Joe Henry (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Henry |
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| Born: October 4, 1930 Brooklyn, Illinois |
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| Died: January 2, 2009 (aged 78) Brooklyn, Illinois |
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| debut | |||
| 1950, for the Memphis Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1959, for the Detroit Stars | |||
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"Prince" Joe Henry (born October 4, 1930 – died January 2, 2009) was an American baseball player. He was known for playing in the Negro leagues during the 1950s. These leagues were professional baseball leagues for African American players. They existed when major league baseball was still segregated.
Contents
Joe Henry's Baseball Journey
Early Life and Discovery
Joe Henry was born and grew up in Brooklyn, Illinois. As a young boy, he loved playing softball. His talent was noticed by a baseball catcher named Josh Johnson. Johnson saw Joe's potential and encouraged him to try playing baseball.
Later, a scout named Goose Curry helped Joe get started in the Negro leagues. Joe went to a special baseball school in Mississippi to improve his skills. This was his first step into professional baseball.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
Joe Henry began his professional career with the Memphis Red Sox. He played for them for three years, from 1950 to 1952. After that, he signed a contract to play in the minor leagues.
In 1952, he played for Canton in the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League. In 1953, he played for Mount Vernon. Unfortunately, Joe got some injuries during these years. These injuries stopped him from playing more in the minor leagues.
Joe returned to the Negro leagues in 1955. He joined the Indianapolis Clowns and played with them until 1956. He took a break in 1957, but was convinced to return to the game. He then played for the Detroit Stars.
In 1958, Joe Henry was chosen as an All-Star. He played in the important East-West All-Star Game. This was a big honor for him. His last year playing in the Negro leagues was 1959.
Later Years and Legacy
Later in his life, Joe Henry worked to help other Negro league players. He wanted to make sure they received the pension benefits that Major League Baseball had promised them in the 1990s. He fought for fair treatment for these players.
In the 2000s, Joe Henry started writing a newspaper column. It was called "Ask a Negro Leaguer." He wrote it for the Riverfront Times newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. His grandson, Sean R. Muhammad, helped him write the column.
Joe Henry passed away on January 2, 2009, after being ill for some time. He is remembered as a talented baseball player and someone who cared about his fellow players.
