James Allen "Candy Jim" Taylor was an American third baseman and manager in Negro league baseball. In a career that spanned forty years,he played as an infielder in the early years of the 20th century for over a dozen black baseball teams;by the mid 1920s,he would play less regularly,with his final game came at 58. In 1920,the same year of the start of the golden era of Negro league baseball,he would take on the responsibilities of manager,where he would manage 1,967 games for twelve teams. Described as one of the great strategists of his era,Taylor is the all-time winningest manager in the Negro league era,having 955 wins along with two Negro World Series titles and one additional pennant in 27 seasons as manager. He has the most seasons managed by an African American manager along with having the seventh most for a manager in the history of baseball.
The St. Paul Colored Gophers was a small club of black baseball players formed in St. Paul,Minnesota,in 1907. They were not a formal Negro league team,as the commonly referred-to "Negro leagues" were not created until 1920. However,like other barnstorming teams of the time,they put considerable pressure on the desegregation of baseball. Historians rarely mention the Colored Gophers in Negro baseball history,and statistics are hard to find.
Robert Wells Marshall was an American sportsman. He was best known for playing football;however,Marshall also competed in baseball,track,boxing,ice hockey and wrestling.
William Miller "Big Bill" Gatewood was an American Negro league baseball pitcher and manager for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League,and in its first few seasons. He pitched for the Leland Giants,Chicago Giants,St. Paul Colored Gophers,Chicago American Giants,New York Lincoln Giants,Cuban X-Giants,Philadelphia Giants,Brooklyn Royal Giants,St. Louis Giants,Indianapolis ABCs,Detroit Stars,St. Louis Stars,Toledo Tigers,Milwaukee Bears,Memphis Red Sox,Atlantic City Bacharach Giants,and Birmingham Black Barons.
George Walter Ball was an American baseball pitcher in the Negro leagues. Born in Detroit,Michigan,from 1893 he played ten years as the only black player on minor white teams in Minnesota and North Dakota. For more than a decade beginning 1903,he played for major teams,mainly in the Chicago region. Sources say he was given the nickname "The Georgia Rabbit" and "Diamond."
John Boyce Taylor was the second-oldest of four baseball-playing brothers,the others being Charles,Benjamin,and James. Taylor was a pitcher and played in professional pre-league and Negro league baseball from 1903 to 1925.
George "Chappie" Johnson Jr. was an American baseball catcher and field manager in the Negro leagues. He played for many successful teams from 1895 to 1920 and he crossed racial boundaries as a teacher and coach.
Louis "Dicta" Johnson was an American spitball pitcher in Negro league baseball and during the pre-Negro league years. He played from 1908 until 1923,mostly for the Indianapolis ABCs and the Chicago American Giants.
William H. Binga was an American third baseman,catcher and manager in the pre-Negro league baseball era. Born in Michigan,Binga played most of his career in Chicago,Illinois,Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,and Minneapolis,Minnesota.
Richard Felix Wallace was an American baseball shortstop and manager in the Negro leagues. He played from 1903 to 1924 with several teams,including the Lincoln Giants and the St. Louis Giants. He was Captain of the St. Louis Giants in 1912. He managed from 1909 to 1921.
Albert Toney was an American baseball shortstop in the pre-Negro leagues. He played most seasons for Chicago teams such as Chicago Union Giants,Leland Giants,and Chicago Giants.
Clarence Lester "Dude" Lytle was an American baseball pitcher in the pre-Negro leagues. He played from 1901 to 1911 with various teams. He played mostly with the Chicago Union Giants.
William Holland was a Negro leagues pitcher and infielder for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League.
Frank "Bunch" Davis was a shortstop in the Negro leagues. He played for several different teams,including the Chicago Union Giants,St. Paul Colored Gophers,and Minneapolis Keystones.
John Barton Davis was a Negro leagues pitcher for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League.
Peter Burns was a Negro leagues catcher for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League.
George H. Taylor was an American baseball first baseman and manager in the pre-Negro leagues.
Willis Jones was an American baseball outfielder and manager in the pre-Negro leagues.
Thomas Means was a Negro leagues pitcher for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League.
Samuel L. Ransom (1883–1970) was an African American high school,college,and professional athlete for several sports. He played professional football,baseball,and later coached college football. Some researchers believe that he was the first African American to play college basketball.
