Willie Fordham, Pitched in the Negro Leagues, 83, 1927-2010

Willie Fordham

It is with a sad tone that I report the passing of Wilbur "Willie" Fordham, who pitched for 1952 with the Harrisburg Senators, becoming only the second black player to play for that team. He then played in the Eastern Negro League with the Harrisburg Giants from 1954-55.

Ten days ago, Willie Fordham was a bundle of energy, openly discussing his career as a pitcher in the Negro Leagues with fans as he signed autographs throughout the entire nine innings at the home of the Class A Wilmington Blue Rocks. Fordham was there as part of the 15th Annual Judy Johnson Night which was sponsored by the Judy Johnson Foundation. Late Monday evening, the Museum of Bus Transportation, where Fordham was a fixture for their Negro Leagues tribute, announced his death from pneumonia on August 22nd. He was 83.

Fordham was born July 15, 1927 in Millerstown, PA. He was a graduate of Carlisle High School, served in the Army during World War II and later earned a degree in Elementary Education from Cheney University. He would become the fourth black player for the Harrisburg Senators, which was a Class B affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics. The lefty ace spent one season (1952) with the Senators and then played for the Harrisburg Giants of the Eastern Negro League in 1954 and 1955.

After his baseball career was over, he worked for the Mechanicsburg Naval Supply Depot for thirty-five years, becoming the first black Twelve Supply Systems Analyst.

In 1996, he published his autobiography, "I Gave It My Best Shot" which details his upbringing in Carlisle, his career in and out of baseball, and his later struggles with MLB to address his patented idea to speed up games. As the details of Fordham's journey are revealed, he provides actual copies of his letters home from Brooklyn Dodgers camp as well as his exchange with MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent to shorten the length of the game.

Fordham was cheerful during the time I spent with him a few weeks ago, and we discussed the process required to produce his autobiography. He explained that he wrote it over the course of a few years following a heart attack to capture his life story for his family and friends. Upon my departure for the evening, after exchanging pleasantries, Fordham left me with the following piece of advice in my quest to publish a book.

"Continuity," he said. "Remember, your readers are going to want continuity. It's the most important thing!"

More Links -


Willie Fordham Video Interview - Highmark Blue Shield Living Legacy
Bus Museum Honors Negro Baseball Teams - NY Times
834 - Wilbur Fordham - Penn Live

I Gave It My Best Shot (The Movie) - Daniel Fordham

Harrisburg Senators 2003 Negro League Tribute - NLBPA.com

Read More

Charlie Brown knows baseball cards

For anyone out there that collected cards and looked far and wide for that small known player to finish their sets, Charlie Brown feels your pain.

Read More

Former Yankees and Phillies lend their support to the BEST Scholarship Fund

2010 BEST Scholarship Award Winners

August 15, 2010 saw close to twenty former major league players lending their support to the BEST Scholarship Fund by attending their Meet and Greet Dinner. Attendees were treated to an evening that allowed them to mingle with the ballplayers as well as hear success stories from the scholarship recipients. Click here to read a complete recap and see photos from the event.

L-R Terry Harmon, Dennis Kinney, Wil Royster, Ross Moschitto and 1952 AL MVP Bobby Shantz

Read More

Ultimate Yankee Stadium Experience to benefit the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation

While the Yankees are out on the road this Monday, many of the New York Yankee stars that lit up the stadium will be in attendance August 23rd at the Ultimate Yankee Stadium Experience in the Delta 360 club which will benefit the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation. Click here for more information on the players that will be attending and how to purchase tickets to this wonderful event.

Read More

Bobby Thomson, famous for the 'shot heard 'round the world dies at 86

Bobby Thomson, the famed outfielder for the New York Giants died Monday at his home in Savannah, Georgia. He was 86. Thomson gained notoriety for his home run off of Ralph Branca to win the 1951 National League pennant, which would later be labeled the "Shot Heard 'Round The World". Click here for a more complete write-up of Thomson's passing.

Read More

Gene Hermanski, 90, Brooklyn Dodger outfielder 1920-2010

Gene Hermanski, the former Brooklyn Dodger outfielder who suggested that they all wear number 42 to confuse the alleged snipers threatening Jackie Robinson, died Monday afternoon in Florida. He was 90.

Gene Hermanski pictured on his 1951 Bowman Baseball Card

His death was confirmed by his wife Carol, after a brief phone interview from their home in Homosassa.

Hermanski was born May 11, 1920 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, but spent his formative years in Newark, New Jersey where he would become a standout at East Side High School. After graduating, he signed in 1939 with the Philadelphia Athletics and later moved on to the Brooklyn Dodger organization in 1941 after his Pocomoke City team disbanded.

He served in the Navy and the Coast Guard during World War II, spending most of his time stationed at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. During his military service, he was granted a two-month leave in 1943 which allowed him to make his major league debut with the Dodgers. He hit .300 in 60 at-bats before returning to the Navy.

While stationed at Floyd Bennett Field, Hermanski would play with the legendary semi-pro Brooklyn Bushwicks. Hermanski explained in a 2009 interview why he had to play under the name "Gene Walsh."

 "I had to change it [my name]," he said. "It was the smartest thing I ever did in my life. If my commanding officer ever found out that I was playing ball in some ball park, he'd ship me overseas."

Upon his return to the Dodgers in 1946, Hermanski made the club as a reserve outfielder. It was there with the Dodgers that he witnessed baseball's integration happen before his eyes. Hermanski was the starting left fielder on April 15, 1947, the day Jackie Robinson made his major league debut. Ralph Branca, along with Hermanski, went over that day to greet Robinson with a handshake while Robinson was largely ignored by the rest of his teammates.

He played in two of the Dodgers' World Series appearances (1947 and 1949), batting .308 in their loss to the Yankees in the 1949 classic. He played with Brooklyn until 1951 when he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Andy Pafko. He would spend two more seasons with the Cubs before becoming part of the exchange between the Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates that sent Ralph Kiner to Chicago. Hermanski would play one more season in 1954 with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League, reuniting with former Dodger manager Charlie Dressen before retiring from baseball. He finished with a lifetime batting average of .272 over nine major league seasons.

After his playing career was over, he worked as a sales representative for Tose Incorporated. At the time of his passing, he was the last living player from the Brooklyn starting lineup for Robinson's debut. Marv Rackley and Ed Stevens are currently the last surviving Dodger players that participated in that game.

Read More

Mark Teixeira makes his way into the history books with his 25th home run

Mark Teixeira / Chris Ptacek - Wikimedia Commons

New York Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira joined exclusive company when he hit his 25th home run of the season Sunday night against the Boston Red Sox. Find out the other three major leaguers Teixeira joined that hit at least 25 homers during their first eight seasons in the big leagues.

Read More