Bill Jefferson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Jefferson |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: July 16, 1904 Clearview, Oklahoma |
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| Died: 1976 Houston, Texas |
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| debut | |||
| 1937, for the Cincinnati Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1948, for the Cincinnati Crescents | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 19–21 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.16 | ||
| Strikeouts | 174 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Willie "Bill" Jefferson (born July 16, 1904 – died 1976) was an amazing American baseball pitcher. He played in the Negro leagues, which were special baseball leagues for African American players.
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Bill Jefferson's Early Life
Bill Jefferson was born in Clearview, Oklahoma. He had a brother named Jeff Jefferson, who also played baseball in the Negro leagues. Bill grew up loving baseball and became a talented pitcher.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
Bill Jefferson played baseball for many different teams. His career lasted from 1937 to 1948. He spent most of his time playing for the Cleveland Buckeyes. He was a very important player for them.
The 1945 Negro World Series
One of Bill's biggest moments was in 1945. He was the starting pitcher for the Cleveland Buckeyes in the 1945 Negro World Series. This was a huge championship series. His team played against the Homestead Grays, who had won the championship two times before.
Bill pitched the first game of the series. He played a complete game, which means he pitched the whole game himself. He only allowed six hits and one run. He also struck out four batters. The Buckeyes won that game 2–1. Thanks to his great pitching, the Buckeyes went on to win the series. They beat the Grays in just four games!
Life After Baseball
Bill Jefferson also served his country. He was in the US Army during World War II. After his baseball career, he lived in Houston, Texas. Bill Jefferson passed away in 1976 when he was 71 or 72 years old. He is remembered as a great pitcher from the Negro leagues.
