Cleophus Brown: Difference between revisions
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'''Cleophus Brown''' (born [[November 25]], [[1933]] in [[Bradford]]) is a postal driver and former professional and semi-professional baseball player. | '''Cleophus Brown''' (born [[November 25]], [[1933]] in [[Bradford]]) is a postal driver and former professional and semi-professional baseball player. | ||
Brown, son of a coal miner, began playing baseball as a youngster in [[Alabama Byproducts Corporation]]'s Bradford mining community near [[Pinson]]. He was added to the roster of the company's team when he was 15. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in [[1950]] and played baseball for his post in Munich, Germany. He was discharged in [[1953]] and was recruited to the Louisville Clippers by former [[James Bolin]]. He starred as a left-handed fastball pitcher and slugger in [[1955]], but returned to Alabama to recuperate after a late-season arm injury. He played briefly for the [[Birmingham Black Barons]], then managed by [[Frank Evans]], but soon retired from the league. | Brown, son of a coal miner, began playing baseball as a youngster in [[Alabama Byproducts Corporation]]'s Bradford mining community near [[Pinson]]. He was added to the roster of the company's team when he was 15. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in [[1950]] and played baseball for his post in Munich, Germany. He was discharged in [[1953]] and was recruited to the Louisville Clippers by former [[James Bolin]]. He starred as a left-handed fastball pitcher and slugger in [[1955]], but returned to Alabama to recuperate after a late-season arm injury. He played briefly for the [[Birmingham Black Barons]], then managed by [[Frank Evans (baseball)|Frank Evans]], but soon retired from the league. | ||
He returned to baseball as a member of [[Rick Woodward]]'s [[Woodward Iron Company]] team which played in the [[Walter Horn Industrial League]]. He played for them for twenty years. He left Woodward to drive a truck for the [[Ashland Oil Company]] in the 1970s and was hired by the US Postal Service in the same capacity in [[1980]]. He continued to play semi-professional baseball until [[1996]], often leading the league in hitting even into his 50s. | He returned to baseball as a member of [[Rick Woodward]]'s [[Woodward Iron Company]] team which played in the [[Walter Horn Industrial League]]. He played for them for twenty years. He left Woodward to drive a truck for the [[Ashland Oil Company]] in the 1970s and was hired by the US Postal Service in the same capacity in [[1980]]. He continued to play semi-professional baseball until [[1996]], often leading the league in hitting even into his 50s. | ||
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[[Category:US Army personnel]] | [[Category:US Army personnel]] | ||
[[Category:Baseball players]] | [[Category:Baseball players]] | ||
[[Category:Black Barons]] | |||
[[Category:Woodward Iron Company]] | [[Category:Woodward Iron Company]] | ||
[[Category:Truck drivers]] | [[Category:Truck drivers]] | ||
[[Category:Postal workers]] | [[Category:Postal workers]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:10, 9 August 2012
Cleophus Brown (born November 25, 1933 in Bradford) is a postal driver and former professional and semi-professional baseball player.
Brown, son of a coal miner, began playing baseball as a youngster in Alabama Byproducts Corporation's Bradford mining community near Pinson. He was added to the roster of the company's team when he was 15. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1950 and played baseball for his post in Munich, Germany. He was discharged in 1953 and was recruited to the Louisville Clippers by former James Bolin. He starred as a left-handed fastball pitcher and slugger in 1955, but returned to Alabama to recuperate after a late-season arm injury. He played briefly for the Birmingham Black Barons, then managed by Frank Evans, but soon retired from the league.
He returned to baseball as a member of Rick Woodward's Woodward Iron Company team which played in the Walter Horn Industrial League. He played for them for twenty years. He left Woodward to drive a truck for the Ashland Oil Company in the 1970s and was hired by the US Postal Service in the same capacity in 1980. He continued to play semi-professional baseball until 1996, often leading the league in hitting even into his 50s.
References
- Powell, Larry (2009) Black Barons of Birmingham: The South's Greatest Negro League Team and Its Players. McFarland Press. ISBN 0786438061
- Segrest, Doug (June 5, 2010) "Negro Leagues player from Pinson gets stamp of approval." Birmingham News
- Cleophus Brown profile at baseballinlivingcolor.com