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Saint Louis Stars
Played: 12 seasons
1922-31, 1937, 1939
Founded when Dick Kent and Dr. Sam Sheppard
took over the St. Louis Giants in 1922
The St. Louis Stars were one of
the Negro National League premier teams throughout
their history (1922 to 1931). In fact, it could be argued that the
Stars fielded one of the best teams in baseball history from 1928
to 1931 when the organization won three National League Pennants
in four seasons. In fact, there is some speculation that the famous
St. Louis Cardinals “Gashouse Gang” of the early 1930’s
were modeled on the success of the Stars.
The Stars boasted two of the fastest
men to ever play the game, James "Cool
Papa" Bell, a converted left handed pitcher into a brilliant defensive
center fielder and leadoff man and George Giles. Other bright Stars
included all-time Negro League home run champion George "Mule" Suttles
and one of the slickest shortstops in baseball history, Willie "Devil" Wells
who is considered by many historians to be St. Louis’ first ‘wizard
of ‘ah’s’ at shortstop, and Ted Trent, pitcher who
had one of the most effective curve balls in the league. Other players
of note from the 1928 squad included Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe
played both ends of the pitching/catching battery (hence the nickname)
and Ted "Highpockets" Trent. Other pitchers on the 1928 staff
were Eggie Hensley, Leroy Matlock and Ted Trent.
In 1926, Manager “Candy” Jim
Taylor led the Stars to a 49-30, good for
third place overall, but Mule Suttles compiled one of the most impressive
offensive seasons in the history of basball. According to John Holway's
Complete Book of the Negro Leagues, Suttles hit .498, and
led the NNL in doubles (27), triples (21),
and home runs (27, the all-time Negro League single season record).
In 1928 the Stars took over the league, winning the first half going
away, and compiling the best overall record by a good margin (66-26).
They defeated the Chicago American Giants, second-half winners (and
Negro League world champions for two years running) in an exciting
playoff series, 5 games to 4.
The Stars continued their winning ways in 1929, but were just edged
out in both halves of the season by the Kansas City Monarchs, despite
Willie Wells's 27 home runs (tying Suttles's 1926 record). The following
year they took their second NNL pennant, defeating the Detroit Stars
in the playoff. In 1931, the Stars were awarded the pennant when the
league disintegrated partway through the season; unfortunately, the
club folded along with the league.
In 1937, another club named the St. Louis Stars joined
the Negro American League as a charter member and played in that
circuit until 1939, but this was an entirely different organization.
Additional Resources:
http://www.larrylester42.com/links
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1997/blackbaseball/frame.html
http://www.cnlbr.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/mlb_negro_leagues.jsp
http://www.coe.ksu.edu/nlbemuseum/history/teams/stloustars.html
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