Sam Bankhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Bankhead |
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| Infielder / Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 18, 1910 Sulligent, Alabama |
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| Died: July 24, 1976 (aged 65) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| debut | |||
| 1931, for the Birmingham Black Barons | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1951, for the Farnham Pirates | |||
| Negro league statistics | |||
| Batting average | .289 | ||
| Home runs | 8 | ||
| Runs scored | 231 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Samuel Howard Bankhead (born September 18, 1910 – died July 24, 1976) was an amazing American baseball player. He played in the Negro leagues, which were professional baseball leagues for African American players before Major League Baseball became fully integrated. Sam Bankhead played from 1931 to 1951, showing off his skills for many different teams.
He was a versatile player, meaning he could play in different positions on the field, including Infielder and Outfielder. Sam was also known for playing alongside other baseball legends like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson for the Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo team.
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Sam Bankhead's Baseball Journey
Sam Bankhead started his professional baseball career in 1931. He played for several well-known teams in the Negro leagues. These teams included the Birmingham Black Barons, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and the Homestead Grays. He was a very talented player who helped his teams win many games.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
During his time in the Negro leagues, Sam Bankhead was recognized as one of the best players. He was chosen to play in the East-West All-Star Game seven times between 1933 and 1946. This special game featured the top players from the eastern and western teams of the Negro leagues. Being selected for the All-Star Game so many times shows how skilled and important he was to the sport.
A Pioneer Coach
In 1951, Sam Bankhead made history. He became the first black coach in Minor League Baseball. This was a very important step for baseball and for breaking down racial barriers in sports. He was a player-manager for the Farnham Pirates team in the Provincial League. A player-manager is someone who plays on the team but also helps coach and lead the team.
Bankhead Family in Baseball
Sam Bankhead came from a family of talented baseball players. His brothers Joe, Fred, and Garnett also played in the Negro leagues. His brother Dan even played in Major League Baseball, which is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada. This shows how much baseball talent ran in the Bankhead family!
Sam Bankhead passed away in July 1976 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is remembered as a great player and a pioneer who helped open doors for future generations in baseball.
