Junius Bibbs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Junius Bibbs |
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| Infielder | |||
| Born: October 31, 1910 Henderson, Kentucky |
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| Died: September 11, 1980 (aged 69) Indianapolis, Indiana |
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| debut | |||
| 1933, Detroit Stars | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1944, Cleveland Buckeyes | |||
| Career statistics | |||
| Batting average | .284 | ||
| Slugging percentage | .347 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Junius Alexander Bibbs (born October 31, 1910 – died September 11, 1980) was a talented American baseball player. He was an infielder in the Negro Leagues from around 1933 to 1944. People often called him by his nickname, "Rainey".
Bibbs was known for his skills on the baseball field. But he was also a dedicated student, college football star, and a respected high school coach. He helped many young athletes succeed in sports and in life.
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Early Life and School Days
Junius Bibbs was born in Henderson, Kentucky. His father, Lloyd Bibbs, was a veteran of World War I. His mother was Catherine Carr. When Junius was about 10 years old, his family moved to Terre Haute, Indiana.
In Terre Haute, Bibbs went to Paul Lawrence Dunbar Elementary School. He later attended Wiley High School. There, he was a star athlete. He earned letters in track, baseball, and football. He graduated from high school in 1927. At that time, not many African Americans had a high school diploma.
College Years at Indiana State
Instead of going to a historically Black college in the South, Bibbs chose to stay in his community. He attended Indiana State Teachers College. This school is now known as Indiana State University. By 1940, only a small number of African Americans had a four-year college degree. Bibbs was one of them, earning his degree in 1937.
While at Indiana State, Bibbs studied science and education. He also became a star fullback on the college's football team. He was known as "the only race player on Indiana's collegiate gridiron." His strong play was very important to the team. Bibbs was also a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Baseball Career Highlights
Bibbs started his baseball career while still in college. He played for teams like the Indianapolis ABCs and the Detroit Stars. He was a switch-hitter, meaning he could bat from both the left and right sides.
In 1937, he had an amazing season with the Cincinnati Tigers. He reportedly batted .404 that year. This great performance led to him being chosen for the West squad in the All-Star game.
In 1938, Bibbs joined the famous Kansas City Monarchs. He was a starter for the Monarchs from 1938 to 1941. He played second base and helped the team win three Negro Leagues Championships. These championships were won in 1939, 1940, and 1941. He finished his baseball career in 1944 with the Cleveland Buckeyes.
How Bibbs Got His Nickname "Rainey"
Junius Bibbs got his nickname "Rainey" during his baseball years. Reporters often misspelled or mispronounced his first name. One day, a reporter asked him how to spell it. Bibbs was tired of spelling it out. Since it was raining that day, he told the reporter to just call him "Rainey." The nickname stuck!
High School Coaching Career
After his baseball career, Bibbs became a teacher and coach. In 1947, he started working at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis. This was a historically Black high school. Bibbs taught in the Indianapolis Public Schools system for 25 years. He spent 23 years at Crispus Attucks. He retired in 1972.
As the director of intramural athletics, Bibbs helped start new sports programs. In 1952, he helped establish intramural basketball, volleyball, and track at Crispus Attucks. That same year, he also coached wrestling as a varsity sport for the first time.
Bibbs taught biology and coached many outstanding athletes. Some of his students became famous. These included future Harlem Globetrotters like Bailey "Flap" Robertson and Hallie Bryant. He also coached the legendary basketball player Oscar Robertson. Many of his students were named to the Indiana All-Star team. Twelve of them have been inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Commitment to Education
Bibbs believed strongly in the power of education. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. He worked hard to help other African-American students attend college. He was an active member of the Statonians alumni association at Indiana State. This group raised money for scholarships. He served as vice president of the Statonians from 1971 to 1972.
Honors After His Death
Junius Bibbs passed away in Indianapolis, Indiana when he was almost 70 years old.
He received several honors after his death:
- In 2011, he was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. He was one of only four African Americans and three Negro Leagues players to receive this honor.
- In 1998, he was inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame. This was partly for his football talents as a Sycamores fullback. He won All-Indiana Intercollegiate Conference honors in 1934 and 1935.
- On June 20, 2015, Bibbs received the Coach & Educator Award. This award was given by the Crispus Attucks High School Alumni Lettermen's Club.
Bibbs is also listed as a notable African American by Crown Hill Cemetery, where he is buried. He is also on the University of Kentucky Library's Notable Kentucky African Americans Database.
