Ed Bolden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Bolden
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 17 January 1881 |
| Died | September 27, 1950 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | Baseball Executive Owner in the Negro leagues |
Edward Bolden (born January 17, 1881, died September 27, 1950) was a very important person in American baseball. He was a leader and owner in the Negro leagues. He helped shape professional baseball for African American players.
Contents
Ed Bolden's Early Baseball Days
Ed Bolden first got involved in baseball as a volunteer. He kept score for a team in Darby, Pennsylvania. This was when he was 28 years old. The team was managed by Austin Thompson, who was 19.
In 1910, Thompson started the Hilldale Club in Darby. Darby was a big center for African Americans. The team played against other amateur clubs in the Philadelphia area. During this time, Bolden also worked as a servant and later at the Philadelphia post office.
Leading the Hilldale Club
Ed Bolden eventually took over the Hilldale Club. He changed the team from an amateur group to a professional one. This helped the team make more money. They attracted many talented players. They also scheduled games against other skilled teams. Bolden would look for specific players. Sometimes, he would even put ads in newspapers for tryouts.
Bolden was known as a strict owner and manager. He had clear rules for his players and even for the fans. He wanted everyone to show good sportsmanship. This was called "clean ball." Bolden always thought about the fans. He worked hard to create new ways to promote his team.
The team's home, Darby Field (Hilldale Park), was easy for fans to reach. To make it even easier, Bolden made a deal with a streetcar company. They added a direct line to the park on game days. He also rented out the ballpark for other events. He sold advertising space all around the stadium.
The year 1916 was a great one for the Hilldale Club. Bolden made some important changes. Players had practices twice a week. They also had pre-game workouts. Alcohol was not allowed. Changes were made for the fans too. A new grandstand was built at the stadium. New uniforms were ordered for the team. A general admission fee of twenty cents was also put in place.
Leagues and Championships
Ed Bolden sometimes signed players from other teams. This gave him a bit of a bad reputation with some league managers. One of these owners was Rube Foster. They had some disagreements starting in 1920. Foster supported teams in the east, like the Bacharach Giants. When this club joined the league, they took some players from Hilldale.
In 1922, Hilldale left the NNL. They joined the Eastern Colored League (ECL). Hilldale brought many NNL players with them to the new league. The team won three league titles in their first three years in the ECL. They also played in the first two Colored World Series. They won the Series in 1925. Bolden and Foster were happy that the Series became well-known. It brought national attention to black professional baseball.
In 1930, Bolden had to leave baseball. He faced a possible demotion from his job at the post office.
The Philadelphia Stars
Bolden returned to professional baseball in 1932. He became involved with the Philadelphia Stars. He had been away from the game for two years. At first, he did not want the Stars to join any league. Bolden preferred to make money by playing exhibition games against white teams. This was because they often lost money when they played league games.
African American baseball became very popular during World War II in the early 1940s. More people came to watch games. Player salaries went up. Teams could even use major-league parks. However, after the war, baseball started to become integrated. This meant black and white players played together. Bolden strongly supported integrated baseball. He hoped to play a role in the Major Leagues one day. Sadly, he died before he could see this happen.
| Notable Players under Ed Bolden: | From Both Hilldale and Philadelphia | |
|---|---|---|
| Otto Briggs | Dick Lundy | Biz Mackey |
| Smokey Joe Williams | Oscar Charleston | Judy Johnson |
| Louis Santop | Martin Dihigo |
Ed Bolden's Impact on Baseball Today
Ed Bolden's death truly marked the end of an important time in baseball. He left behind great ways to market a team. He also showed how to manage a ball club by setting rules. These ideas and methods were very successful. They are still used in baseball today.
He welcomed the idea of professional baseball integration. He believed it would make the black leagues better. However, the business side of the Negro Leagues was hurt. Fans started to focus more on the Major Leagues.
