one wing: the real story

This is pulled from the comments section so as to give it a little more prominence.  From Patrick Rock, author of the 1923 Negro National League Yearbook:

*********************

“One Wing” Maddox's real name was Forrest A. Maddox. Born on 30 November 1897 in Fulton Co., Georgia, he died in Atlanta on 4 August 1929, 31 years old.

According to his draft registration, he had lost his left arm “at the shoulder” (not elbow as previous information had hinted), that it had happened “about 10 years ago” (when he was close to 10), and that he was working in a florist shop at the time of registration.

Despite the loss of his arm, he played and pitched effectively for Morehouse College, and then played five or six years for semi-pro clubs in the south, including the Atlanta Black Crackers, Knoxville Giants, Washington (DC) Braves, and Birmingham Black Barons. It appears that 1923 was his last year in pro or semi-pro baseball.

He earned a degree from Morehouse and served as a professor there until his death.

I found his first name about two months ago via ProQuest (man, am I going to miss that when it goes!) in a story in the Chicago Defender April 21, 1917: “Forrest Maddox, the one-armed pitcher, relieved Nance on Friday and went back Saturday, pitching the twelve-inning game on Saturday.” He won the game for Morehouse College against Tuskegee, 5-4.

I followed up with a check of the 1910 and 1920 censuses, where he was living with parents, Duncan and Julia Maddox. His draft registration was available on Ancestry.com (yes, they registered EVERY male within a certain age group, and classified them afterward).

Here is what the Washington Post said of him in March 1921:

“To the unaquainted it might be well to state that ‘Wing’ Maddox, as a [N]egro pitcher and outfielder, has created a sensation throughout the South for the past two years.

“Although a student at Moorehouse [sic] college, Maddox has been barred from participation in sports with the local college for the reason that he professionalized himself three years ago when he played with the Atlanta Cubs. Last year, as a member of the Knoxville Giants, he demonstrated that few, if any, pitchers possess more in the way of natural ability.

“To make his feats in the box all the more creditable, it is only necessary to mention that Maddox has but one arm. It is not alone upon the mound that the one-armed [N]egro wonder stars. As an outfielder he amazes spectators by the dexterity with which he catches a ball with his one gloved hand, tosses it into the air, removes the glove and with lightning-like rapidity snatches the ball again and relays it to the infield.”

I found his death date via ProQuest also, finding it in the Atlanta Constitution.

I think that Scott is correct, however.  The previously unknown post-season series might be the big story here.

**********************