Bill Blair (1940s pitcher)

William Blair (October 17, 1921 – April 20, 2014) was a Negro league pitcher.[1]

For the Bill Blair born in Pennsylvania in 1863, see Bill Blair (American Association pitcher).
Bill Blair
Pitcher
Born: (1921-10-17)October 17, 1921
Dallas, Texas
Died: April 20, 2014(2014-04-20) (aged 92)
Campbell, Texas
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
Teams

Blair graduated Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas and briefly attended Prairie View A&M University. He began his baseball career at the age of 16, playing for a barnstorming team in Mineola, Texas, and went on to join the United States Army, where he became the youngest African American to serve as a first sergeant in the Army during World War II.

He pitched from 1946 to 1951, for teams including the Indianapolis Clowns, Cincinnati Crescents, and was a player-manager for the Dallas Black Giants. He played against players such as Cool Papa Bell, Satchel Paige, and Hilton Smith. After retiring from baseball, he became a fixture in the community, running a local newspaper, the Elite News, and organizing golf tournaments and parades. He died in Campbell, Texas in 2014.[2]

William Blair Park in South Dallas, formerly Rochester Park, was named after him.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ""Elite News" Founder, Civil Rights Activist Bill Blair Dead at 92". 20 April 2014.


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