Bill Owens (baseball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Owens
Shortstop
Born: (1901-11-14)November 14, 1901 Haughville, Indiana
Died: May 5, 1999(1999-05-05) (aged 97) Indianapolis, Indiana
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
1921, for the Washington Potomacs
Last appearance
1933, for the Detroit Stars
Teams
Washington Potomacs (1923–1924) Indianapolis ABCs (1925) Chicago American Giants (1925) Dayton Marcos (1926) Kansas City Monarchs (1926) Birmingham Black Barons (1927–1928, 1930) Brooklyn Royal Giants (1927) Cleveland Tigers (1928) Memphis Red Sox (1929) Detroit Stars (1931) Indianapolis ABCs/Detroit Stars (1932-1933)

William John Owens (born November 14, 1901 – died May 5, 1999) was an American baseball player. He was a shortstop in the Negro leagues. He played for many teams from 1923 to 1933.

Who Was Bill Owens?

Bill Owens was a talented baseball player. He was born in Haughville, Indiana. He played a position called shortstop. A shortstop plays between second and third base. Their job is to field ground balls and throw them to other bases.

Playing Baseball

Bill Owens started his professional baseball career in 1923. He played in the Negro leagues. These leagues were for African-American players. They played at a time when major league baseball was segregated. This meant Black players were not allowed to play in the main leagues.

Bill Owens played for many different teams. He was known for his skills as a shortstop. He played for 11 years in total. His career lasted from 1923 to 1933.

His Teams

Bill Owens played for many teams during his career. Here are some of the teams he was a part of:

• The Washington Potomacs (1923–1924)
• The Indianapolis ABCs (1925)
• The Chicago American Giants (1925)
• The Dayton Marcos (1926)
• The Kansas City Monarchs (1926)
• The Birmingham Black Barons (1927–1928, 1930)
• The Brooklyn Royal Giants (1927)
• The Cleveland Tigers (1928)
• The Memphis Red Sox (1929)
• The Detroit Stars (1931)
• The Indianapolis ABCs/Detroit Stars (1932-1933)

Bill Owens' Legacy

Bill Owens was part of an important time in baseball history. Players like him kept baseball alive for African-American fans. They showed great skill and passion for the game. Even though they faced challenges, they played at a very high level. Bill Owens passed away in 1999 at the age of 97.