Bob Mitchell (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bob Mitchell |
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| Born: November 18, 1932 West Palm Beach, Florida |
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| Died: June 12, 2019 (aged 86) Tampa, Florida |
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Bob Mitchell (born November 12, 1932 – died June 12, 2019) was an American pitcher. He played in the Negro leagues. He was also a strong supporter for former Negro league players.
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Bob Mitchell's Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Bob Mitchell grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. He loved baseball from a young age. When he was 11, he watched the all-black West Palm Beach Yankees. He often peeked through fences or sold peanuts to get a closer look. In his free time, he practiced his pitching. He would throw rocks at targets on train tracks. He also hit tennis balls with broom handles.
Mitchell finished Roosevelt High School in 1951. He was interested in writing, but baseball was his main passion. That same year, he joined his favorite team, the West Palm Beach Yankees. They played in the Florida Negro League.
Playing for the Florida Cubans
In 1952, Mitchell pitched for the Florida Cubans. This team was based in Lakeland, Florida. Lakeland was also the training home for the major league Detroit Tigers. Mitchell played with the Cubans for two seasons. During this time, he faced the famous Kansas City Monarchs. He even pitched against a rising star named Ernie Banks.
After that game, Buck O'Neil, the Monarchs' manager, noticed Mitchell. He was impressed by Mitchell's pitching skills. Mitchell was invited to practice with the Monarchs. He soon earned a contract to join their team. The Monarchs had a very strong pitching staff. It included the legendary Satchel Paige.
Bob Mitchell's Career with the Kansas City Monarchs
Mitchell joined the Monarchs in 1954. His first game was against the Indianapolis Clowns. He showed off his powerful fastball and curveball. This was the first start of his four-year career. He played for the Kansas City Monarchs.
In 1956, Mitchell asked his manager, Jelly Taylor, for a special chance. He wanted to pitch an entire game in Canada. Pitchers usually did not do this. Mitchell got his wish and pitched a complete game victory. He struck out 13 batters in nine innings. He finished his Negro American League career with an impressive record. He won 30 games and lost only 14.
Mitchell retired from baseball in 1957. He then married his fiancéé. From 1964 to 1993, he worked for Pratt & Whitney.
Fighting for Negro League Players
Bob Mitchell never forgot his fellow Negro league players. He became a strong supporter for them. He wanted to help those whose careers in the Negro leagues did not lead to playing in organized baseball.
In 1993, Mitchell successfully worked with Major League Baseball (MLB). He helped create a pension plan for black players. These players were excluded from MLB after 1947. That year, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in white baseball. About 85 players received an annual pension because of Mitchell's efforts.
Continuing the Fight for Fairness
After Robinson's breakthrough, some MLB teams slowly added black players. However, most teams only signed one or two black players at a time. This meant many talented Negro league players never got to play in the major leagues. They also missed out on the pensions given to MLB players.
Mitchell kept fighting for players who played in the Negro leagues after 1947. Because of his work, more black players became eligible for financial help from MLB in 2004. This included money for widows and extra financial support. By late 2003, 41 Negro league players were getting a $10,000 annual pension. Health insurance was also provided for 34 other players and their spouses. This was part of the 1993 agreement.
Mitchell worked a third time to help Negro league players. He convinced MLB that players on segregated black teams in the late 1940s and 1950s faced unfair treatment. This was because white leagues did not fully integrate until 1959.
Recognition and Legacy
Bob Mitchell received special recognition in 2008. He was chosen by the Arizona Diamondbacks in a special MLB draft. This draft honored surviving Negro league players. Hall of Fame player Dave Winfield came up with this idea. Each MLB team selected a former Negro league player.
Mitchell lived in Tampa Bay, Florida. He actively helped children learn reading, writing, and math. He also taught them about good values and the importance of faith. Bob Mitchell passed away on June 12, 2019.
