce and spoke to a gentleman who used to own a trophy shop and he remembered my grandfather.  He said, “my grandfather always had a smile.”  He said that in order to include him, my grandfather would need to be selected and I would need to prepare information based on a set of criteria to submit to them.

At my grandfather’s funeral, I saw black and white people, rich and poor, key figures and those who wanted to remain low-key. 

A few months after his death, I was outside my grandparents home, and a genetleman from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee came by.  He was the Executive Director or CEO or some title such as that.  He was looking for my grandfather.  I told him that my grandfather died and he was saddened by that.  He said that he knew my grandfather from when he lived in Nashville and sung in a quartet that played in the Grand Ole Opry!  He said that everytime he came to Springfield, he always stopped by to see my grandfather.

If you or anyone you know, played for the Springfield Giants, I would like to speak to you.  Do you have photos, trophy’s, or memories that you would like to share?  Please write to me at kimberlyckimbrough@yahoo.com!  I would like to have as much information as possible and I am begging you for this!  If your father, brother, sister, son, daughter, or neighbor played or participated or benefited from the existence of the Springfield Giants, please contact me at kimberlyckimbrough@yahoo.com. 

Thank you for your serious consideration.

Peace and blessings,

Kimberly C. Kimbrough