John Henry Lloyd
Encyclopedia
John Henry "Pop" Lloyd
was an American
baseball
player and manager
in the Negro leagues
. He is generally considered the greatest shortstop in Negro league history, and both Babe Ruth
and Ted Harlow, a noted sportswriter, reportedly believed Lloyd to be the greatest baseball player ever.
He was a heavy hitter, usually batting cleanup during his prime, but also knew how to play "inside baseball," and was an expert place-hitter and bunter. Lloyd was also a renowned shortstop, ranked by most experts as second only to Dick Lundy
among black shortstops before integration, and was referred to as the "Black Wagner," a reference to Pittsburgh Pirates
Hall-of-Famer Honus Wagner
. (On Lloyd, Wagner said "It's an honor to be compared to him.") Known for his gentlemanly conduct, Lloyd was probably the most sought-after African-American player of his generation. "Wherever the money was, that's where I was," he once said. His career record bears this out, showing him constantly moving from team to team.
, Lloyd began his professional baseball career in 1905, playing catcher
for the Acmes of Macon, Georgia
. He played second base
with the Cuban X Giants of Philadelphia in . The following season, Sol White
signed him for the X Giants' arch rivals, the Philadelphia Giants
, and moved him to shortstop, where he would remain through the bulk of his career. In 1910, Lloyd accepted Rube Foster's invitation to join the Chicago Leland Giants
, where he anchored a team that Foster described as the greatest of all time. He rejoined White on the newly-organized Lincoln Giants
in 1911, batting .475 against all competition. Lloyd took over as player manager for 1912 and 1913, and in the latter year the Lincolns defeated the Chicago American Giants
in a playoff series to become the undisputed champions of black baseball.
In 1914, Lloyd travelled west again to play for the American Giants
. He split the 1915 season between the New York-based Lincoln Stars and the American Giants, then spent all of 1916 and 1917 with Foster's team. In 1918, Lloyd served as player manager of the Brooklyn Royal Giants
, leaving the club early to work for the Army Quartermaster Depot in Chicago. 1919 saw him join the Bacharach Giants
of Atlantic City, then 1920 found him back with the Royal Giants.
In 1921, he was hired to organize a new team in Foster's young Negro National League
. Lloyd's Columbus Buckeyes were not a notable success, however, on the field or in the box office, finishing seventh in a field of eight, and folded upon season's end. The following year found Lloyd back in the east managing the Bacharach Giants
, who had moved to New York City.
When the Eastern Colored League
was formed in 1923, Ed Bolden
hired Lloyd to manage the Hilldale Club
. Lloyd brought home the first ECL pennant by a wide margin, guiding Hilldale to a 32-17 league record. He did not, however, get along with Bolden, and was suspended in early September and fired at the end of the season. 1924 saw Lloyd return to the Bacharachs, now based again in Atlantic City. With the brilliant young shortstop Dick Lundy on the roster, the 40-year-old Lloyd moved himself to second base. He hit .444 to win the 1924 ECL batting title, at one point reeling off 11 straight base hits. The Bacharachs, however, were merely average under Lloyd during his two years there, finishing fourth both seasons (with records of 30-29 and 26-27).
The Lincoln Giants
, who had finished in last place in 1925, hired Lloyd to manage them for 1926. They improved to fifth (19-22), then played 1927 and most of 1928 as an independent club. It was during the latter season that Lloyd moved himself to first base, while enjoying a fine season at the plate, batting .402 against top black clubs. In 1929, the Lincolns compiled the second-best overall record (40-26) in the American Negro League
. Lloyd finished up his career managing the Bacharach Giants
in 1931-32, and upon his retirement settled permanently in Atlantic City. After 1943 was a player coach for the Atlantic City Johnson Stars (after politico Nucky Johnson). They were later the Farley Stars after powerful state senator Frank S. Farley
. (Farley had driven the creation of Atlantic City's Pop Lloyd Field to gain support from the city's large black population.)
Lloyd had played extensively in Cuba, beginning with a 1907 visit to Havana
by the Philadelphia Giants. Altogether he spent twelve seasons in the Cuban League
from 1908/09 to 1930, batting .329 for his career, and playing on three championship teams (Habana
in 1912 and Almendares
in 1924/25 and 1925/26). In Cuba he was called La Cuchara, "The Spoon," either due to his practice of scooping up ground balls, or because of his prominent chin.
According to the historian John Holway, Lloyd batted .337 (970 hits in 2881 at bats) in the Negro leagues. According to a recent study sponsored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame
that covers the organized (post-1920) Negro leagues, Lloyd batted .343 with a .450 slugging percentage.
Lloyd was inducted posthumously into the Baseball Hall of Fame in .
was an American
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...
player and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
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...
. He is generally considered the greatest shortstop in Negro league history, and both Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
and Ted Harlow, a noted sportswriter, reportedly believed Lloyd to be the greatest baseball player ever.
He was a heavy hitter, usually batting cleanup during his prime, but also knew how to play "inside baseball," and was an expert place-hitter and bunter. Lloyd was also a renowned shortstop, ranked by most experts as second only to Dick Lundy
Dick Lundy (baseball player)
Richard Benjamin Lundy was an African American shortstop in the Negro Leagues for numerous teams. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida....
among black shortstops before integration, and was referred to as the "Black Wagner," a reference to Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
Hall-of-Famer Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
. (On Lloyd, Wagner said "It's an honor to be compared to him.") Known for his gentlemanly conduct, Lloyd was probably the most sought-after African-American player of his generation. "Wherever the money was, that's where I was," he once said. His career record bears this out, showing him constantly moving from team to team.
Biography
Born in Palatka, FloridaPalatka, Florida
Palatka is a city in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,033 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,796. It is the county seat of Putnam County and includes East Palatka. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka...
, Lloyd began his professional baseball career in 1905, playing catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Acmes of Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. He played second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
with the Cuban X Giants of Philadelphia in . The following season, Sol White
Sol White
* , Personal profiles at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. – identical to Riley * , by Sol White. Compiled and with an introduction by Jerry Malloy -External links:...
signed him for the X Giants' arch rivals, the Philadelphia Giants
Philadelphia Giants
The Philadelphia Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played from 1902 to 1916. From 1904 to 1909 they were one of the strongest teams in black baseball, winning five eastern championships in six years. The team was organized by Sol White, H. Walter Schlichter, and Harry Smith.- Founding...
, and moved him to shortstop, where he would remain through the bulk of his career. In 1910, Lloyd accepted Rube Foster's invitation to join the Chicago Leland Giants
Chicago 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...
, where he anchored a team that Foster described as the greatest of all time. He rejoined White on the newly-organized Lincoln Giants
Lincoln Giants
The Lincoln Giants were a Negro League baseball team based in New York City from 1911 through 1930.- Founding :Jess McMahon, a white promoter, hired Sol White, former manager of the Philadelphia Giants, to put together a club...
in 1911, batting .475 against all competition. Lloyd took over as player manager for 1912 and 1913, and in the latter year the Lincolns defeated the Chicago American Giants
Chicago 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...
in a playoff series to become the undisputed champions of black baseball.
In 1914, Lloyd travelled west again to play for the American Giants
Chicago 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...
. He split the 1915 season between the New York-based Lincoln Stars and the American Giants, then spent all of 1916 and 1917 with Foster's team. In 1918, Lloyd served as player manager of the Brooklyn Royal Giants
Brooklyn Royal Giants
The Brooklyn Royal Giants were a professional baseball team based in Brooklyn, New York which played in the Negro Leagues. They were one of the premier professional teams before World War I, winning multiple championships in the East.- League play :...
, leaving the club early to work for the Army Quartermaster Depot in Chicago. 1919 saw him join the Bacharach Giants
Bacharach Giants
The Bacharach Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played in Atlantic City, New Jersey.- Founding :The club was founded when two African-American politicians moved the Duval Giants of Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlantic City in 1916 and renamed them after Harry Bacharach, the city's mayor...
of Atlantic City, then 1920 found him back with the Royal Giants.
In 1921, he was hired to organize a new team in Foster's young Negro National League
Negro 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...
. Lloyd's Columbus Buckeyes were not a notable success, however, on the field or in the box office, finishing seventh in a field of eight, and folded upon season's end. The following year found Lloyd back in the east managing the Bacharach Giants
Bacharach Giants
The Bacharach Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played in Atlantic City, New Jersey.- Founding :The club was founded when two African-American politicians moved the Duval Giants of Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlantic City in 1916 and renamed them after Harry Bacharach, the city's mayor...
, who had moved to New York City.
When 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 :...
was formed in 1923, Ed Bolden
Ed Bolden
Edward "Ed" Bolden was an American baseball executive and owner in the Negro Leagues. He established and owned the Hilldale Club of the 1910s–1920s and Philadelphia Stars of the 1930s–1950s, until his death...
hired Lloyd to manage the Hilldale Club
Hilldale Club
The Hilldale Athletic Club was an African American professional baseball team based in Darby, Pennsylvania, west of Philadelphia....
. Lloyd brought home the first ECL pennant by a wide margin, guiding Hilldale to a 32-17 league record. He did not, however, get along with Bolden, and was suspended in early September and fired at the end of the season. 1924 saw Lloyd return to the Bacharachs, now based again in Atlantic City. With the brilliant young shortstop Dick Lundy on the roster, the 40-year-old Lloyd moved himself to second base. He hit .444 to win the 1924 ECL batting title, at one point reeling off 11 straight base hits. The Bacharachs, however, were merely average under Lloyd during his two years there, finishing fourth both seasons (with records of 30-29 and 26-27).
The Lincoln Giants
Lincoln Giants
The Lincoln Giants were a Negro League baseball team based in New York City from 1911 through 1930.- Founding :Jess McMahon, a white promoter, hired Sol White, former manager of the Philadelphia Giants, to put together a club...
, who had finished in last place in 1925, hired Lloyd to manage them for 1926. They improved to fifth (19-22), then played 1927 and most of 1928 as an independent club. It was during the latter season that Lloyd moved himself to first base, while enjoying a fine season at the plate, batting .402 against top black clubs. In 1929, the Lincolns compiled the second-best overall record (40-26) in the American Negro League
American Negro League
The American Negro League was one of several Negro leagues which were established during the period in the United States in which organized baseball was segregated...
. Lloyd finished up his career managing the Bacharach Giants
Bacharach Giants
The Bacharach Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played in Atlantic City, New Jersey.- Founding :The club was founded when two African-American politicians moved the Duval Giants of Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlantic City in 1916 and renamed them after Harry Bacharach, the city's mayor...
in 1931-32, and upon his retirement settled permanently in Atlantic City. After 1943 was a player coach for the Atlantic City Johnson Stars (after politico Nucky Johnson). They were later the Farley Stars after powerful state senator Frank S. Farley
Frank S. Farley
Francis Sherman "Hap" Farley was a New Jersey State Senator from Atlantic County, New Jersey who exercised considerable power on the local and state levels for several decades...
. (Farley had driven the creation of Atlantic City's Pop Lloyd Field to gain support from the city's large black population.)
Lloyd had played extensively in Cuba, beginning with a 1907 visit to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
by the Philadelphia Giants. Altogether he spent twelve seasons in the Cuban League
Cuban League
The Cuban League was one of the earliest and longest lasting professional baseball leagues outside of the United States, operating in Cuba from 1878 to 1961...
from 1908/09 to 1930, batting .329 for his career, and playing on three championship teams (Habana
Habana (baseball club)
The Habana club was one of the oldest and most distinguished baseball teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. Habana, representing the city of Havana, was the only team to play in the league every season of its existence and was one of its most successful franchises...
in 1912 and Almendares
Almendares (baseball club)
The Almendares club was one of the oldest and most distinguished baseball teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. Almendares represented the Almendares District on the outskirts of the old city of Havana—when the league was founded it was still considered a suburban area,...
in 1924/25 and 1925/26). In Cuba he was called La Cuchara, "The Spoon," either due to his practice of scooping up ground balls, or because of his prominent chin.
According to the historian John Holway, Lloyd batted .337 (970 hits in 2881 at bats) in the Negro leagues. According to a recent study sponsored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
that covers the organized (post-1920) Negro leagues, Lloyd batted .343 with a .450 slugging percentage.
Lloyd was inducted posthumously into the Baseball Hall of Fame in .
External links
- BaseballLibrary - biography and career highlights