Quote:
Originally Posted by risp2out
One more question. Does anyone know the typical roster sizes for the historical Negro Leagues?
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Sizes varied greatly by year and team an level, and there was a lot of movement during the season as well. Off the top of my head I can remember seeing it as low as 15 players up to 23 or more. Thing is, even if it shows 25 people on the roster, actual number of players for a given game could be much less. Guys got drunk, missed the bus, and the road trip. Guys had other jobs. Guys got stabbed on a shady business deals ect.. I have read many stories about this roster situation.
I even had a chance to talk to Buck O'Neill, when he came for a play at Gonzaga in Spokane. It was about Jackie Robinson, he stayed after for what was supposed to be 15 min question period. Everyone else left, Buck stayed for over an hour telling me stories and anwering my questions
It was great! He finally said he was an old man and had to get some shut eye, so I let him go.
Funny how your question reminded me of that, he had said at some point he and Satchel went to the docks on the E Coast after a game, when they got back to the bus, 2 of the guys could not be found. Couple weeks later, one guy got a hold of Buck to tell him he got married and was leaving baseball. They never heard what happened to the other guy.
Coop