Wabishaw Wiley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wabishaw Wiley |
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: February 1, 1887 Vernon, Louisiana |
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| Died: November 3, 1944 (aged 57) Jersey City, New Jersey |
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| debut | |||
| 1909, Birmingham Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1924, New York Lincoln Giants | |||
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Wabishaw Spencer Wiley (born February 1, 1887 – died November 3, 1944) was a talented baseball player. People often called him "Doc." He was a catcher in the Negro Leagues, which were professional baseball leagues for African American players. He played from 1910 to 1924, showing off his skills behind home plate.
Contents
Doc Wiley's Baseball Journey
Starting His Career
Doc Wiley began his professional baseball journey in 1910. He started as a catcher for a team called the West Baden Sprudels. After that, he played for the Brooklyn Royal Giants for a couple of years. Then, he joined the New York Lincoln Giants.
A Top Catcher
Doc Wiley was known for his excellent hitting. In 1913, his batting average was .398, which is very high! The next year, he hit even better, with a .418 average. In 1918, he reached an amazing .441 batting average.
Wiley was considered one of the best catchers of his time. He even caught pitches for Cyclone Joe Williams, a famous pitcher who is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Doc Wiley's career in baseball ended in 1924.
Life Outside Baseball
A Dentist and a Player
Wabishaw Wiley was not just a baseball star; he was also a dentist! He studied at the Howard University School of Dentistry. He had his own dental offices in New Jersey. This meant he practiced dentistry even while playing professional baseball.
Serving His Country
During World War I, Doc Wiley volunteered to join the military. He served his country and was officially discharged in 1919. He passed away in 1944 in Jersey City, New Jersey.
A Lasting Legacy
Years after his death, in 1952, Doc Wiley was still remembered for his talent. He received votes in a special poll by the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper. This poll asked players to name the best Negro Leagues players ever. This shows how respected he was in the baseball world.
