Alfred Surratt
Encyclopedia
Alfred G. "Slick" Surratt (November 9, 1922 - February 15, 2010) was an American
baseball outfielder
in the Kansas City Monarchs
, a Negro league baseball
franchise based in Kansas City, Missouri
, from 1947 until 1952. Surratt later co-founded the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
in Kansas City in 1990.
Surratt was born in Danville, Arkansas
. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri
, after eighth grade to live with his father. He served in the United States Army
during World War II
, receiving an honorable discharge in 1946.
In 1947, Surratt joined the Detroit Stars
, another Negro league
team. He soon moved back to Kansas City in 1947, where he was a reserve outfielder for the Kansas City Monarchs until his retirement from the league in 1952.
Surratt began working at the Ford Motor Company
's assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri
that same year. He continued to work for Ford at Calycomo for the next 51 years.
Surratt was an original founding member of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
, which opened in Kansas City in 1990. He also served on the museum's board of directors
. Starting in the early 1990s, he became known as a raconteur of the Negro Leagues.
Alfred "Slick" Surratt died at a nursing home in Kansas City on February 15, 2010, at the age of 87. He was survived by his wife, Tommie Surratt, and son, Alfred Surratt Jr.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in the Kansas City Monarchs
Kansas City Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro Leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri and owned by J.L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1930. J.L. Wilkinson was the first Caucasian owner at the time...
, a Negro league baseball
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
franchise based in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, from 1947 until 1952. Surratt later co-founded the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 in Kansas City, Missouri.-History:The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 by a group of former Negro Leagues baseball players, including Kansas City Monarchs outfielder, Alfred Surratt, Buck O'Neil, and Horace Peterson...
in Kansas City in 1990.
Surratt was born in Danville, Arkansas
Danville, Arkansas
Danville is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,392 at the 2000 census. Along with Dardanelle, it is one of two county seats for Yell County.Danville is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, after eighth grade to live with his father. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, receiving an honorable discharge in 1946.
In 1947, Surratt joined the Detroit Stars
Detroit Stars
The Detroit Stars were a United States baseball team in the Negro leagues and played at historic Mack Park.- Founding :Founded in 1919 by Tenny Blount with the help of Rube Foster, owner and manager of the Chicago American Giants, the Detroit Stars immediately established themselves as one of the...
, another Negro league
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
team. He soon moved back to Kansas City in 1947, where he was a reserve outfielder for the Kansas City Monarchs until his retirement from the league in 1952.
Surratt began working at the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
's assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri
Claycomo, Missouri
Claycomo is a village in Clay County, Missouri, United States. The village’s name is formed from Clay, co , and mo . The population was 1,267 at the 2000 census...
that same year. He continued to work for Ford at Calycomo for the next 51 years.
Surratt was an original founding member of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 in Kansas City, Missouri.-History:The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 by a group of former Negro Leagues baseball players, including Kansas City Monarchs outfielder, Alfred Surratt, Buck O'Neil, and Horace Peterson...
, which opened in Kansas City in 1990. He also served on the museum's board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. Starting in the early 1990s, he became known as a raconteur of the Negro Leagues.
Alfred "Slick" Surratt died at a nursing home in Kansas City on February 15, 2010, at the age of 87. He was survived by his wife, Tommie Surratt, and son, Alfred Surratt Jr.