Here is another installment of my Top 5 list. Today’s list focuses on players born in the state of Arkansas. Arkansas is mostly known for its intercollegiate sports, specifically football and men’s basketball. The Natural State produced noteworthy baseball players. Here is my list of the Top 5 ball players…

I would like to share this artifact with you. Attached is a photo I bought back in summer of 1995. It was my first visit to Cooperstown. It is a photo of the 1952 South Bend Blue Sox Champions. At this time, baseball was still healing from the 1994 labor…

The Chicago White Sox predate the American League. In 1894, Charles Comisky purchased a team from Sioux City, Iowa from the Western League. The Western League was known to have an elite level of talent and produced multiple baseball hall of famers such as Sam Crawford and Rude Waddell. Prior…

As Black History Month comes to an end, it is met with the beginning of Women’s History month. This is the best time to celebrate the life and endeavors of Effa Manley. Her efforts shaped the business side of baseball and advanced social justice movements of the time. As a…

In the past week I reached 50 followers on Medium. I am still chasing that elusive goal of 100 followers. The journey began with a lot of confidence drenched in motivation. The task is simple enough. Find your niche and write about it. I found my niche and it is…

Oscar Charleston was one of the greatest ball players ever. These are not my words. Hall of Fame hitting machine Honus Wagner said, “I’ve seen all the great players in the many years I’ve been around and have yet to see one any greater than Charleston.” Chicago Defender wrote that…

Willard Brown’s unusual story begins with a traditional beginning. Brown was born in Louisiana and grew up on the local sandlot. In 1934, he was given the opportunity to play for money and took it. Three years later he was on the famous Monarchs where he enjoyed instead success. The…

Norman Thomas Stearnes was born in Nashville on May 8, 1901. He earned the nickname, “Turkey” due to his awkward running stance which resembled a turkey. But this bird can hit! Stearnes was one of the first five-tool players seen in the negro leagues. Turkey could run, field, hit for…

Before Stachel Paige there was Joe Williams. Smokey Joe, or sometime known as Cyclone, was the most feared pitcher. It was told, his blazing fastball would leave a trail of smoke! Born in 1885, he was too old to play when baseball desegrated. However, he displayed his talents in exhibition…