disgrig
07-17-2007, 06:22 AM
Today, July 17, 2007 is the 60th anniversary of a momentous day in sports history. On July 17, 1947 the St. Louis Browns became the third major league team to hire African-American players. Henry Thompson and Willard Brown, both from the Kansas City Monarchs, signed to play for the Browns and, in the process, Thompson and Brown became the first two black teammates at the Major League level in the 20th century. The Browns also signed Lorenzo "Piper" Davis of the Birmingham Black Barons to a 30-day option with the idea being that the Browns would scout Davis a little more and then purchase him from the Black Barons and place him on either the Browns or one of the Browns' farm clubs.
But, unfortuntely our story does not have a happy ending. After about six weeks with the Browns, Thompson and Brown were released by the Browns (supposedly for not reaching major league standards though the duo did not help boast attendance the way the Browns had anticipated) in August. After passing through waivers without being signed by any other major league club, they were re-signed by the Kansas City Monarchs. Henry Thompson later played for the New York Giants and played in the 1951 and 1954 World Series (Thompson, Monte Irvin and Willie Mays would form the first all-African-American outfield while in New York). Willard Brown never played in the majors again though last summer (2006) he was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown based on his years spent in the Negro Leagues and in Latin America.
Piper Davis was also released by the Browns, though he never played for them. The Browns wanted to put him on the farm club in Toledo, OH for $500a month, Davis did not go for this since he was making $700-800 a month playing for the Black Barons. Davis finished the season with the Black Barons and he never played for a major league club though he was Willie Mays' manager when Mays' played in Birmingham before Mays moved onto the NY Giants. Davis also played minor league baseball in the Pacific Coast League in the 1950s.
But, unfortuntely our story does not have a happy ending. After about six weeks with the Browns, Thompson and Brown were released by the Browns (supposedly for not reaching major league standards though the duo did not help boast attendance the way the Browns had anticipated) in August. After passing through waivers without being signed by any other major league club, they were re-signed by the Kansas City Monarchs. Henry Thompson later played for the New York Giants and played in the 1951 and 1954 World Series (Thompson, Monte Irvin and Willie Mays would form the first all-African-American outfield while in New York). Willard Brown never played in the majors again though last summer (2006) he was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown based on his years spent in the Negro Leagues and in Latin America.
Piper Davis was also released by the Browns, though he never played for them. The Browns wanted to put him on the farm club in Toledo, OH for $500a month, Davis did not go for this since he was making $700-800 a month playing for the Black Barons. Davis finished the season with the Black Barons and he never played for a major league club though he was Willie Mays' manager when Mays' played in Birmingham before Mays moved onto the NY Giants. Davis also played minor league baseball in the Pacific Coast League in the 1950s.