Fats Jenkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fats Jenkins |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: January 10, 1898 New York, New York |
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| Died: December 6, 1968 (aged 70) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| debut | |||
| 1920, for the New York Lincoln Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1940, for the Philadelphia Stars | |||
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Clarence Reginald Jenkins (born January 10, 1898 – died December 6, 1968), known by his nickname "Fats", was an amazing American athlete. From about 1920 to 1940, he played professional baseball and basketball. He was an African-American player during a time when professional sports were separated by race.
Fats Jenkins mostly played left field in baseball's Negro leagues. In basketball, he was a point guard and captain for the famous barnstorming team, the New York Renaissance. His incredible talent led to him being added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
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Who Was Fats Jenkins?
Fats Jenkins was born in New York City. He started playing basketball with the St. Christopher's Club youth team. Later, he joined teams that were called "Colored Basketball World's Champions" by the New York Age newspaper in 1917, 1918, and 1919.
A Star in Two Sports
Fats Jenkins was a true two-sport star. He excelled in both basketball and baseball, playing at the highest levels for African-American athletes of his time.
Basketball Achievements
After his early success, Jenkins played for the top basketball team of the early 1920s, Cum Posey's Loendi Big Five. He then joined the New York Renaissance, who were also named "Colored World Champions" in 1925. From that year until 1939, he was the captain of the "Rens." The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honored the entire New York Renaissance team in 1963.
In the 1939–40 season, Fats was the captain of the strong Chicago Crusaders team. This team included his old Rens teammate David "Big Dave" DeJernett. It also had future Ren, Bricktop Wright.
Baseball Career
While playing basketball, Jenkins also had a long baseball career. He played for more than twenty seasons in the Negro leagues. He played for many teams in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. He is often remembered for his time with the New York Black Yankees. He even managed the Brooklyn team in 1940.
Fats Jenkins was a very good hitter. His known batting average was .325, which means he got a hit almost one-third of the times he batted. He was also great at getting on base, with an on-base average of .392. The East-West All-Star Game was created during his career. He played in the first and third of these special games. He was known as a very fast outfielder and baserunner. This speed also made him one of the fastest players in basketball.
His Legacy
Fats Jenkins passed away at the age of 70 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He left behind a legacy as one of the most versatile and talented athletes of his era. He was a pioneer in both baseball and basketball during a challenging time for African-American players.
