James Moore (baseball)
Encyclopedia
James Moore, commonly called Red Moore, (born 1916) was a professional baseball player. Moore was a player in the Negro League, appearing with many different teams but most substantially with home team Atlanta Black Crackers
. He also served with three different All-Star teams and, in 1938, played with the Southern News Services All-American Negro League Baseball Team. In 2006 he was inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame.
, Moore began playing after graduating Booker T. Washington High School in 1933 with Atlanta Black Crackers. Over the next six years, Moore moved among that team, Macon Peaches
, Chattanooga Choo-Choos
, Schenectady Black Socks, Newark Eagles
and Baltimore Elite Giants
, gradually earning a reputation according to Voices from the Negro Leagues as perhaps "the best fielding basement of all time" in his league. In 1940, after finishing the regular season in Baltimore
, Moore played in a winter season in Los Angeles
, California
that allowed white and black players to compete against each other, a competition that was first allowed and then halted by Major League Baseball
commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
. Moore himself believed that the games were halted because the black players were too successful, stating that "The public, they liked to see the competition, but the commissioner, he didn't have that attitude after he found out that we were drawin' real good crowds and we were beatin' 'em a lot." Moore registered for military draft
in October 1940 and served from 1942 to 1945. For the three years after World War II
, he returned to baseball with the Black Crackers. At his most highly paid, prior to the war, he earned $250 a month with a $1.50 daily food allowance.
In 2006, Moore was among six individuals inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, in its second year of existence.
Atlanta Black Crackers
The Atlanta Black Crackers were a professional Negro league baseball team which played during the early to mid 20th century.- Founding :The Crackers were founded in 1919...
. He also served with three different All-Star teams and, in 1938, played with the Southern News Services All-American Negro League Baseball Team. In 2006 he was inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame.
Biography
Born in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Moore began playing after graduating Booker T. Washington High School in 1933 with Atlanta Black Crackers. Over the next six years, Moore moved among that team, Macon Peaches
Macon Peaches
The Macon Peaches was the predominant name of the American minor league baseball franchise representing Macon, Georgia, during the 20th century....
, Chattanooga Choo-Choos
Chattanooga Choo-Choos
The Chattanooga Choo-Choos were a professional baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The organization operated in the Negro Southern League, a minor league division of the Negro Major Leagues and fielded a team from until . The Choo-Choos played their home games at Engel Stadium...
, Schenectady Black Socks, Newark Eagles
Newark Eagles
The Newark Eagles was a professional Negro league baseball team that played in the second Negro National League from 1936 to 1948.- Formation :...
and Baltimore Elite Giants
Baltimore Elite Giants
The Baltimore Elite Giants were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro leagues from to . The team was established by Thomas T. Wilson, in Nashville, Tennessee as the semi-pro Nashville Standard Giants on March 26, 1920. The team was renamed the Elite Giants in , and would move to...
, gradually earning a reputation according to Voices from the Negro Leagues as perhaps "the best fielding basement of all time" in his league. In 1940, after finishing the regular season in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Moore played in a winter season in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
that allowed white and black players to compete against each other, a competition that was first allowed and then halted by Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
. Moore himself believed that the games were halted because the black players were too successful, stating that "The public, they liked to see the competition, but the commissioner, he didn't have that attitude after he found out that we were drawin' real good crowds and we were beatin' 'em a lot." Moore registered for military draft
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
in October 1940 and served from 1942 to 1945. For the three years after 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...
, he returned to baseball with the Black Crackers. At his most highly paid, prior to the war, he earned $250 a month with a $1.50 daily food allowance.
In 2006, Moore was among six individuals inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, in its second year of existence.