Dizzy Dismukes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William "Dizzy" Dismukes |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Pitcher / Manager | |||
| Born: March 15, 1890 Birmingham, Alabama |
|||
| Died: June 30, 1961 (aged 71) Campbell, Ohio |
|||
|
|||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
William "Dizzy" Dismukes (born March 15, 1890 – died June 30, 1961) was an amazing American pitcher and manager. He played during the time of Negro league baseball, when African American players had their own professional teams. Many baseball experts believe he was one of the best pitchers of his time.
Contents
Dizzy Dismukes: A Baseball Legend
Dizzy Dismukes was born and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He started his baseball career at just 17 years old. He was a right-handed pitcher who used a special "submariner" style. This meant he threw the ball underhand, almost scraping the ground.
His Playing Days
Dismukes was known for his incredible pitching skills. One of his most famous achievements was in 1911. He pitched a game where his team beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2–1. At that time, the Pirates were the champions of the major league!
On May 9, 1915, Dizzy pitched a "No-Hitter" game in Indianapolis, Indiana. This means he played an entire game without letting the other team get any hits. That's a very rare and impressive feat for a pitcher!
Throughout his career, he played for many teams. Some of these included the Brooklyn Royal Giants, the Indianapolis ABCs, and the St. Louis Stars. Besides playing, Dizzy also wrote about baseball. He shared his thoughts and stories in black newspapers like the Pittsburgh Courier starting in the 1920s.
A Smart Manager and Teacher
After his playing days, Dismukes became a baseball manager. He was known for his amazing memory. He could remember details from games and players from years ago. People also admired his smart strategies on the field.
Dizzy was a great teacher too. He taught other pitchers, like Webster McDonald and Carl Mays, how to use the tricky submarine-style pitch. He helped them become better players.
Life After Playing
Dizzy Dismukes spent many years with the Kansas City Monarchs. He worked in different important roles, like traveling secretary and business manager. He helped the team run smoothly behind the scenes.
Later in his life, after major league baseball allowed players of all races, Dizzy became a scout. He looked for new talent for big teams like the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees. He joined the Yankees as a scout in 1953.
Dizzy Dismukes passed away in 1961 at the age of 71. He was living with his sister in Campbell, Ohio. His contributions to baseball, especially in the Negro Leagues, are still remembered today. In 1952, he was even voted as one of the best Negro League players ever in a poll by the Pittsburgh Courier.
