The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1956-09-08
SPORTS WITH STODY
BY RALPH WARD

The first two Albany Senators of color were honor
ed this week Labor Day, at Hawkins Stadium between
a doubleheader feature of the Eastern League. The
BOSTON GUARDIAN was among those who sent tele-
grams of congratulations to pitcher Earl Wilson and
Shortsop Jerry Green The honorS to the first coored
rockies to enter the Red Sox Eastern farm system were
bestowed by the Albany Amateur Athletic Association.
Most Of the minor eaguers think Jerry Green cant
miss making the grade. While not too much is said
about pitcher Wilson, Jack OnSloW Red SoX scout and
former ChiSox manager, says Earl looks very good in
his judgement Both rockies participated in the 1856
Eastern League Al-Star Game and Wilson pitched hit
less ball while he was out there on the hill.
BURNS & BABE RUTH
Many stories are being retold of the great Babe
Ruth who said to have been part colored Red Sox
third base coach Jack Burns has told me many stories
about the Babe and Lou Gehrig, of which will
outstanding first baSeman for the st. Louis Browns
and Detroit Tigers during the Babe Ruth Era. Later
Burns became manager of Scranton and Albany of the
Eastern League, winning the league championship for
both clubs. Jack recalls when he played against the
Yankees with Ruth and Gehrig in the N Y lineup,
it was murder on the first base side of the diamond
Jack says that most all of the nfiederS the first
base side OF the diamond played practically in the out
field. Ruth'S line drives so wicked YOU fieded
them in self defense Ruths foul ys used to go so high
the lnfelderS would Stagger all the field waiting
Tor them to come down. There was only Babe!
Jack also speaks highly of sepia star Hector Lopez
Eastern eaoe Fog Hg pe = rr ee e PACK IN nf
you with more members of the Red Sox staff Jack and
worked together the Youth Service Board and he
lldS proven real IlenQ.
BILL BULLET RANKIN
William Bullet Rankin, one of the greatest Col
ored pitchers to to Boston with the famed Pha-
depha Giants in the early twenties passed away quiz
city Sunday, August 26th, last week Along with the
Tigers Danny McClelan's Phily Giants were Boston
IaVorte hxture Rankin was a great ball player and
hao already played with many top teams all over the
country before the Giants here. Although he
spent most of his life in the North Rankin was ma
tive of Tennessee He never spoke much of his eary
G WI hn hoco1
his friends knew where to find him. When I last saw
Rankin he seemed quite oval and happy playing in an
"OldtmeTS' game at Carter Playground Like many
another famous coored baseball PLAYER Bullet" Ran
kin was born before his time to get chance at the
Majors. He would have been star
BASEBALL PIONEERS
There are many great colored players of the past
we should never forget. These were pioneers who
set the stage for the crumbling of the Major League
color bar, keeping baseball interest alive in the race
and proving to others that coored men could plav the
game Some OF these who have passed to the Great Be-
yond include many you readers remember: There was
big Jim Moore rst-base, Boston igers "Pappy" Kicks
frst-baSe Philly Giants; Earl Lomax West Newton
pitcher Joel Lewis Aston Woodchucs Charlie Buck
Freeman. CosmopolitanS Stody Hi Riversdes; Willis
Stead, thrdbaseman of the Cambridge WaShingtons
H1llard Kountzey Medford Independents and Tigers
"zeke" Crudup, st. Johns of Cambridge; and Boston
manager and other Boston Tiger stars of the past in
Guiding "Reddy" Hillard Willie Conkin, Ben Brown
and RAY Johnson; also Fred and Willie Dupee and
Benny Thomas of Cambridge ST. Johns
IL we have left out any names we invite YOU Hns
to contact us that can add them to the list We
want to give credit to all great players of the past
and present.