Louis Santop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louis Santop |
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Santop in 1924
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: January 17, 1889 Tyler, Texas |
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| Died: January 22, 1942 (aged 52) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| debut | |||
| 1909, for the Philadelphia Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1926, for the Hilldale Daisies | |||
| Teams | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2006 | ||
| Election Method | Negro League Committee | ||
Louis Santop Loftin (born January 17, 1889 – died January 22, 1942) was an amazing American baseball catcher. He played in the Negro leagues, which were professional baseball leagues for African American players. Many people called him "black baseball's first true home-run hitter." He was so good that he was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Early Baseball Days
Louis Santop was born in Tyler, Texas. When he was 19, he started playing baseball for teams in Texas and Oklahoma. Soon after, he joined the Philadelphia Giants. In 1910, he and another new player, Dick Redding, became a great team. Santop was the catcher, and Redding was the pitcher. They were known as a "kid battery" because they were both so young.
A Powerful Hitter
Santop was a very strong hitter. He played for many teams, including the New York Lincoln Giants and the New York Lincoln Stars. He was known for hitting incredibly long home runs. In 1913, he hit a home run that traveled about 485 feet! That was one of the longest hits of the season.
He played against some of the best pitchers in the league, like Smokey Joe Williams and "Cannonball" Dick Redding. Santop was also chosen for the Negro Leagues East All-Star Team several times, in 1917, 1918, 1921, 1922, and 1924.
Playing for Hilldale
From 1918 to 1926, Santop played for the Hilldale Club, also known as the Hilldale Daisies. This team was one of the best in the Negro leagues. Santop was a big player, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds.
After World War I, Santop became one of the most popular players in the league. He earned a very high salary of $500 a month. People even called him "The Black Babe Ruth" because he was such a powerful hitter. In 1920, when Santop and Babe Ruth played against each other, Santop got three hits, while Ruth didn't get any.
World Series Moment
The Hilldale Daisies were a very successful team. They won championships from 1923 to 1925. However, in the 1924 Colored World Series, Santop made a mistake that was hard for him. In a close game, he dropped a ball that would have been an easy out. On the very next pitch, the other team hit a game-winning single. This moment was very tough for Santop. After that, another player, Biz Mackey, became the main catcher for the team. Santop left the team the next season.
Life After Baseball
After his time in the Negro leagues, Louis Santop didn't stop being involved in baseball. He started his own semi-pro team called the Santop Bronchos. They played games from 1928 until at least 1932.
His Lasting Legacy
Many baseball experts thought Louis Santop was one of the greatest catchers of all time in black baseball. A famous sports writer named Rollo Wilson picked Santop as the best catcher for his all-time black baseball team. In 1952, Santop was also named to the Pittsburgh Courier's All-Time All-Star Team.
After he retired from playing, Santop worked as a radio announcer for a station in Philadelphia. Later, he became a bartender. He passed away in 1942 at the age of 52. Santop left his collection of baseball items to a friend, who then gave them to the Baseball Hall of Fame. This helped make sure Santop's amazing career would always be remembered.
