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Leon Day was an American professional baseball pitcher who spent the majority of his career in the Negro leagues. Recognized as one of the most versatile athletes in the league during his prime,Day could play every position,with the exception of catcher,and often was the starting second baseman or center fielder when he was not on the mound. A right-handed pitcher with a trademark no wind-up delivery,Day excelled at striking batters out,especially with his high-speed fastball. At the same time,he was an above-average contact hitter,which,combined with his effectiveness as a baserunner and his tenacious fielding,helped cement Day as one of the most dynamic players of the era.
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The Memphis Red Sox were an American Negro league baseball team that was active from 1920 to 1959. Originally named the Barber College Baseball Club,the team was initially owned and operated by Arthur P. Martin,a local Memphis barber. In the late 1920s the Martin brothers,all three Memphis doctors and businessmen,purchased the Red Sox. J. B. Martin,W. S. Martin,and B. B. Martin,would retain control of the club till its dissolution in 1959. The Red Sox played as members,at various times,of the Negro Southern League,Negro National League,and Negro American League. The team was never a titan of the Negro leagues like wealthier teams in northern cities of the United States,but sound management lead to a continuous thirty-nine years of operation,a span that was exceeded by very few other teams. Following integration the team had five players that would eventually make the rosters of Major League Baseball teams and two players that were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
William Henry Powell was an American Negro league pitcher for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays between 1946 and 1948.
Leicester Moody was an American Negro league first baseman in the 1940s.
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References
- 1 2 3 "Harold Hair". coe.k-state.edu. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Veterans of Negro League share with Ocalans". ocala.com. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ↑ Lester, Larry (2000). Black Baseball in Kansas City. Arcadia Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 9780738508429.