1944 Birmingham Black Barons
The 1944 Birmingham Black Barons were the Birmingham Black Barons team which represented Birmingham in the Negro American League in 1944. The 1944 Black Barons were owned by Tom Hayes and managed by Winfield Welch, in his fourth year.
The team went 48-22 (.686) for the season and won the 1944 Negro American League pennant, 6 games ahead of the Cleveland Buckeyes. They were defeated four games to one by Pittsburgh's Homestead Grays in the 1944 Negro Leagues World Series.
Pitcher Al Saylor led the league with a 14-5 record and a 2.74 earned run average. Shortstop Artie Wilson anchored the batting order with a commanding .379 average and .410 on-base percentage. Right fielder Ed Steele brought power, with 23 runs batted in and a .442 on-base percentage boosted by 14 times walked.
Notably, pitcher Dan Bankhead was granted leave from the U.S. Marine Corps to pitch one game in New York. He recorded a 3-hit shutout with 17 strikeouts against the New York Black Yankees in the second game of their June 5 double header at Yankee Stadium. Bankhead later became the first Black pitcher to play in the Major Leagues, with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Roster
The Black Barons starting roster included catcher Ted Radcliffe, first baseman Piper Davis, second baseman Tommy Sampson, shortstop Artie Wilson, and third baseman John Britton in the infield. The outfield was covered by Lester Lockett at left, Felix McLaurin in center, and Ed Steele at right. Alfred Saylor and Alvin Gipson rotated starts on the mound, with John Humber, Fay Washington and Jimmy Newberry all contributing spot starts. Relievers included Dan Bankhead, Earl Bumpus, Alonzo Boone, Johnny Markham, Specs Ellis and Grady McKinnis. Additional roster slots were held by utility fielder Leroy Morney, outfielders Leandy Young and Johnie Scott, and back-up catcher Pepper Bassett.
References
- Fullerton, Chris (1999) Every Other Sunday: The Story of the Birmingham Black Barons. Birmingham: R. Boozer Press. ISBN 0963612824
External links
- 1944 Birmingham Black Barons Statistics at baseball-reference.com
- 1944 Birmingham Black Barons at seamheads.com