brooklyndodgermemories

The Cleveland Buckeyes were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro Leagues. They were established in 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio (Ohio being the Buckeye State). The following season, the team moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they played their games at League Park. While in Cleveland, the team achieved great success, including winning a pair of Negro American League championships (1945, 1947) and a Negro League World Series title in 1945. In 1949 the team moved again, to Louisville, Kentucky, but it was to no avail and the Louisville Buckeyes disbanded at the end of the season.

On May 20th, 2006, in Cleveland, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians honored the Negro league teams by wearing the uniforms of the Homestead Grays and the Cleveland Buckeyes, respectively, during an inter-league game, as well as displaying the names on the scoreboard. The Pirates won the game 9-6.

Baby Presswood played for the Cleveland Buckeyes. Here he is with our own Shotgun Shuba.

Future Brooklyn farmhand Sam Jethroe was a Buckeye. So were mid-level stars to be Al Smith and Sam "Toothpick" Jones.

Known as Red in the Negro leagues for his reddish complexion, in the majors Jones became Sad Sam, after the original Sad Sam Jones, and Toothpick Sam for the toothpick he always chewed on the mound. Jones pitched the Cleveland Buckeyes to the Negro World Series in 1947. He signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1950 but never got a chance in the rotation of Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, and Mike Garcia, spending most of five years in the minors. Swapped to the Cubs in a deal for Ralph Kiner, on May 12, 1955 Jones no-hit Pittsburgh, walking seven in the process. He led the NL in losses (20), strikeouts, and walks (185, while allowing only 175 hits). He repeated as strikeout and walk leader in 1956, and again in 1958 after his trade to the Cardinals. With the Giants in 1959, he was both a leading starter and most effective reliever in a tight race. On June 30 of that season, at Los Angeles, a bobble by Giant shortstop Andre Rodgers was scored a single, depriving Jones of a second no-hitter; he got it instead on September 26, though it was a rain-shortened, seven-inning one against St. Louis. His 21 wins in 1959 led the NL, as did his 2.83 ERA and 109 walks. After an 18-14 1960 season, Jones was hampered by arm trouble, winning 12 more over four seasons.

Recalled Hobie Landrith, who caught Jones with the Cubs, Cards, and Giants, "You've never seen a curveball until you've seen Sam Jones's curveball. If you were a righthanded hitter that ball was a good four feet behind you. It took a little courage to stay in there because he was wild and he could throw a fastball very hard. He wasn't very expressive, he wasn't the gregarious type but he injected humor."

Before becoming the Braves' first black player, Jethroe had already compiled some fine statistics for the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro Leagues. Having compiled a .342 batting average after six seasons with the Buckeyes (and a .393 clip in 1946), the outfielder was selected to the East-West All-Star Game four times. Known for his power as well as his speed, he was the only player to have hit a ball over the 472-foot leftfield fence at Toledo's Swayne Field and into the coal piles of the Red Man Tobacco Factory.
In the spring of 1945, he was selected with Jackie Robinson and Marvin Williams for an unsuccessful tryout with the Boston Red Sox. Ultimately, the Red Sox were the last major league team to integrate, while Jethroe went on to star for their crosstown rivals.

The first black player in the Boston Braves organization, Jethroe signed with the team in 1949, and went on to steal 89 bases in the International League that year. At thirty-two years old, he was the 1950 National League Rookie of the Year, hitting .273 with 18 homers, 100 runs scored, and a league-leading 35 stolen bases. His numbers were virtually identical in 1951, as he again copped the steals title.

But Jethroe slumped in 1952, struck out often, fielded poorly, and reportedly had vision trouble. Amid rumors that he was older than listed, he spent 1953 in Toledo, batting .307. Acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates, he played just two games for the Bucs. The switch-hitter spent five more seasons with Toronto of the International League.

A multitalented player, Smith took over as regular left fielder for the pennant-winning 1954 Indians and in 1955 led the AL in runs scored and batted .306. He was traded to the White Sox in 1958 for Minnie Minoso in a deal that was very unpopular with Chicago fans. To counteract some of the Comiskey Park boo birds, owner Bill Veeck held an Al Smith Night on August 26, 1959. Any fan named Smith, Smythe, Schmidt or Smithe was admitted free and given a button that said, "I'm a Smith and I'm for Al." On his big night, Smith hit into two double plays and dropped a fly ball that led to Boston's winning run. The 1959 White Sox were Smith's second pennant winner, and he finally won some of the fans over by hitting .315 in 1960 and slugging 28 homers in 1961.

The Buckeyes in the 1940's..................

The Buckeyes had some real talent on their teams. Sam Jones didn't mind knocking batteres down and was very intimidating.

The manager of the Buckeyes in '47, and the man who convinced Sam Jones to leave the Army and join the team, was Quincy Troupe (often spelled Trouppe).

In 1952, with the Indians, Sam and Quincy formed the first black battery in the majors. It was one of just a handful of appearances for the catcher.

1952? The first black battery in the majors?

You must be right, Pete. I think I'm going to have to amend my Sam Jones bio. This has got to be a first in AL history, since Newk/Campy and Bankhead/Campy had to have come well before. My fault for swallowing something I read online without thinking.

Rory, they were the first black battery in AL history, still quite a feat.