Russell Patterson - Indianapolis Clowns

Russell "Crazy Legs" Patterson

Indianpolis Clowns 1960-1961

 

Chuck Harmon - page 48

Chuck Harmon

1947 Indianapolis Clowns

- played one week, then signed by the St. Louis Browns organization 1947-50

1951 Olean NY - Pony League

1952 contract purchased by the Cincinnati Reds, playing in their minor league system

1954-56 Cincinnati Reds (first African-American to play for the Reds)

1956-57 St. Louis Cardinals

1957 Philadelphia Phillies

Finished his career in Salt Lake City, 1960, and Hawaii, 1961...

Played 5 games for the clowns under the name Charlie Fine to maintain his amateur status...

1950 tried out for the Boston Celtics of the NBA, joined the Utica Pros of the American bAsketball League as a player-coach...

Pedro Serra - Bobby Mitchell - page 39

Pedro Serra - Cuba

1954-55 Indianapolis Clowns

1956 Detroit Stars

Signed by the Minnesota Twins, played 4 years in the minor leagues

Canadian Quebec League - 3 years

Washington Senators - spring training, 2 years in Senators minor league system

Mexican Leagues - 5 years

Dominican Republic

Bobby Mitchell

1954-57 Kansas City Monarchs

Right handed pitcher with an 85-90 MPH fastball.

Pancho Gray - Jim Robinson- page 38

Pancho Gray "The Legend"

1929-1945

"I hit more home runs than Hank Aaron and Willie Mays combined, but I played more years than them combined.

I remember hitting the ball just past 2nd base into the outfield where the grass was so high they couldn't find the ball, I would just keep running.."

"Outfielders today don't have the same ability we had to reach home, we had no cut off man.."

Jim Robinson

1952 Philadelphia Stars

1953-55 Indianapolis Clowns

1956-58 Kansas City Monarchs

1955, 1956, 1957 All-Star Team

Stars finback button (probably 1.25")

Mamie Peanut Johnson - page 32

Indianapolis Clowns..Were originally formed in 1929 as the Miami Clowns, then as the Ethiopian Clowns. The Clowns entertained with a mix of comedy on the field and excellent baseball skill. Their comic routines gave potential customers one more reason to come to the park during the depression years..

they regularly played the powerhouse clubs of the Negro Leagues, the Monarchs, Elite Giants, American Giants, compiling a respectable record. The Clowns entrance into the Negro American League in 1941 clearly demonstrated the ability of the club as a professional baseball team..

1953 the Clowns, in an effort to spark fan interest signed three women..Toni Stones, Connie Morgan and Mamie "Peanut" Johnson...

Mamie "Peanut" Johnson

1953-55 Indianapolis Clowns

Before joining the Clowns, Johnson and a girlfriend tried to join the All-american Girls Baseball League..."I went to join the team and they looked at us like we were crazy."

Fondest memory "The thrill of knowing I'm good enough to play with the fellas"

Satchel Paige taught 5'2" 120lbs Peanut to throw the curve, "The curveball gave me an edge"

1997 - Milwaukee County Stadium Negro Wall of Fame

Leroy Cromartie - page 29

Leroy Cromartie

1945 Indianapolis Clowns

Fondest memories of playing against Jackie Robinson and the Kansas City Monarchs and Roy Campanella and the Baltimore Elite Giants..

Sherwood Brewer - page 28

Sherwood Brewer

1949-50 Indianapolis Clowns

1948 New York Cubans

"Proudest moment was taking over as manager of the Monarchs from Buck O'Neil..."

All-Star Team 1949, 1950

1952 Ardmore, Sooner League

1953-54 Kansas City Monarchs

-after 1950 the Negro Leagues were considered a minor league operation...

His best years in organized ball came in 1955 and 1956 with San Angelo, playing 2nd base, hitting .288 and .268...

1946 Seattle Steelheads

1947-48 Harlem Globetrotters

2000 - Milwaukee County Stadium - Negro League Wall of Fame.

Lester Lockett - page 27

Lester Lockett

Birmingham Black Barons 1938, 1941-46

Baltimore Elite Giants 1947-49

Cincinnati Buckeyes 1940

Chicago American Giants 1942, 1950

Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns 1946

"Playing in the 1945 All-Star game, to be seen by 43,000 people and just to be selected to the All-Star team..."

Also played in Canada and South America

1951 Farnham, Provincial League, Canada

1952 Winnipeg, Mandak League

1953 Carman, Mandak League

3-time Negro League All-Star 1943, 45, 48...Batting in the heart of the order for Birmingham and Baltimore hit for averages of .328, .315, .408, .249, .300 1941-45 and .313 and .386 1947 and 1948...

Lockett could hit for power or steal a base and his versatility was utilized in the field, especially at 3rd base...

Armando Vasquez - page 17

Armando Vasquez

"I can remember that sometimes we'd play three games in one day, like the 4th of July. The first game would start at 10:00 in the morning, the second game at 2PM, the third early in the evenings. Sometimes playing in three different towns."

Cinicannti - Indianapolis Clowns 1944-52

New York Cubans 1948

Havana La Palomas, Cuba 1947

Canadian League 1949-51

Thibodaux, Evangeline League 1954

Mexico City Tigers 1955

Smooth fielder at first base....

Benny Felder - Charlie Biot -page 15

Benny Felder

1946-1947

Newark Eagles - shortstop

"Fondest memory was winning the 1946 Negro League Championship"

Indianapolis Clowns 1948

Philadelphia Stars 1951

Keywest Florida Int. League 1952

Pampa, W. Texas-N. Mexico League 1953-54

Artesia, Longhorn League 1954

Charlie Biot

1939-1941

Newark Eagles

New York Black Yankees

Baltimore Elite Giants

"Recalls a home run he hit off Adams in Baltimore and just being able to play ball..."

Outstanding fielder, who hit for Ave. of .305 in 1940 and .278 in 1941...