Red Applegate facts for kids

Willis "Red" Applegate (born November 4, 1921 – died August 1, 1965) was a talented American athlete. He was known for his skills as both a boxer and a Negro league baseball player.

Growing Up and Serving His Country

Willis Applegate was born in 1921. When he was 20 years old, in 1942, he joined the United States Army. He served in the 92nd Infantry Division during World War II. This division was part of the war efforts in the Mediterranean area. Applegate finished his military service in 1945.

Red Applegate's Boxing Career

After his time in the army, Red Applegate started his professional boxing career in 1946. He had a strong start, winning his first four fights. Two of these wins were by "knockout" (KO), meaning his opponent could not continue the fight. Both of these knockouts happened very quickly, in the first round.

He then faced a boxer named Austin Johnson and lost that fight. Red Applegate continued to box for several more years. He had many matches, winning some and losing others. His overall record in boxing was 11 wins, 16 losses, and 2 draws (ties). Four of his wins were by knockout.

Facing a Legend: Rocky Marciano

In April 1951, Red Applegate had a very important fight. He went up against the famous boxer Rocky Marciano. Marciano would later become a world heavyweight champion. Applegate fought bravely for all 10 rounds of the match. However, he lost the fight by "decision," which means the judges decided Marciano was the winner.

Red Applegate's boxing career ended in 1951. He had to stop fighting because of an injury to his eye.

Playing Baseball in the Negro Leagues

Besides boxing, Red Applegate was also a baseball player. In 1947, he played for the Newark Eagles. He was a pitcher for this team, which was part of the Negro National League. He played for them for a short time that year.