Piper Davis: Difference between revisions
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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. | '''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. | ||
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 | 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]]. | ||
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. | |||
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. | ||
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 | 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 was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame]] in [[1993]]. | 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]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* ''Chicago Tribune''. July 14, 1949 | |||
* "[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 | ||
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[[Category:Black Barons]] | [[Category:Black Barons]] | ||
[[Category:Baseball players]] | [[Category:Baseball players]] | ||
[[Category:Basketball players]] | |||
[[Category:Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] | [[Category:Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] | ||
Revision as of 12:39, 3 July 2013
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
References
- Chicago Tribune. July 14, 1949
- "Lorenzo 'Piper' Davis" at NegroLeagueBaseball.com
External links
- Lorenzo Davis at baseball-reference.com