Frank Warfield
Encyclopedia
Francis Xavier Warfield (1895 – July 24, 1932) was an infielder and manager in the Negro leagues
.
Standing at just 5'7", Warfield was known primarily for his fielding and baserunning excellence, but he also had several good years at the plate. In 1922, he hit .342 for the Detroit Stars
. He played on the Hilldale teams that won the Eastern Colored League
pennants from 1923 to 1925.
Warfield became player-manager of the Baltimore Black Sox
in 1929 and led them to the Negro American League
championship. He and teammates Oliver Marcelle
, Dick Lundy, and Jud Wilson
became known as the "Million Dollar Infield" because their collective talents may have been worth $1,000,000 to the major leagues had they been white.
Warfiled was known to have a violent nature that led to arguments and he once bit off part off Oliver Marcelle's nose in a fight over a dice game.
He died of a heart attack in 1932.
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...
.
Standing at just 5'7", Warfield was known primarily for his fielding and baserunning excellence, but he also had several good years at the plate. In 1922, he hit .342 for 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...
. He played on the Hilldale teams that won the Eastern Colored League
Eastern Colored League
The Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Clubs, more commonly known as the Eastern Colored League , was one of the several Negro leagues, which operated during the time organized baseball was segregated.- History :...
pennants from 1923 to 1925.
Warfield became player-manager of the Baltimore Black Sox
Baltimore Black Sox
The Baltimore Black Sox were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.- Founding :The Black Sox started as an independent team in 1916 by George Rossiter and Charles Spedden...
in 1929 and led them to 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...
championship. He and teammates Oliver Marcelle
Oliver Marcelle
Oliver Hazzard Marcelle , nicknamed "Ghost", was an American third baseman in the Negro Leagues for a number of teams around the league from 1918-1931. He also played shortstop. A Creole born in Thibodaux, Louisiana, he batted and threw right-handed.While the Negro Leagues had many statistics...
, Dick Lundy, and Jud Wilson
Jud Wilson
Ernest Judson Wilson , nicknamed "Boojum," was an American third baseman, first baseman, and manager in Negro league baseball. Born in Remington, Virginia, he served in World War I, and during his career played primarily for the Baltimore Black Sox , Homestead Grays , and Philadelphia Stars...
became known as the "Million Dollar Infield" because their collective talents may have been worth $1,000,000 to the major leagues had they been white.
Warfiled was known to have a violent nature that led to arguments and he once bit off part off Oliver Marcelle's nose in a fight over a dice game.
He died of a heart attack in 1932.