Former Negro Baseball League Legends


• Hank "Baby" Presswood, 90 - Infielder who played for legendary John "Buck" O'Neil. Hank played two years (1948 & 1949) with the Cleveland Buckeyes, then two with the Kansas City Monarchs - both as a Shortstop & 3B - between 1950 & 1952.
Recently Hank was "drafted," by the Chicago White Sox. Topps created a new Ginter card and Hartland created a figurine of him in March of 2009.

• Johnny "Lefty" Washington, 81- Morgan Park High School Grad. Played for Ted "Double Duty" Radclif where he finished the 1949 campaign with the Chicago American Giants. In 1950 he pitched for the Houston / New Orleans Eagles.  Johnny served his country in Korea (Marines) where he earned two Purple Hearts. In 2009 his high school (Morgan Park, of Beverly, IL) retired baseball his jersey.

• Ray "Boo Boy" Knox, 80- Catcher for the Chicago American Giants (1950). Illinois native. Attended Wheaton High School. They don't "boo" those (players) that are no good.  They only "boo," those that can play.  Also played in the Industrial League (in Chicago's Washington Park) for Hardwood Sports.

• Nathan "Sonny" Weston, 80, - Bloom High School Graduate and three-sport athlete. Bloom is also where Jerry Colangelo (former majority owner of the Phoenix Suns, and the D'Backs), Jim Boutin, and NFL star Bryant Young went to school.  In 2009 Bloom retired Nathan's baseball jersey. Sonny played in the outfield for Ted "Double Duty" Radcliff while with the Chicago American Giants. He was also the "last cut" on both the 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.

• Louis "The Grey Cat" Clarizio Jr. 78- Chicago American Giants 1950-1951 (OF) 1st (of 3) "white" players to sign in baseball's Negro Leagues (1920-1960)  (The only one still around today). Schaumburg, IL. resident.


Source: Gary Crawford  http://www.negroleaguelegends.org/


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FIRST TIME VENDORS AT WOLFF'S FLEA MARKET - PLEASE READ

Image
WELCOME TO WOLFF’S FLEA MARKET 2024! FIRST TIME & NEW VENDORS!   PLEASE READ! Created 8/7/17 - Updated 3/10/19, 4/19/19, 6/21/19, 2/19/2020, 3/3/2021, 2/26/22, 8/29/22, 4/4/23, 7/11/23, 1/8/2024, 3/7/2024 Yup, looks like another long read by Wolff's Flea Market...👀. Still have that coffee? Thanks for considering selling at one of Chicagoland’s best flea markets! Whether you are decluttering or starting a small business, we are here to support your endeavors! It's easy to get your seller space, and you will need to set your alarms ! No reservations required. Drive to west side of building around 4am *  stay in your car and staff will direct you to a space. You will park across the back of the space.  * NOTE : WE EXPERIENCED LARGE VENDOR CROWDS IN 2023. TO OBTAIN A FIRST-COME-FIRST SERVE SPACE WE RECOMMEND VENDORS ARRIVE  EARLIER THAN 4AM ON GOOD WEATHER DAYS. That's just how it evolved over the years. And yes, shoppers are there early as well! Watch this v
Read more

VENDOR TIPS FOR WOLFF'S FLEA MARKET

Seller's Rules & Tips wolffs.com   FACEBOOK & CRAIGSLIST We encourage our vendors to post their items on social media: facebook page, Buy, Sell, Trade Group  & craigslist. These listings are FREE!  We love this concept because buyers and sellers are able to meet in a neutral location at the market (must have a selling space-no parking lot sales). This also draws new customers to the entire market and helps everyone! Many vendors have had success with social media. Customers have come from as far as Iowa to purchase their items! For more advanced posters, please "tag" your photos & posts with #wolffsfleamarket and @wolffsfleamarket. If you don't know what this means, please disregard! EARLY CLOSE DAYS Occasionally the Rosemont market may need to close early due to a stadium event. We continue to have a steady customer flow on these days because we are an "early shopper market". The majority of shoppers attend before 11am. Don'
Read more

WATCH YOUR WEIGHTS

Image
C - Canopy Weights A - Are N - Not O - Optional P - Please Y - You need to be safe ! Vendors, this post is for you. With hot weather upon us, many of you will choose to bring a canopy to shield you and your merchandise from the sun. It is very important that when setting up your booth for the day that the first tasks you attend to are your CANOPY & UMBRELLA WEIGHTS. We understand you are eager to unpack your merchandise, but if you are using a canopy, the first priority is safety. Do not leave your weights in your vehicle "to set up later". You may get busy and forget. Wind and wind gusts are an inherent part of of being outside and can occur at any time. Early in the day, the air may seem calm, but being in a wide open space, wind gusts can occur. As the day progresses, air currents from overhead planes and other weather conditions can also cause windy conditions. Occasionally we may require canopies to be taken down due to weather conditions. We like the E
Read more