Turkey Stearnes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Turkey Stearnes |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 8, 1901 Nashville, Tennessee |
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| Died: September 4, 1979 (aged 78) Detroit, Michigan |
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| debut | |||
| 1920, for the Nashville Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1940, for the Kansas City Monarchs | |||
| NBL statistics | |||
| Batting average | .349 | ||
| Hits | 1,316 | ||
| Home runs | 186 | ||
| Runs batted in | 997 | ||
| Stolen bases | 129 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2000 | ||
| Election Method | Veterans Committee | ||
Norman Thomas "Turkey" Stearnes (born May 8, 1901 – died September 4, 1979) was an amazing American baseball player. He played as an outfielder in the Negro leagues. He was so good that he was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.
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Who Was Turkey Stearnes?
Norman Stearnes was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He got his famous nickname "Turkey" when he was young. This was because of his unique way of running on the baseball field.
Starting His Baseball Journey
Stearnes began his professional baseball career in 1920. He first played for the Nashville Giants. In 1923, he joined the Detroit Stars. He played with them for many years.
Playing During Tough Times
In 1931, the Great Depression made things hard for many people. The Detroit Stars could not pay Stearnes his salary. Because of this, he played for different teams for the rest of his career. He finally stopped playing in 1942 as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs.
Why Was Stearnes So Special?
Many people think Stearnes was one of the best all-around baseball players ever. He could hit, run, and play defense very well. However, because he was Black and had a quiet personality, he did not get as much attention as he deserved.
His Amazing Batting Skills
Stearnes was an incredible hitter. He hit over .400 (meaning he got a hit more than 40% of the time) three different times! He also led the Negro leagues in home runs seven times. He is known for hitting 186 home runs in his Negro league career. This is the most home runs ever recorded in the Negro leagues.
A Fast Runner and Great Outfielder
Even though he weighed about 175 pounds and had an unusual running style, Stearnes was very fast. He was also one of the best outfielders of his time. In 2001, a famous writer named Bill James said Stearnes was the 25th greatest baseball player of all time. He also called him the best left fielder in the Negro leagues.
Records and Achievements
Stearnes had a career batting average of .349. He hit 186 home runs and played in 984 games. His slugging percentage, which shows how powerful a hitter is, was .617.
He led Negro league baseball in triples (hitting the ball and reaching third base) six times. This is more than anyone else in the Negro leagues. When Major League Baseball decided to recognize some Negro Leagues as major leagues, Stearnes shared the record for most times leading a league in triples with Sam Crawford. Stearnes also won two batting titles, which is a great achievement. Only Josh Gibson and Oscar Charleston won more.
Life After Baseball
Even with all his baseball success, Stearnes had to work in car factories in Detroit during the winters. He worked for Walter Briggs, who owned the Detroit Tigers. It was sad because Stearnes could not play for the Tigers because of the color of his skin.
Joining the Hall of Fame
Stearnes was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000. This was 21 years after he passed away. His wife, Nettie Mae, worked very hard to make sure he was recognized. She passed away in 2014.
Remembering a Legend
Today, you can find a special plaque honoring Stearnes. It is displayed outside the center field gate at Comerica Park, which is the home field of the Detroit Tigers. There is also a display honoring him at The Corner Ballpark, which is the historic site of Old Tiger Stadium.
