William Francis (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Francis |
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| Third baseman / Manager | |||
| Born: February 28, 1879 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Died: January 26, 1942 (aged 62) Chicago, Illinois |
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| debut | |||
| 1906, for the Philadelphia Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1925, for the Chicago American Giants | |||
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William Henry Francis (born February 28, 1879 – died January 26, 1942) was an important baseball player. He played as a Third baseman in the Negro Leagues for many years. He was active both before and after the first Negro National League was formed.
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Bill Francis's Baseball Journey
Bill Francis started his professional baseball career in 1906, when he was 27 years old. He played for the Philadelphia Giants until 1910. During the winters of 1908 and 1909, he also played baseball in Cuba for the Matanzas team.
Playing for the Lincoln Giants
In 1911, Francis joined the Lincoln Giants and played with them for three seasons. He went back to Cuba during this time, playing for Club Fé in 1912 and 1913.
A sportswriter named Cary B. Lewis once described Francis during a game in 1914. Lewis said that even though Francis was short, he "runs like a deer." This showed how fast and agile Bill Francis was on the field.
Joining the Chicago American Giants
From 1914 to 1919, Bill Francis played for the Chicago American Giants. He was a key player for this team. In 1919, he left Chicago and finished the season playing for the Detroit Stars.
Becoming a Player-Manager
When the first Negro National League was created, Bill Francis was 41 years old. He joined the Hilldale Club in 1920. At Hilldale, he not only played but also took on the role of manager, guiding the team. He played for Hilldale until 1922.
After his time with Hilldale, Francis played for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants in 1923. In 1924, he played for the Cleveland Browns. He returned to the Chicago American Giants for his final season in 1925.
Later Life
Bill Francis passed away in Chicago, Illinois when he was 62 years old. He is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island, Illinois.
