Detroit Stars
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Stars were a United States
baseball
team in the Negro leagues
and played at historic Mack Park
.
, the Detroit Stars immediately established themselves as one of the most powerful teams in the West. Foster transferred several of his veteran players to the team, including player-manager Pete Hill
and legendary catcher Bruce Petway
. Left-hander John Donaldson, Frank Wickware
, Dicta Johnson, and Cuban great José Méndez
took up the pitching duties, and Texan Edgar Wesley was brought in to handle first base, a job he would hold for several years.
(NNL) in 1920. New outfielder Jimmie Lyons
enjoyed a brilliant season at bat, and Detroit came in second with a 35-23 record. The next season Lyons was transferred to the American Giants, and the team slumped to 32-32 and fourth place. This would be their low point for some time. For the rest of their tenure in the NNL, the Stars were consistently good (finishing under .500 only twice), but not brilliant (finishing as high as second place only twice).
The mainstays of the Detroit Stars during the 1920s were Hall of Fame center fielder Turkey Stearnes
, who ranks among the all-time Negro league leaders in nearly every batting category; Hall of Fame pitcher Andy Cooper
, a workhorse southpaw; pitcher Bill Holland
; and first baseman Wesley, who led the league in home runs twice and batting average once. Pete Hill left after the 1921 season. Bruce Petway took his place as manager until 1926, when Candy Jim Taylor
briefly held the position. Bingo DeMoss
, yet another Rube Foster protege, took over in 1927, and finally led the team to its first postseason berth in 1930. The Stars won the second-half season title, only to lose the playoff series to the St. Louis Stars
.
After the collapse of the Negro National League at the end of 1931, the Stars returned to independent play for most of the 1930s. However, in 1933 the team participated in the newly reformed Negro National League
and was a charter member of the Negro American League
in 1937.
and a Negro league superstar.
The team ceased operations in 1960.
, moving to Hamtramck Stadium in 1930 and, finally, to DeQuindre Park for their single season in the Negro American League.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team in the Negro leagues
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...
and played at historic Mack Park
Mack Park
Mack Park was the original home field of Detroit’s Negro National League baseball franchise, the Detroit Stars. It was constructed in 1914 by Joe Roesink, sponsor of a local semi-professional team, a Dutchman of Jewish descent born in Grand Rapids who owned a chain of haberdasheries.The park, was...
.
Founding
Founded in 1919 by Tenny Blount with the help of Rube Foster, owner and manager of the Chicago American GiantsChicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants were a Chicago-based Negro league baseball team, owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by player-manager Andrew "Rube" Foster. From 1910 until the mid-1930s, the American Giants were the most dominant team in black baseball...
, the Detroit Stars immediately established themselves as one of the most powerful teams in the West. Foster transferred several of his veteran players to the team, including player-manager Pete Hill
Pete Hill
* , Personal profiles at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. – identical to Riley -External links:* – unknown content, URL confirmed 2010-04-16...
and legendary catcher Bruce Petway
Bruce Petway
Bruce Franklin Petway was a Negro League catcher in the early 20th century who came to be known as having one of the best throwing arms in the league...
. Left-hander John Donaldson, Frank Wickware
Frank Wickware
Frank Wickware was a baseball player in the Negro Leagues. He would play pitcher and played from 1910 to 1925.Wickware served in the military during World War I....
, Dicta Johnson, and Cuban great José Méndez
José Méndez
José de la Caridad Méndez was a Cuban right-handed pitcher and manager in baseball's Negro Leagues. Born in Cárdenas, Matanzas, he died at age 41 in Havana. Known in Cuba as El Diamante Negro , he became a legend in his homeland. He was one of the first group of players elected to the Cuban...
took up the pitching duties, and Texan Edgar Wesley was brought in to handle first base, a job he would hold for several years.
League play
The Stars became a charter member of the Negro National LeagueNegro National League (the first)
The Negro National League was one of the several Negro leagues which were established during the period in the United States in which organized baseball was segregated. Led by Rube Foster, owner and manager of the Chicago American Giants, the NNL was established on February 13, 1920 by a...
(NNL) in 1920. New outfielder Jimmie Lyons
Jimmie Lyons
Jimmie Lyons was a baseball player in the Negro Leagues. He would play pitcher and outfielder and played from 1910 to 1925. He played for the Brooklyn Royal Giants, Chicago Giants, Lincoln Giants, St. Louis Giants, and Detroit Stars.From 1918 to 1919 Lyons served in the military during World War...
enjoyed a brilliant season at bat, and Detroit came in second with a 35-23 record. The next season Lyons was transferred to the American Giants, and the team slumped to 32-32 and fourth place. This would be their low point for some time. For the rest of their tenure in the NNL, the Stars were consistently good (finishing under .500 only twice), but not brilliant (finishing as high as second place only twice).
The mainstays of the Detroit Stars during the 1920s were Hall of Fame center fielder Turkey Stearnes
Turkey Stearnes
Norman Thomas "Turkey" Stearnes was an African American center fielder in the Negro leagues. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.-Early Life and career:...
, who ranks among the all-time Negro league leaders in nearly every batting category; Hall of Fame pitcher Andy Cooper
Andy Cooper
Andrew Lewis Cooper , nicknamed "Lefty," was an American left-handed pitcher, who hit right-handed, in baseball's Negro Leagues. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006....
, a workhorse southpaw; pitcher Bill Holland
Bill Holland (baseball player)
William Holland was a baseball player in the Negro Leagues. He would play pitcher and played from 1920 to 1941....
; and first baseman Wesley, who led the league in home runs twice and batting average once. Pete Hill left after the 1921 season. Bruce Petway took his place as manager until 1926, when Candy Jim Taylor
Candy Jim Taylor
James Allen "Candy Jim" Taylor was an American third baseman and manager in Negro league baseball.-Biography:Born in Anderson, South Carolina, Taylor was one of four brothers who played in the Negro Leagues, along with Ben, C. I. and "Steel Arm" Johnny...
briefly held the position. Bingo DeMoss
Bingo DeMoss
Elwood "Bingo" DeMoss was a baseball player and manager in the Negro Leagues from 1905 to 1943. He was born in Topeka, Kansas. It was in Topeka that he began his playing career in 1905 with the Topeka Giants. He is considered the finest fielding second baseman of the 1910s and 1920s Negro Leagues...
, yet another Rube Foster protege, took over in 1927, and finally led the team to its first postseason berth in 1930. The Stars won the second-half season title, only to lose the playoff series to the St. Louis Stars
St. Louis Stars (baseball)
The St. Louis Stars were a Negro League baseball team that competed in the Negro National League from 1922 to 1931. Founded when Dick Kent and Dr. Sam Sheppard took over the St...
.
After the collapse of the Negro National League at the end of 1931, the Stars returned to independent play for most of the 1930s. However, in 1933 the team participated in the newly reformed Negro National League
Negro National League (the second)
The second Negro National League was one of the several Negro leagues which were created during the time organized baseball was segregated. It established in 1933, two years after the first Negro National League had disbanded...
and was a charter member of the Negro American League
Negro American League
The Negro American League was one of the several Negro leagues which were created during the time organized baseball was segregated. The league was established in 1937, and continued to exist until 1960...
in 1937.
Decline and demise
In 1958, Detroit Stars owner Ted Rasberry renamed his team "Goose Tatum's Detroit Clowns" after Reece "Goose" Tatum, a famous member of basketball's Harlem GlobetrottersHarlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
and a Negro league superstar.
The team ceased operations in 1960.
Home fields
During the 1920s the Stars made their home at Mack ParkMack Park
Mack Park was the original home field of Detroit’s Negro National League baseball franchise, the Detroit Stars. It was constructed in 1914 by Joe Roesink, sponsor of a local semi-professional team, a Dutchman of Jewish descent born in Grand Rapids who owned a chain of haberdasheries.The park, was...
, moving to Hamtramck Stadium in 1930 and, finally, to DeQuindre Park for their single season in the Negro American League.
Notable players
- Joe "Prince" HenryJoe Henry (baseball)"Prince" Joe Henry was an American baseball player. He played for several Negro League teams in the 1950s.-Biography:...
- Pete HillPete Hill* , Personal profiles at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. – identical to Riley -External links:* – unknown content, URL confirmed 2010-04-16...
- Bruce PetwayBruce PetwayBruce Franklin Petway was a Negro League catcher in the early 20th century who came to be known as having one of the best throwing arms in the league...
- Ted "Double Duty" RadcliffeTed RadcliffeTheodore Roosevelt "Double Duty" Radcliffe was at his death thought to be the oldest living professional baseball player , one of only a handful of major league players who lived past their 100th birthdays, and a former star in the...
1928–1930 - Norman "Turkey" StearnesTurkey StearnesNorman Thomas "Turkey" Stearnes was an African American center fielder in the Negro leagues. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.-Early Life and career:...
- John Donaldson 1919
- Clint ThomasClint ThomasClint "Hawk" Thomas was a professional baseball player born in Greenup, Kentucky. Thomas was an outfielder and second baseman in the Negro leagues from 1920 to 1938, where he earned the nickname "Hawk" for his sharp-eyed hitting and center field skills...