Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-13
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW .y FRANCIS srAnn
The Boston Tar Baby

THE MAN WHOM MANY competent critics called the
greatest fighter in boxing history dead meaning Sam
ever than editor probably said aloud himself
hy thought Langford already had passed on" Such
the way the Boston Tar Baby was forgotten.
Not all of us saw him action Those did, however
to his greatness frankie Mann for More than
years ago. when frankie promoting fights in old
brewery in Alexandria named Portners, Mann did nice
thing He Langfod and the original Joe Wacott in the
and took collection for two old their uppers
Langford sitting in of the dressing ROOM
wearing smile He blind and there small boy to
lead him. but he could smell the familiar smells alcohol
tape leather sweat and he could hear the talk which
was SO good to hear
The fighters of the day looked curiosy at Langford and
Wacott, wondering how two small in stature had
managed to knock out Harry Wills Langford twice had
done and kayo the tough Joe Choynsk Waco once did,
IF YOU EVER SAW them in the ring" Mann said
you'd understand think Bob Fzsimmons the greatest
of al but Langford certainly the best coored man. Why
SAM only welterweight when he met Jack Johnson in
Chelsea Mass in 1906 and the big fellow just barely won
l5round decision No matter how much Langord chased
him. Johnson would give him a second shot
None of the big boys wanted to fight him for title so
to be champion But he fought EN- all from
Joe Cans when both ghtwegh to Stanley Ketchel
to the biggest heavyweight Of his day"
Langford. who only stood feet. TN inches grinned
happily Mann talked that night long II had kicks
he murred Il guess have five six hundred fights and
every one pleasure"
When it came time to lead him the ring Portners
to stage a mock battle with Walcott, frankie said:
"Sam almost blind when he knocked out Fireman
Jim Flynn in 1922 This was in Mexico. He told he
three images front Of him he set his foot in front of the
middle image and let He connected in the fourth round
%H**
SHORTLY AFTER THAT exhibition at Portners, first
Walcott and then Langord disappeared Only recently did
researcher of much curiosity and determination track Wal
colt unmarked AS for Langford felt he
also must have died until Al Laney New York Herald
Tribune sporswriter found him day about IL
In dingy hall bedroom 18TH street in Harlem All Sam
could sit the bed and listen to the radio He had
20 cents in his pocket although he received few dollars
month from foundation for the blind.
Laney wrote classic story of Langfords loneliness
how small boys would lead him to breakfast In the
ing and to dinner at night how his friends seemed to have
forsaken him how he refused to complain but instead
related numerous Stories all amusing.
Don't nobody need to feel sorry for old SAM he told
Laney Il had plenty good times been all the world
If just had little change in my pocket I'd get along
fine"
NEARLY A YEAR LATER, Christmas eve, Laney
visited the onetme ring great and able to write far
happier story Thanks to the first yarn hundreds of friends
remembered Langford and sent him money greetings and
gifts.
He radiant in his ROOM which decorated for the
holiday Not that he could the trimmings he
they there he could smell the candles burning He
licked of his presents guitar boxes of cigars, pair Of
gloves bottle of gin neckties anonymous gift of S. with
which he was to buy the best Christmas dinner.
you that bottle?" asked Laney. IF you come
back on the Fourth of July it'll still be gin in it. But
tomorrow I'm gonna have myself couple of good belts Oil
myself up for little geetar playing Boy Listen
that thing talk She shore talk sweet don't she?"
They say that Sam Langford feared no man, but his
did not extend to his wife, miniature woman
Lou Dougher when he sports editor of the Boston
Traveller used to tell of the times when Sam suspected he
had raised the ire of the missus
He'd running to my office hide out" Lou used
to until he reasonably the subsidized
1t funny to the who beat so many men
much bigger than himself from that little wife"