The Recall of Duty

'Double Duty' Radcliffe talks as well as he played; at 100, he has a lot of stories.

June 15, 2003|David Wharton | Times Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY MONARCHS

* Years in the Negro leagues: 37 (1920-30, 1937-62).

* The Monarchs, the longest running franchise in black baseball, were the Negro leagues' answer to the New York Yankees, winning more than a dozen league championships from 1924-42. The Monarchs sent the most players to the major leagues after the color barrier was broken, among them Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige and Ernie Banks. Other prominent Monarchs were Cool Papa Bell, Hilton Smith, Turkey Stearnes and Buck O'Neil -- perhaps the most renowned spokesman for black baseball.

For The Record
Los Angeles Times Monday June 16, 2003 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 1 inches; 70 words Type of Material: Correction
Negro League baseball -- Satchel Paige pitched for the Cleveland Indians in 1948. In a Sports graphic and photo caption on Negro League baseball Sunday, it was incorrectly reported that he pitched for the St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals in 1948. It also was incorrectly reported that Paige won a World Series game in 1948. Paige pitched in the 1948 World Series but did not win a game.

NEWARK (N.J.) EAGLES

* Years in the Negro leagues: 13 (1936-48).

* The Eagles had many standout players, but two made a particular mark on baseball history: Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League with the Cleveland Indians in 1947, and Don Newcombe, a rookie of the year, most valuable player and Cy Young award winner for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Eagles were the first professional team owned and operated by a woman, Effa Manley.

PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS

* Years in the Negro leagues: Seven (1932-38).

* The Crawfords were one of the most formidable teams in the Negro leagues in the 1930s. They won the 1935 Negro National League championship with five future Hall of Famers: Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson and Satchel Paige. In 1937, Dominican Republic dictator Gen. Rafael Trujillo, annoyed that a successful team run by one of his political opponents was increasing in popularity, signed Bell, Gibson and Paige and the Crawfords soon folded.

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BASEBALL HALL OF FAMERS WHO PLAYED MOST OR ALL OF THEIR CAREERS IN THE NEGRO EAGUES, and year in which player was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

SATCHEL PAIGE, Pitcher, 1971

OSCAR CHARLESTON, Outfielder, 1976

WILLIE FOSTER, Pitcher, 1996

JOSH GIBSON, Catcher, 1972

JOHN HENRY "POP" LLOYD, Shortstop, 1977

WILLIE WELLS, Shortstop, 1997

BUCK LEONARD, First Base, 1972

MARTIN DIHIGO, Infielder, Outfielder , Pitcher, 1977

"BULLET" JOE ROGAN, Pitcher, Outfielder, 1998

MONTE IRVIN, Outfielder, 1973