Leroy Morney facts for kids

Leroy Morney (born May 13, 1909 – died March 23, 1979) was an American baseball player. He was a talented shortstop. Leroy played in the Negro leagues from 1929 to 1944. These leagues were for African American players. He played for many different teams during his career. He was so good that he was chosen for the East-West All-Star Game three times.

Leroy Morney's Baseball Career

Leroy Morney began his professional baseball journey in 1932. He was 23 years old when he joined the Memphis Red Sox. This team was part of the Negro Southern League. In his first year, Leroy was an amazing player. He led the league in many important stats. He had the most games played, runs scored, and hits. He also had the best batting average at .378. This means he got a hit almost 38 out of every 100 times he tried.

Playing in the Negro National League

The next year, in 1933, a new league started called the Negro National League. Leroy played for three different teams that year. These teams were the Columbus Blue Birds, Homestead Grays, and Cleveland Giants. He continued to play very well, hitting for a .376 batting average. Because of his great skills, he was picked for the East-West All-Star Game. This was a special game where the best players from the East played against the best players from the West.

Later Career and All-Star Selections

In 1934, Leroy played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords. He had a strong season in 1935, hitting .381 in 23 games. While his batting average changed over the years, he remained a valuable player. He was chosen for two more All-Star Games. These selections happened in 1939 and 1940. Leroy Morney played his last season in 1944. He retired after playing for the Birmingham Black Barons.