William Binga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Binga |
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| Third baseman / Catcher | |||
| Born: February 26, 1869 Michigan |
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| Died: October 14, 1950 (aged 81) Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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William H. Binga (born February 26, 1869 – died October 14, 1950) was a talented American baseball player. He played as a third baseman, catcher, and even worked as a manager. Binga played before the official Negro league baseball era began. He was born in Michigan. Most of his baseball career was spent playing in big cities. These included Chicago, Illinois, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Early Baseball Days
William Binga started his baseball journey when he was 26 years old. His first known games were as a catcher for a team in Adrian, Michigan. Soon after, he joined the famous Page Fence Giants team. This team later moved to Chicago. In 1899, they became known as the Chicago Columbia Giants.
Playing in Chicago and Minnesota
In Chicago, Binga played for several different teams. These included the Columbia Giants, the Chicago Union Giants, and the Leland Giants. He was a key player on these teams. Many of his teammates moved with him to Minnesota in 1908. Binga played for the Colored Gophers team in Minneapolis. He left the team in August 1911.
During his career, Binga played alongside many famous baseball players. Some of these included Sol White, Rube Foster, George Wilson, and Walter Ball. He also played with Candy Jim Taylor and Johnny Davis. A fellow player, Jimmy Smith, once called Binga "the only third sacker and surest hitter in the country." This means he was considered the best third baseman and a very reliable batter.
After playing a few seasons in Philadelphia, Binga spent the rest of his career playing for teams in Minnesota and the Dakotas. The last known game he played was in Willmar, Minnesota. He lived in Willmar for many years after his baseball career ended.
Life After Baseball
William Binga was buried in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For over 63 years, his grave did not have a headstone. In June 2014, he finally received a proper headstone. This was thanks to the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project. This project helps place headstones on the graves of Negro League players. Records show that Binga was married to Edna Louise. His parents were Joshua and Lucy Binga.
