Horace Garner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horace Garner |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: July 17, 1923 | |||
| Died: July 6, 1995 (aged 71) | |||
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Horace T. Garner (born July 17, 1923 – died July 6, 1995) was an American baseball player. He played as an outfielder. Horace Garner was part of the Indianapolis Clowns team in the Negro American League during 1949. He also spent ten seasons playing in minor league baseball.
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Horace Garner's Baseball Journey
Horace Garner had an important career in baseball. He played in different leagues during a time of big changes in the sport. His journey shows how talented players helped shape baseball history.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
In 1949, Horace Garner played for the Indianapolis Clowns. This team was part of the Negro American League. The Negro Leagues were baseball leagues for African American players. They were created because black players were not allowed to play in Major League Baseball at that time. These leagues were very important for black athletes. They gave them a chance to show their amazing skills.
A Pioneer in Minor League Baseball
After playing in the Negro Leagues, Garner spent many years in minor league baseball. Minor leagues are like training grounds for players hoping to reach the big leagues. He played for teams connected to the Boston Braves. Later, this team moved and became the Milwaukee Braves.
In 1953, something special happened. The Braves sent Horace Garner to the Jacksonville Braves team. Two other black teammates, Hank Aaron and Félix Mantilla, joined him. This made the Jacksonville Braves one of the first teams in the South Atlantic League to have both black and white players. It was also one of the first integrated teams ever in Florida. This was a big step forward for baseball and for civil rights.
His Minor League Career Stats
Horace Garner played in the minor leagues for ten seasons. He played from 1951 to 1959, and again in 1961. During his 997 games, he had a great batting average of .321. This means he got a hit almost one out of every three times he batted. He also hit 1,115 total hits, including 190 doubles, 37 triples, and 157 home runs.
