Smoky Owens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smoky Owens |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: 1912 Alabama |
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| Died: September 7, 1942 (aged 29–30) Geneva, Ohio |
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| debut | |||
| 1939, for the Cleveland Bears | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1942, for the Cincinnati Clowns | |||
| Teams | |||
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Raymond "Smoky" Owens (born in 1912) was a talented American baseball pitcher. He played in the Negro leagues, which were professional baseball leagues for African American players. Smoky Owens played from 1939 to 1942. He was known for his pitching skills.
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Playing in the Negro Leagues
Smoky Owens started his baseball career in 1939. He joined the Cleveland Bears team. The Negro leagues were very important. They gave Black athletes a chance to play professional baseball. This was at a time when they were not allowed in Major League Baseball.
Teams Smoky Owens Played For
Smoky Owens played for a few different teams during his career:
- He started with the Cleveland Bears from 1939 to 1940.
- During those same years, he also played for the St. Louis Stars.
- Later, from 1941 to 1942, he played for the Cincinnati Clowns.
All-Star Recognition
In 1939, Smoky Owens was chosen as an All-Star player. He was selected for the second East-West All-Star Game. This game was a big event. It featured the best players from the Negro American League (West) and the Negro National League (East). Being picked for this game showed that he was one of the top pitchers in the league.
A Sad End to His Career
Sadly, Smoky Owens's life and career ended too soon. He passed away on September 7, 1942. This happened because of a car accident. Another player, Ulysses Brown, also died in the same accident. Several other players were injured. These included Eugene Bremmer, Herman Watts, Alonzo Boone, and Wilbur Hayes.
