Joe Black facts for kids
Joseph Black (February 8, 1924 – May 17, 2002) was an American right-handed pitcher who played in both the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball. He played for teams like the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Washington Senators. Joe Black made history in 1952 when he became the first black pitcher to win a World Series game.
Quick facts for kids Joe Black |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: February 8, 1924 Plainfield, New Jersey |
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| Died: May 17, 2002 (aged 78) Scottsdale, Arizona |
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| Professional debut | |||
| NgL: 1943, for the Baltimore Elite Giants | |||
| MLB: May 1, 1952, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 11, 1957, for the Washington Senators | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 30–12 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.91 | ||
| Strikeouts | 222 | ||
| Teams | |||
Negro leagues
Major League Baseball
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Contents
Early Life and Education
Joe Black grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey. He was a star athlete at Plainfield High School. After high school, Black served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
After the war, he attended Morgan State University on a baseball scholarship. He graduated in 1950. Later in life, he received an honorary doctorate from Shaw University. He was also a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
Before joining Major League Baseball, Joe Black played for the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro leagues. He helped his team win two championships during his seven years there.
Joe Black, along with Jackie Robinson, worked hard to create a pension plan for Negro league players. This plan helped many retired players who had played in the leagues before 1944. After his time in the Negro leagues, Black played for a year in the Brooklyn Dodgers' minor league system.
Joining the Brooklyn Dodgers
In 1952, when Joe Black was 28 years old, the Dodgers brought him up to the major leagues. This was five years after his teammate Jackie Robinson had broken baseball's color barrier. Black and Robinson were roommates when they played for the Dodgers.
Black had an amazing first year in the major leagues. He was named Rookie of the Year after winning 15 games and saving 15 others. His team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, won the National League championship that year. He also had a very low ERA of 2.15.
World Series Heroics
In the 1952 World Series, the Dodgers needed a lot of pitching help. Their manager, Chuck Dressen, decided to use Joe Black as a starting pitcher. Black pitched three times in just seven days against the New York Yankees.
He won the first game, allowing only six hits. This was a big win for the Dodgers. He then lost the fourth game and the seventh game. Even with those losses, his performance was historic. He was the first black pitcher to win a World Series game.
After His Baseball Career
After his playing career ended, Joe Black continued to be involved in baseball. He worked as a scout for the Washington Senators from 1959 to 1960.
He also taught health and physical education at Hubbard Junior High School in Plainfield, New Jersey. Later, he became an executive at Greyhound in Phoenix.
Joe Black stayed connected to baseball through the commissioner's office. He advised players on their career choices. In 1991, he even appeared as a fictional character on Cosby Show.
He was a board director for the Baseball Assistance Team, which helps former baseball players. After the Arizona Diamondbacks joined the National League in 1998, Black worked for them in community relations. He was often seen in the Diamondbacks' dugout and press box. He also did a lot of charity work in the Phoenix area.
Black wrote a newspaper column called "By The Way" for Ebony magazine. He also wrote his autobiography, Ain't Nobody Better Than You.
Years later, Peter O'Malley, whose father owned the Dodgers, gave Joe Black a 1955 championship ring. Black had been traded before the Dodgers won the World Series that year.
Joe Black passed away on May 17, 2002, at the age of 78. He was buried in Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
Honors and Awards
Joe Black has received many honors for his contributions to baseball.
- The Most Valuable Player award for the Arizona Fall League is named after him. This award started in 2002.
- There is a plaque honoring him at Chase Field, the home stadium of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- Since 2010, the Washington Nationals have given out the Joe Black Award. This award goes to an organization in the Washington area that helps promote baseball in African American communities. It recognizes Black as the first African American player for the Washington Senators in 1957.
- In 2010, the baseball field at Plainfield High School in New Jersey was named "The Joe Black Baseball Field" in his honor.
Images for kids
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Joe Black in 1953
