James Tillman (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James Tillman |
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| Born: December 3, 1919 Washington, D.C. |
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| Died: May 31, 2009 (aged 89) Capitol Heights, Maryland |
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James Pinckney Tillman Sr. (born December 3, 1919 – died May 31, 2009) was an American baseball player. He was a catcher who played in the Negro Leagues. He batted and threw with his right hand.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
James Tillman was born near Washington, D.C.. As a kid, he loved watching the Washington Senators baseball team. He often played pickup baseball games in the streets with his friends. They would even use a broomstick as a bat!
Joining the Negro Leagues
Before joining the big leagues, James played for smaller black baseball teams. Later, he joined the Homestead Grays. This team was very powerful in the Negro National League. The Grays played their home games in both Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.
From 1941 to 1943, Tillman was a backup catcher for the famous player Josh Gibson. Gibson was so good that he was often called "the Black Babe Ruth." James Tillman would play whenever Josh Gibson was away, sometimes playing in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.
After the Grays
In 1947, James Tillman played for the Charlotte Black Hornets. This team was part of the Negro Carolina League. After that, he moved back home. He played for teams in Rockville, Maryland (the ACs) and Washington, D.C. (the Aztecs).
Around this time, many Negro League teams started to close down. This happened because Major League Baseball began allowing black players. Jackie Robinson famously broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, James Tillman joined a gospel music group called the Chariot Singers. They performed in churches around Washington, D.C. He also worked as a truck driver. Later, he worked in florist shops in D.C. He retired in 1982, worked again in 1984, and then retired for good in 2000.
Honors and Recognition
James Tillman eventually received special honors for his contributions to baseball. In 1998, he gave his first speech to students at Cardozo Senior High School. In 2002, he traveled around the country. He signed autographs and met baseball fans at events about Negro League history.
In February 2008, the U.S. Department of State honored him during Black History Month. Just four months later, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose him in a special draft. This event was held by Major League Baseball to honor surviving Negro League players. Each MLB team selected a former Negro League player.
James Tillman passed away in 2009 in Capitol Heights, Maryland. He was 89 years old.
