Hubert Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hubert Simmons |
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| Pitcher / Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 19, 1924 Tarboro, North Carolina |
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| Died: July 8, 2009 (aged 85) Baltimore, Maryland |
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Hubert Van Wike Simmons (May 19, 1924 – July 8, 2009) was an American baseball player. He was a pitcher and an outfielder in the Negro Leagues. He batted and threw with his right hand.
People said Simmons could play all nine positions on a baseball field! But he was mostly known as a pitcher. He started with a good curveball and later became famous for his tricky knuckleball.
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Growing Up: Hubert's Early Life
Hubert Simmons was a friendly person who loved to share his stories. He talked to everyone, young and old, about his time playing professional baseball. He also volunteered in his community.
Simmons was born and grew up in Tarboro, North Carolina. As a kid, he watched famous players like Soup Campbell and Snake Henry. They played for the Tarboro Serpents at Bryan Park. Hubert dreamed of playing on that field since he was seven years old.
But there was a big problem: Segregation was common back then. Bryan Park was only for white teams. Black people had separate seating to watch games. Even so, Hubert learned to play baseball and watched many games there.
He used to get into Bryan Park by finding foul balls. Later, as a teenager, he met a groundskeeper. This person let Hubert shine baseball shoes and rake the field. This way, Hubert could watch his local team play for free!
Playing Ball: Hubert's Baseball Journey
Hubert's high school did not have a baseball team. So, he played sandlot ball (informal games) and in Boy Scout games. These games were played around his hometown.
After high school in 1941, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This was a government program that gave jobs to young men. Simmons moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. There, he joined the Raleigh Tigers, a semiprofessional team. This team was managed by the famous William 'Bill' Foster.
Simmons played with the Tigers from 1941 to 1942. He kept playing baseball for different teams until 1949. He even played while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1945. Later, he played while attending North Carolina A&T State University from 1946 to 1949.
During the war, Simmons served in Europe. He was part of the Quartermaster Corps. He arrived on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944 during the D-Day invasion. After the war, he left the army as a sergeant.
He then went to A&T State University. He earned a degree in business in 1950. While at A&T, he helped his college team win three championships. He was also named to the all-conference team twice.
Besides the Raleigh Tigers, Simmons played for other teams. These included the Greensboro Red Wings (1946-1948) and the Asheville Blues (1949). In 1950, he played for the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro American League. This was the last season for that famous team. Simmons won one game as a pitcher for the Elites. After that, he played for the all-black Yokely Stars from 1951 to 1952. This was an independent club in Baltimore, Maryland.
Beyond the Field: Life After Baseball
After he stopped playing baseball, Simmons stayed in Baltimore. He worked for the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Post Office. In 1954, he became a city school teacher.
He taught business at Northwestern High School. In 1975, he became the head of his department. He retired in 1984 after 30 years of teaching in Baltimore. In his free time, he coached baseball for over 40 years. He coached at the Little League, high school, and college levels.
Simmons also owned a business called SimmonsInk, which specialized in advertising items. He also opened a small sportswear store. It was called Simmons Inc. and made custom clothes and uniforms for teams, churches, and schools.
In 1978, Simmons was honored. He was inducted into the North Carolina A&T State University Sports Hall of Fame. The Mayor of Baltimore also recognized him for his great community service. For many years, he took part in the Baltimore Orioles' FanFest. In 2004, he even threw out the first pitch at an Orioles home game.
Before the 2008 MLB Draft, something special happened. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim picked Simmons in a special draft. This draft was for surviving Negro League players. Baseball Hall of Fame player Dave Winfield had the idea for this draft. It was a way to honor players who couldn't play in the major leagues because of their race.
A few days later, Simmons and his wife, Audrey, and a friend, Rayner Banks, had an idea. They gathered family and friends to talk about starting a Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Baltimore. People were very interested in the Negro Leagues after the special draft. So, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum of Maryland Inc. (NLBMM) was created in September 2008. It became a non-profit organization.
Hubert Simmons continued living a normal life until he suddenly became ill. He passed away on July 8, 2009, in Baltimore. He was 85 years old. At the time of his death, he was the last living player from the Baltimore Elite Giants.
Hubert Simmons' Legacy
On March 27, 2014, a special museum was opened to honor Hubert Simmons. It is called the Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball (SMNLB). It is located in the Owings Mills branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum of Maryland Inc. had been in different temporary places. But then, Baltimore County offered it a permanent home in the new library branch.
