Felton Snow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Felton Snow |
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| Third base | |||
| Born: October 23, 1905 Oxford, Alabama |
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| Died: March 16, 1974 (aged 68) Louisville, Kentucky |
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| debut | |||
| 1931, for the Louisville White Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1947, for the Baltimore Elite Giants | |||
| Career statistics | |||
| Batting average | .265 | ||
| Hits | 513 | ||
| Managerial record | 279–225–8 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As manager
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Felton "Skipper" Snow (born October 23, 1905 – died March 16, 1974) was a very talented baseball player in the Negro leagues. He played for several teams that were all part of the same club as it moved around. These included the Nashville Elite Giants, the Columbus Elite Giants, the Washington Elite Giants, and finally the Baltimore Elite Giants. Felton Snow was chosen to play in the East-West All-Star Game twice, in 1935 and 1936. Later in his career, he became a player-manager for the Baltimore Elite Giants.
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Who Was Felton Snow?
Felton Snow was born in Oxford, Alabama in 1905. When he was young, his family moved to Louisville, Kentucky. In 1929, he started playing baseball for local teams in Louisville. Soon, he joined the Nashville Elites, which was the start of his career in the Negro Leagues.
A Star Third Baseman
Snow quickly became known as a great baseball player. He was a strong hitter, a good fielder, and fast on the bases. He became the main third baseman for the Elite Giants. In 1939, he had an amazing batting average of .301.
He was so good that he was picked for two Negro League All-Star games. In the 1935 All-Star game, he batted an incredible .670! In 1936, he played alongside famous stars like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell on the West All-Star team.
Becoming a Player-Manager
In 1939, Felton Snow took on a new role. He became a player-manager for the Baltimore Elite Giants. This meant he played in games and also made decisions as the team's coach.
Winning the Pennant
In his first year as player-manager, the Giants finished fourth in their league. However, the Negro National League decided to hold a special four-team tournament. The Giants faced the Newark Eagles in the playoffs and won three games to one.
This win sent them to the Championship Series against the Homestead Grays. The Giants pulled off a big surprise, winning the series in five games. This victory earned them their first and only league championship, called a pennant.
Snow's Managerial Career
Felton Snow continued to be a player-manager for seven seasons. During these years, he still played well, with batting averages like .333 and .306 in different seasons. The Giants finished in second place four more times while he was their manager. He retired from baseball in 1950, after playing for over 21 years.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from baseball, Felton Snow returned to Louisville, Kentucky. He worked at a local military supply factory, called an armory. After an injury there, he started working at a barber shop. He worked as a barber until he passed away in 1974 at the age of 68.
His Legacy Lives On
From 1987 to 2007, a Little League Baseball team in St. Matthews, Kentucky was named after Felton Snow. This showed how much he was remembered in his community.
In September 2022, something special happened. Felton Snow, who was buried in an unmarked grave, received a proper monument. This was made possible by the Louisville Chapter of SABR and other people who donated money. During the ceremony, the Louisville Bats baseball team honored him by retiring his jersey number, 2.
