Bill Greason facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Greason |
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Greason on his 100th birthday in 2024
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| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: September 3, 1924 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||||||||||||||||
| NgL: 1948, for the Birmingham Black Barons | |||||||||||||||||
| MLB: May 31, 1954, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | |||||||||||||||||
| June 20, 1954, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 3–3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.62 | ||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 36 | ||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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William Henry Greason, born on September 3, 1924, is an American who played professional baseball as a pitcher. After his baseball career, he became a Baptist minister in Birmingham, Alabama. Greason played for the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro leagues from 1948 to 1951. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball in 1954.
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Early Life and Military Service
Greason was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up across the street from Martin Luther King Jr., a famous civil rights leader.
During World War II, Greason joined the United States Marine Corps. He was one of the first African American Marines. He completed his basic training at Montford Point. He served in the Pacific Ocean with the 66th Supply Platoon, an all-black unit. He even took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima, a very important battle in the war. He also served in the Korean War.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
After World War II, Greason became a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher who was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 170 pounds. He played in the Negro leagues for teams like the Nashville Black Vols and Asheville Blues.
He then joined the Birmingham Black Barons, a major league team in the Negro leagues. There, he was teammates with the legendary baseball player Willie Mays. In 1948, Greason had a good season with the Black Barons. He won 3 games and lost 2, with a 4.44 earned run average. He also pitched four complete games and one shutout.
That same year, he helped his team in the last-ever Negro League World Series. He won a game against the Homestead Grays, which was Birmingham's only victory in that series. In 1950 and 1951, Greason also played for the Charros de Jalisco in the Mexican League. This league was independent and allowed players of all races.
Playing in Major League Baseball
In 1952, Greason joined minor league baseball. He played for the Oklahoma City Indians in the Double-A Texas League. He had a great year, winning nine out of ten games and having a low earned run average of 2.14.
That season, the Texas League became integrated, meaning African American players could join. On August 3, 1952, Greason pitched against another African American pitcher, Dave Hoskins. Their game in Dallas drew 11,000 fans, with many from the black community. Greason won that exciting game 3–2.
His success in Oklahoma City led to him joining the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball in 1954. He became the second African American player for the Cardinals, after Tom Alston.
Greason played in three games for the Cardinals in 1954. In his first game on May 31, he was the starting pitcher but lost the game. In his next start, he struggled. In his final MLB game, he pitched one scoreless inning as a relief pitcher. After his time with the Cardinals, he continued to play in the minor leagues until he retired in 1959.
Life as a Minister and Later Achievements
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After his baseball career, Bill Greason became a member of the 16th Street Baptist Church. After a sad event at his church in 1963, he decided to study to become a minister. He attended Birmingham Baptist Bible College and Samford University. In 1971, he became the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church Southside in Birmingham, where he continued to preach for many years.
Greason has received several honors for his contributions. In 2011, he received a lifetime achievement award at the Alabama Black Achievement Awards Gala. In 2012, he and other Montford Point Marines were awarded a group Congressional Gold Medal for their service.
On June 20, 2024, Greason threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the MLB at Rickwood Field game, which was a special event honoring the Negro Leagues. He celebrated his 100th birthday in September 2024. As of March 7, 2025, following the passing of Art Schallock, Bill Greason became the oldest living former MLB player.
See also
