Steel Arm Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steel Arm Davis |
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| Outfielder / Pitcher / Manager | |||
| Born: June 22, 1896 Wortham, Texas, United States |
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| Died: November 30, 1941 Chicago, Illinois |
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| debut | |||
| 1918, for the Waco Black Navigators | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1938, for the San Antonio Black Missions | |||
| Negro league statistics | |||
| Batting average | .328 | ||
| Home runs | 31 | ||
| Runs scored | 250 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Walter C. "Steel Arm" Davis (born June 22, 1896 – died November 30, 1941) was a talented American baseball player. He was known for his strong arm and played in the Negro leagues from 1920 to 1938. He played for several teams, including the Dayton Marcos, Detroit Stars, and Chicago American Giants.
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Who Was Steel Arm Davis?
Walter Davis earned the nickname "Steel Arm" because of his powerful throwing arm. He was a versatile player, meaning he could play many different positions. He often played as an Outfielder and sometimes as a pitcher.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
During the time Walter Davis played, baseball was segregated in the United States. This meant that African American players were not allowed to play in the major leagues with white players. Instead, they played in their own professional leagues, known as the Negro leagues. These leagues had many amazing players, and "Steel Arm" Davis was one of them.
He played for teams like the Chicago American Giants, which was one of the most famous teams in the Negro leagues. His career lasted almost two decades, showing how skilled and dedicated he was to the sport.
A Traveling Baseball Star
In the later part of his career, Walter Davis became a playing manager for the Black Missions baseball team. This meant he both played on the team and helped lead it. The Black Missions were a "barnstorming" team. Barnstorming teams traveled all over the country, playing exhibition games against local teams.
They would play in different towns and cities, sometimes even far away in places like Canada. This allowed many people to see high-level baseball who might not otherwise have had the chance. In 1938, his team even played exhibition games against famous pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Life After Baseball
When he wasn't playing baseball, Walter Davis often went back to his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. There, he worked as a porter in local barber shops. Walter Davis passed away in Chicago, Illinois, in 1941.
