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'''Lorenzo "Piper" Davis''' (born [[July 3]], [[1917]] in [[Piper]]; died [[May 21]], [[1997]] in [[Birmingham]]) played infield for the [[Birmingham Black Barons]] during the 1940s and in the Pacific Coast and Texas Leagues in the 1950s. For two years he also played with the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.
[[Image:Piper Davis.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Piper Davis]]
'''Lorenzo "Piper" Davis''' (born [[July 3]], [[1917]] in [[Piper]], [[Bibb County]]; died [[May 21]], [[1997]] in [[Birmingham]]) played infield for the [[Birmingham Black Barons]] during the 1940s and in the Pacific Coast and Texas Leagues in the 1950s. For two years he also played with the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.


Davis attended high school in [[Fairfield]] and earned a basketball scholarship [[Alabama State University]] in Montgomery. He was forced to leave school after a year to help support his family. He took a job with the [[American Cast Iron Pipe Company]] (ACIPCO) in [[Birmingham]] and began playing in the district's [[Industrial League]].
Davis was the only child of [[John Wesley Davis|John Wesley]] and [[Georgia Davis|Georgia Cox Davis]] who resided in the [[Bibb County]] mining town of [[Piper]]. After completing the 9th grade at the village school he moved to [[Fairfield]] to attend [[Interurban Heights High School]], where he received the nickname "Piper" for his home town.


In [[1936]] he signed with the Omaha Tigers, which folded after that season. He returned to his steel job until [[1942]] when Black Barons manager [[Winfield Welch]] suggested to owner [[Abraham Saperstein]], who also owned the Globetrotters, that Davis could be signed to play for both clubs.
Davis earned a basketball scholarship [[Alabama State University]] in Montgomery. He was forced to leave school after a year to help support his family. He took a job with the [[American Cast Iron Pipe Company]] (ACIPCO) in [[Birmingham]] and began playing alongside [[Artie Wilson]] and [[Sam Hairston]] on the premier team in the district's [[YMCA]] [[Industrial League]]. He earned $3.36/day and was given his uniform and equipment and time off three days a week for baseball games. He married [[Laura Davis|Laura Perry]] and had two children, Lorenzo, Jr and Faye Joyce.


In [[1936]] he signed with the Omaha Tigers, which folded after that season. He returned to his ACIPCO job until [[1942]] when Black Barons manager [[Winfield Welch]] suggested to owner [[Abraham Saperstein]], who also owned the Globetrotters, that Davis could be signed to play for both clubs.
[[Image:Piper Davis ASHOF.jpg|left|thumb|Piper Davis]]
As a Black Baron, Davis became a star hitter, helping the team win the Negro American League pennant in [[1943]], [[1944]] and [[1948]]. They lost to the Homestead Grays in each of those Negro World Series contests. Davis was selected to play in East-West All-Star Classic four times. In [[1948]], Davis was named manager of the Black Barons and signed teenager [[Willie Mays]] to the team.
As a Black Baron, Davis became a star hitter, helping the team win the Negro American League pennant in [[1943]], [[1944]] and [[1948]]. They lost to the Homestead Grays in each of those Negro World Series contests. Davis was selected to play in East-West All-Star Classic four times. In [[1948]], Davis was named manager of the Black Barons and signed teenager [[Willie Mays]] to the team.


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In [[1950]] the Boston Red Sox signed the 33-year-old Davis as their first black player, and assigned him to the Scranton Miners of the Eastern League. He played eight more seasons in the minors, including a stint as player-manager for the Austin Cats of the Texas League. He was released by the Red Sox and never played a Major League game.
In [[1950]] the Boston Red Sox signed the 33-year-old Davis as their first black player, and assigned him to the Scranton Miners of the Eastern League. He played eight more seasons in the minors, including a stint as player-manager for the Austin Cats of the Texas League. He was released by the Red Sox and never played a Major League game.


Until his retirement in [[1986]] Davis remained active in baseball as a scout for the Detroit Tigers, St Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos. He was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame]] in [[1993]]. In [[1992]] [[Fred Plump, Jr]] founded the [[Piper Davis Youth Baseball League]] in [[Birmingham]].
Until his retirement in [[1986]] Davis remained active in baseball as a scout for the Detroit Tigers, St Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos. He became a deacon, usher and choir member at [[Sardis Baptist Church]]. He died in [[1997]] and is buried at [[Elmwood Cemetery]].
 
Davis was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] in [[1993]] and the [[Birmingham Barons Hall of Fame]] in [[2005]]. In [[1992]] [[Fred Plump, Jr]] founded the [[Piper Davis Youth Baseball League]] in [[Birmingham]].
 
{{start box}}
{{succession box |
  before=[[Tommy Sampson]] |
  title=[[Birmingham Black Barons]] [[List of Birmingham Black Barons managers|manager]] |
  years=[[1948]] |
  after= ?
}}
{{end box}}


==References==
==References==
* ''Chicago Tribune''. July 14, 1949
* ''Chicago Tribune''. July 14, 1949
* [http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p4017coll8/id/5632 Deacon Lorenzo Davis] funeral program (May 24, 1997) - at Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
* Nevard, David & David Marrasco (2001) "[http://webpages.charter.net/joekuras/piper.htm Who Was Piper Davis?] Buffalo Head Society - accessed July 3, 2013
* "[http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/players/Davis.html Lorenzo 'Piper' Davis]" at NegroLeagueBaseball.com
* "[http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/players/Davis.html Lorenzo 'Piper' Davis]" at NegroLeagueBaseball.com


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=davis-001lor Lorenzo Davis] at baseball-reference.com
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=davis-001lor Lorenzo Davis] at baseball-reference.com
* [http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p15099coll2/id/1 Piper Davis] interview with Christopher Fullerton at Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections


{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Piper}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Piper}}
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[[Category:Baseball players]]
[[Category:Baseball players]]
[[Category:Basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball players]]
[[Category:Baseball scouts]]
[[Category:Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Barons Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Elmwood burials]]

Latest revision as of 15:47, 30 June 2020

Piper Davis

Lorenzo "Piper" Davis (born July 3, 1917 in Piper, Bibb County; died May 21, 1997 in Birmingham) played infield for the Birmingham Black Barons during the 1940s and in the Pacific Coast and Texas Leagues in the 1950s. For two years he also played with the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.

Davis was the only child of John Wesley and Georgia Cox Davis who resided in the Bibb County mining town of Piper. After completing the 9th grade at the village school he moved to Fairfield to attend Interurban Heights High School, where he received the nickname "Piper" for his home town.

Davis earned a basketball scholarship Alabama State University in Montgomery. He was forced to leave school after a year to help support his family. He took a job with the American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO) in Birmingham and began playing alongside Artie Wilson and Sam Hairston on the premier team in the district's YMCA Industrial League. He earned $3.36/day and was given his uniform and equipment and time off three days a week for baseball games. He married Laura Perry and had two children, Lorenzo, Jr and Faye Joyce.

In 1936 he signed with the Omaha Tigers, which folded after that season. He returned to his ACIPCO job until 1942 when Black Barons manager Winfield Welch suggested to owner Abraham Saperstein, who also owned the Globetrotters, that Davis could be signed to play for both clubs.

Piper Davis

As a Black Baron, Davis became a star hitter, helping the team win the Negro American League pennant in 1943, 1944 and 1948. They lost to the Homestead Grays in each of those Negro World Series contests. Davis was selected to play in East-West All-Star Classic four times. In 1948, Davis was named manager of the Black Barons and signed teenager Willie Mays to the team.

During the late 1940s, some Major League teams showed a moderate interest in Davis, but he remained unsigned, perhaps in part because he was content with his $750/month salary with the Black Barons (Tribune-1949).

In 1950 the Boston Red Sox signed the 33-year-old Davis as their first black player, and assigned him to the Scranton Miners of the Eastern League. He played eight more seasons in the minors, including a stint as player-manager for the Austin Cats of the Texas League. He was released by the Red Sox and never played a Major League game.

Until his retirement in 1986 Davis remained active in baseball as a scout for the Detroit Tigers, St Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos. He became a deacon, usher and choir member at Sardis Baptist Church. He died in 1997 and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

Davis was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Birmingham Barons Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1992 Fred Plump, Jr founded the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League in Birmingham.

Preceded by:
Tommy Sampson 		Birmingham Black Barons manager
1948 		Succeeded by:
?

References

External links

  • Lorenzo Davis at baseball-reference.com
  • Piper Davis interview with Christopher Fullerton at Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
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