Jimmy Wilkes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jimmy Wilkes |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: October 1, 1925 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| Died: August 11, 2008 (aged 82) Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
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| debut | |||
| 1945, for the Newark Eagles | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1948, for the Newark Eagles | |||
| Negro National League statistics | |||
| Batting average | .239 | ||
| Home runs | 4 | ||
| Runs scored | 59 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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James Eugene Wilkes (born October 1, 1925 – died August 11, 2008) was a talented baseball player. People often called him "Seabiscuit". He was an outfielder, which is a player who fields balls hit into the outfield.
Jimmy Wilkes played in the Negro Leagues for the Newark Eagles. He played with them from 1945 to 1948. He was part of the team that won the 1946 Negro World Series championship. In 1948, he was chosen as an All-Star player.
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Jimmy Wilkes's Baseball Journey
Jimmy Wilkes had a long and interesting career in baseball. He played for different teams and in different leagues. His skills as an outfielder made him a valuable player.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
After his time with the Newark Eagles, Jimmy Wilkes continued to play. In 1949 and 1950, he played for the Houston Eagles. This team was part of the Negro American League. The Negro Leagues were baseball leagues for African American players. They played during a time when major league baseball was segregated.
Moving to Minor League Baseball
In 1950, Jimmy Wilkes joined the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. He played in Minor League Baseball. Minor League Baseball is a system of professional baseball leagues. These leagues are below the top major leagues. Players often start here to develop their skills. Wilkes played in the minor leagues until 1952.
After playing only a few minor league games in 1952, he returned to the Negro American League. He joined the Indianapolis Clowns for that season.
Baseball in Canada
From 1953 to 1963, Wilkes played for the Brantford Red Sox. This team was located in Southern Ontario, Canada. The Red Sox were champions of the Intercounty Baseball League five times during his time there. He is remembered as one of the top 100 players in the league's history.
Life After Playing
After he stopped playing baseball, Jimmy Wilkes continued to be involved in the sport. He became an umpire in the Intercounty Baseball League. He served as an umpire for 23 years. Umpires are the officials who make sure the game rules are followed.
Jimmy Wilkes passed away on August 11, 2008. He was 82 years old.
