Joe Black

For other uses, see Joe Black (disambiguation).
Joe Black
Pitcher
Born: (1924-02-08)February 8, 1924
Plainfield, New Jersey
Died: May 17, 2002(2002-05-17) (aged 78)
Scottsdale, Arizona
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 1952, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
September 11, 1957, for the Washington Senators
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 30–12
Earned run average 3.91
Strikeouts 222
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Joseph Black (February 8, 1924 – May 17, 2002) was an American right-handed pitcher in Negro League and Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Washington Senators who became the first black pitcher to win a World Series game, in 1952. Black died of prostate cancer at age 78.

A native of Plainfield, New Jersey, he starred at Plainfield High School.[1][2] Black attended on a baseball scholarship and graduated from Morgan State University in 1950 and later received an honorary doctorate from Shaw University. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He appears prominently in Roger Kahn's classic book, The Boys of Summer.

Negro and minor leagues

Black helped the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues win two championships in seven years. He and Jackie Robinson pushed for a pension plan for Negro League players and was instrumental in the inclusion of players who played before 1944 Black then played for a year in the Brooklyn Dodgers' minor league system.

Call up to Brooklyn

The Dodgers promoted Black to the major leagues in 1952 at 28, five years after teammate Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier. He roomed with Robinson while with Brooklyn, and was dominant out of the bullpen, chosen Rookie of the Year after winning 15 games and saving 15 others for the National League champions. He had a 2.15 ERA but, with 142 innings pitched, fell eight innings short of winning the ERA title.

Strapped for pitching, Dodgers manager Chuck Dressen brought Black out of the bullpen and started him three times in seven days in the 1952 World Series against the New York Yankees. He won the opener with a six-hitter over Allie Reynolds, 4–2, then lost the fourth game, 2–0, and the seventh, 4–2

Black's decline

The next spring after the World Series, Dressen urged Black to add some pitches to his strong slowball, which was his favorite pitch. In six seasons, he compiled a 30–12 record, half of his wins coming in his rookie season.

After baseball

After his career ended, Black was a scout for the Senators (1959–60). He taught health and physical education at Hubbard Junior High School in Plainfield, New Jersey, and later became an executive with Greyhound in Phoenix.

In addition to lobbying for black players, he remained in baseball through his affiliation with the commissioner's office, where he consulted with players about career choices.

In 1991, Black appeared as a fictional character 'Joe 'Playday' Sims', in TV's Cosby Show, in the 7th Season episode, "There's Still No Joy in Mudville", which originally aired April 4, 1991.

He was a board director of the Baseball Assistance Team and worked for the Arizona Diamondbacks in community relations after they joined the National League in 1998. Black was a regular in the Diamondbacks' dugout during batting practice and in the press box. He also did a lot of charity work in the Phoenix area.

He wrote a syndicated column, "By The Way", for Ebony magazine and an autobiography, Ain't Nobody Better Than You.

Black was interred in the Hillside Cemetery of Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

Honors and awards

The Arizona Fall League's Most Valuable Player award is named for Black.[3] First presented in 2002, the award honors the 1952 National League Rookie of the Year.[3]

There is a plaque honoring him at Chase Field alongside the Diamondbacks' championships and retired numbers.

Beginning in 2010, the Washington Nationals will present the Joe Black Award to a Washington area organization chosen for its work promoting baseball in African American communities. The award recognizes Black as the first African American player on the Washington Senators (1957).

References

  1. ↑ Goldstein, Richard. " Joe Black, Pitching Pioneer for the Dodgers, Dies at 78", The New York Times, May 18, 2002. Accessed October 8, 2007. "Black was born in Plainfield, N.J., where he was an all-around athlete in high school."
  2. ↑ McKenzie, Doug. "South River's Pearson to be inducted to N.J. Hall of Fame", East Brunswick Sentinel, February 7, 2001. Accessed October 8, 2007. "Also on this year's list of inductees are Joe Black, a Plainfield High School graduate who became the first African-American pitcher to win a World Series game"
  3. 1 2 "Desme Wins AFL MVP Award". CBS Sports. November 23, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
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