Dick Whitworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dick Whitworth |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: August 28, 1895 St. Louis, Missouri |
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| Died: March 1, 1966 (aged 70) St. Louis, Missouri |
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| debut | |||
| 1914, for the Chicago Union Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1924, for the Chicago American Giants | |||
| Teams | |||
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Richard Henderson Whitworth (born August 28, 1895 – died March 1966) was an American baseball pitcher. He played in the Negro Leagues, which were important baseball leagues for African American players before major league baseball was integrated.
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Who Was Dick Whitworth?
Dick Whitworth was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up to be a very tall and strong man. Records show he was 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) tall. He also weighed about 215 pounds (98 kg). These physical traits helped him become a powerful pitcher in baseball.
Whitworth spent most of his baseball career playing for teams in Chicago. He played for the Chicago Union Giants and the Chicago American Giants. These teams were famous in the Negro Leagues.
Playing Baseball in the Negro Leagues
Dick Whitworth started his professional baseball career in 1914. He first played for the Chicago Union Giants. The next year, in 1915, he also joined the Chicago American Giants. He played for both teams for a while.
The Chicago American Giants were one of the best teams. Whitworth played for them for many seasons. He also played for the Hilldale Club for two years, from 1920 to 1921. He returned to the Chicago American Giants later in his career. His final season was in 1924.
A Career Moment: The 1922 Accident
On September 23, 1922, Dick Whitworth had an accident. He was in Anderson, Indiana when he got out of a vehicle. Another car then hit the vehicle he had been in. This caused an accident that injured him.
Whitworth broke his leg in this accident. This was a serious injury for a baseball player. It affected his ability to play for some time.
Later Life and Legacy
After his baseball career, Dick Whitworth lived a full life. He passed away in March 1966. He was 70 years old when he died. He died in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
Dick Whitworth is remembered as an important player in the Negro Leagues. These leagues gave African American players a chance to play professional baseball. They played at a very high level during a time when they were not allowed in Major League Baseball.
