Oscar Charleston

Oscar Charleston (1896-1954), American baseball player and manager who was a prominent figure in African American baseball for nearly 40 years. Charleston was a star on all-black barnstorming teams that traveled across the United States playing exhibition games against local professional or semiprofessional clubs. The barrel-chested center fielder and first baseman frequently led the Negro Leagues in home runs, batting average, doubles, and triples. Although official figures are unavailable, his career batting average has been estimated at .376.

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Charleston left school at age 15 and, overstating his age, joined the United States Army. He served in the Philippines where he became the first African American member of the Manila Baseball League. He returned to his hometown in 1915 and joined the Indianapolis ABCs. As a member of the Chicago American Giants, Charleston became a legend when he hit four home runs in a 1921 exhibition game against the National League’s St. Louis Cardinals. Back with the ABCs a year later, he hit .430, stole 35 bases, and led the league in homers, triples, and doubles. A flamboyant defender, he played shallow to snare line drives, while using his terrific speed to run down deep flies.

In 1930 Charleston joined the Pittsburgh-based Homestead Grays. Managed by Judy Johnson, a future Baseball Hall of Fame member, and featuring such stars as Josh Gibson and Smokey Joe Williams, the Grays captured the Eastern Colored League championship. Two years later Charleston and several teammates joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords and compiled a 99-36 win-loss record in 1932. Charleston began managing the Crawfords in 1933 and worked as a manager for the next two decades. In 1954 he directed the Indianapolis Clowns (named for the team’s on-field antics and trick plays) to the Negro American League Championship. Later that year Charleston died of a heart attack. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.