Turkey Stearnes
Encyclopedia
Norman Thomas "Turkey" Stearnes (May 8, 1901 – September 4, 1979) was an African American
center fielder
in the Negro leagues
. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.
, Stearnes acquired his nickname at an early age from his unusual running style. He began his career in professional baseball in 1921 with the Montgomery Grey Sox, then played for the Detroit Stars
, beginning in 1923. In 1931, the Stars failed to pay Stearnes his salary because of the Great Depression
, so he moved from team to team for the remainder of his career, retiring in 1942 as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs
.
Stearnes is considered by some as one of the great all-around players in the history of baseball, but because of his race and his quiet personality, he never received the recognition that many believe he deserved. He batted
over .400 three times and led the Negro leagues in home run
s seven times. He is credited with 183 home run
s in his Negro league career, the all-time Negro league record, and fifty more than second-place Mule Suttles
. Since Negro league seasons were very short, sometimes lasting fewer than thirty games, it is unclear how many home runs Stearnes might have hit in a 154-game major league season. The 165-pound Stearnes was a fast baserunner despite his awkward-looking running form, and was one of the best outfielders of his generation.
Stearnes' known career statistics include a .350 batting average, 172 home runs, 750 games, and a .664 slugging percentage.
's auto plants to survive financially. He worked in an auto factory owned by Walter Briggs, who was the owner of the Detroit Tigers
, a team for which he was not allowed to play because of the color of his skin.
Stearnes did not live to see his Hall of Fame induction in 2000, having died 21 years earlier in Detroit at age 78. He was survived by his wife, Nettie Mae.
A plaque in Stearns' honor is on display outside the center field gate at the Tigers' home field, Comerica Park
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
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 was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.
Early Life and career
Born in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Stearnes acquired his nickname at an early age from his unusual running style. He began his career in professional baseball in 1921 with the Montgomery Grey Sox, then played 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...
, beginning in 1923. In 1931, the Stars failed to pay Stearnes his salary because of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, so he moved from team to team for the remainder of his career, retiring in 1942 as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs
Kansas City Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro Leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri and owned by J.L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1930. J.L. Wilkinson was the first Caucasian owner at the time...
.
Stearnes is considered by some as one of the great all-around players in the history of baseball, but because of his race and his quiet personality, he never received the recognition that many believe he deserved. He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
over .400 three times and led the Negro leagues in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s seven times. He is credited with 183 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in his Negro league career, the all-time Negro league record, and fifty more than second-place Mule Suttles
Mule Suttles
George "Mule" Suttles was an American first baseman and outfielder in Negro league baseball, most prominently with the Birmingham Black Barons, St. Louis Stars and Newark Eagles...
. Since Negro league seasons were very short, sometimes lasting fewer than thirty games, it is unclear how many home runs Stearnes might have hit in a 154-game major league season. The 165-pound Stearnes was a fast baserunner despite his awkward-looking running form, and was one of the best outfielders of his generation.
Stearnes' known career statistics include a .350 batting average, 172 home runs, 750 games, and a .664 slugging percentage.
Other work and later life
Despite his accomplishments, Stearnes needed to work winters in DetroitDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
's auto plants to survive financially. He worked in an auto factory owned by Walter Briggs, who was the owner of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, a team for which he was not allowed to play because of the color of his skin.
Stearnes did not live to see his Hall of Fame induction in 2000, having died 21 years earlier in Detroit at age 78. He was survived by his wife, Nettie Mae.
A plaque in Stearns' honor is on display outside the center field gate at the Tigers' home field, Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
.