Fred Bankhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fred Bankhead |
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: November 22, 1912 Sulligent, Alabama |
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| Died: December 17, 1972 (aged 60) Memphis, Tennessee |
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| debut | |||
| 1937, for the Birmingham Black Barons | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1948, for the New York Black Yankees | |||
| Teams | |||
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Fred Bankhead was an amazing American baseball player. He played as a second baseman in the Negro Leagues during the 1930s and 1940s. Fred was born on November 22, 1912, and passed away on December 17, 1972.
Contents
Fred Bankhead's Baseball Journey
Fred Bankhead started his professional baseball career in 1936. He joined the Negro Leagues, which was a group of baseball leagues for African-American players. This was before baseball was fully integrated.
Playing for the Black Barons
Fred first played as a reserve infielder for the Birmingham Black Barons. He showed his talent and quickly became a player to watch.
Star Player for the Memphis Red Sox
In 1938, Fred moved to the Memphis Red Sox. He became their main second baseman. He played for the Red Sox for a long time, from 1938 to 1947. This was a big part of his career.
All-Star Games
Fred was so good that he was chosen for the East-West All-Star Game twice. This game was like the All-Star Game in Major League Baseball today. It featured the best players from the Negro Leagues.
- In 1939, Fred received many votes for the All-Star team. He was very popular with the fans.
- In 1942, he was selected again for the East-West All-Star Game. This showed he was one of the top players in the league.
Final Team: New York Black Yankees
Fred finished his career playing for the New York Black Yankees in 1948. He had a long and successful career in baseball.
About Fred Bankhead's Family
Fred Bankhead came from a family of talented baseball players. He was born in Sulligent, Alabama. His parents were Garnett and Eva Bankhead. Fred was the second oldest of seven children.
A Family of Baseball Stars
Fred had an older brother named Sam. He also had younger siblings: Robert, Mildred, Frances, Calvin, and Garnett. Many of his brothers also played baseball professionally:
- His brothers Sam, Joe, and Garnett all played in the Negro Leagues, just like Fred.
- His brother Dan even played in Major League Baseball. This was a huge achievement for their family!
Fred Bankhead's Life Off the Field
In 1938, Fred moved to Memphis, Tennessee with his wife, Emma. This was when he started playing for the Memphis Red Sox. During the early 1940s, Fred also traveled to Puerto Rico several times.
Fred Bankhead passed away in Memphis in 1972. He was 60 years old. He is remembered as an important player in the history of the Negro Leagues.
