There’s nothing more exciting to a researcher than running across something that doesn’t show up in the standard references--a piece of information, a fact, no matter how obscure, that has somehow fallen through the cracks. Both James Riley’s Biographical Encyclopedia and Clark and Lester’s Negro Leagues Book list one “Spencer” (with no first name) as an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Keystones from 1921-22, with no other information (though Clark and Lester’s 1922 Keystones roster lists him specifically as a left fielder).
Then, earlier this year, I found this, from Rollo Wilson’s “Eastern Snapshots” column William G. Nunn’s “Diamond Dope” column, Pittsburgh Courier (August 15, 1925):
JOHNNY SPENCER, KEYSTONE “MOUNTAIN GOAT,” WRITES
Back in 1921-22, when the Keystones were at the zenith of their career, old Central Park used to ring with the exploits of one John Spencer, left fielder for the club, portside thrower and batter, and baseball player with rare ability and brains.
Spencer left the “burg” last fall and is now sojourning in Leesburg, Va. He writes the Column a long letter, the gist of which is “Life on the farm is the best life after all.” Spencer is a fireman at the Odd Fellows Home, and spends his off-time farming and playing two or three games a week, “just to keep in shape.” He urges his friends to drop him a line.
So here we have a first name, a nickname, throwing and batting hand, and a little biographical information, all in two paragraphs. I only have Spencer going one for 14 with one walk in three games as a center fielder for the ’21 Keystones, and John Holway doesn’t list him as a regular on the ’22 squad (I haven’t compiled that year yet), so he didn’t exactly have a strong impact on the Negro Leagues. Nevertheless, he was there, and he played. And now we know a little bit about him.
ALSO: one of the joys of the Pittsburgh Courier in the 1920s is the proliferation of sports columnists. In 1925, there were actually three working at the same time (Ira Lewis, William Nunn, and Wilson; after the baseball season was over, the Homestead Grays' Cum Posey joined in), providing a wealth of commentary on African-American teams, leagues, players, and other characters. A collection of these columns would make great reading.
UPDATE 7/27/2008 Made correction above (the bit on Spencer was from Nunn rather than Wilson).
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