Barney Serrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barney Serrell |
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: March 9, 1920 Bayou Natchez, Louisiana |
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| Died: August 15, 1996 (aged 76) East Palo Alto, California |
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| debut | |||
| 1942, for the Kansas City Monarchs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1957, for the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo | |||
| Career statistics | |||
| Batting average | .320 | ||
| Hits | 138 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 70 | ||
| Stolen bases | 11 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2020 | ||
Barney Clinton "El Grillo" Serrell (March 9, 1920 – August 15, 1996) was a talented American baseball player. He played as a second baseman in two important leagues: the Negro leagues and the Mexican League. He was known by the nickname "El Grillo," which means "The Cricket" in Spanish. Serrell played baseball from 1942 to 1957. You might also see his name listed as William C. Serrell or Bonnie Serrell.
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Barney Serrell's Baseball Journey
Barney Serrell started his professional baseball career in 1942. He played one game with the Chicago American Giants. After that, he joined the famous Kansas City Monarchs. He played with the Monarchs for four seasons, from 1942 to 1945.
Amazing Starts and Big Wins
In 1942, Serrell had a fantastic year. He almost won the batting title in the Negro American League. His batting average was .360, which means he got a hit 360 times out of every 1000 chances. Only his teammate, Ted Strong, had a slightly higher average of .364. That year, Serrell also led the league in triples, hitting five of them.
Later in 1942, the Kansas City Monarchs played in the 1942 Negro World Series. They faced the Homestead Grays. Serrell played a huge part in their win. He batted an amazing .412 in the series. This means he got a hit more than 4 out of every 10 times he batted. He also brought in five runs for his team.
Leading the League in Hits
In 1943, Serrell continued to play well. He batted .287 in 53 games. He showed his power by leading the league in both doubles and triples that season. Doubles are when a player hits the ball and reaches second base. Triples are when they reach third base.
In 1944, Serrell was chosen for a special game called the East-West All-Star Game. This was a big honor, showing he was one of the best players. That year, he batted .355 in 28 games. He also led the league in several important stats. He had 20 runs, 2 home runs, and 18 runs batted in. Runs batted in (RBI) means he helped his teammates score runs.
Playing in the Mexican League
After his time in the Negro leagues, Barney Serrell moved to play baseball in Mexico. He played for several teams in the Mexican League. He played for teams like the Alijadores de Tampico, Veracruz Azulez, and Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo. He continued his baseball career in Mexico until 1957.
Hall of Fame Recognition
Barney Serrell's great career was recognized many years later. In 2020, he was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor for baseball players who have made a big impact.
