Felix Evans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Felix Evans |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: October 3, 1910 Atlanta, Georgia |
|||
| Died: August 21, 1993 (aged 82) Pompano Beach, Florida |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| 1934, for the Atlanta Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1949, for the Birmingham Black Barons | |||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
Felix Evans Jr. (born October 3, 1910 – died August 21, 1993) was a talented American baseball player. People called him "Chin." He was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues, which were baseball leagues for African American players. Felix was famous for his amazing curveball. He played baseball from 1934 to 1949, mostly for the Memphis Red Sox.
Contents
Felix Evans' Baseball Journey
Starting His Baseball Career
Felix Evans was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 3, 1910. He went to Booker T. Washington High School. Felix left school in ninth grade to start playing professional baseball. His first team was the Atlanta Athletics in 1934.
Evans was a right-handed pitcher. He was known for his special curveball. Some teammates called it a "mountain drop." He could throw it at three different speeds! In 1935, he joined the Atlanta Black Crackers.
Playing and Studying
In 1936, when he was 25, Evans went back to high school. He was a great football player and earned all-state honors. He played a few games for the Black Crackers in 1937. That winter, he played baseball in Cuba for a team called Habana.
By 1938, Evans started playing college football for Morehouse College. He played as a halfback and quarterback until 1941. He also returned to the Black Crackers, who were now in the Negro American League.
Moving Between Teams
Evans had a busy year in 1938. He joined the Jacksonville Red Caps and had a winning streak. Then, Atlanta got him back. He pitched one game in a championship series against the Memphis Red Sox. The series was stopped early, but Memphis was winning.
In 1939, Evans stayed with the Black Crackers. The team later moved to Indianapolis and became the Indianapolis ABCs. That July, he was traded to the Baltimore Elite Giants. A week later, he joined the Newark Eagles. He finished the year with the Ethiopian Clowns.
Playing for the Clowns and Red Sox
Evans continued playing for the Clowns in 1940. While with them, he used the nickname "Kalihari." This was part of the team's fun idea to give players African nicknames. Later that season, he joined the Memphis Red Sox.
He started 1941 with the Black Crackers again. But soon, he returned to Memphis. Felix Evans pitched for the Red Sox until 1948. He also played for the Black Crackers for a short time in 1943.
His Best Season
Felix Evans had his best season in 1946 with the Memphis Red Sox. Before the East–West All-Star Game, he had an amazing record of 15 wins and only 1 loss! He was chosen to start the All-Star game for the West team. Evans pitched three innings and only allowed one hit. He was the winning pitcher in a 4-1 victory for the West.
Final Season and Other Positions
Evans began the 1949 season with the Red Sox. In June, he joined the Birmingham Black Barons. This was his last season playing professional baseball.
Even though he was mostly a pitcher, Felix Evans also played other positions. He played in all three outfield spots. He also played shortstop and first base.
