baseball

Johnny Brewington and the Negro League.

During Black History Month two years ago, when they were still playing near Zebulon, North Carolina, as the Carolina Mudcats, the Wilson Warbirds highlighted throwback jerseys honoring the Raleigh Grays, a semi-pro Negro League team.

The Grays and the Raleigh Tigers, who played from the mid-1940s to early 1960s, had a Wilson connection —  Johnie Brewington, who briefly managed both teams.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 23 July 1941.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 15 May 1946.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 4 June 1946.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 20 June 1946.

When necessary, Brewington stepped behind the plate to play catcher.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 10 September 1946.

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In the 1920 census of South Clinton township, Sampson County, N.C.: farmer Cnelus Brewington, 36; wife Emma, 26, retail grocery merchant; and children Norward, 22, Mabel, 6, and John, 3.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 912 East Nash, rented for $24/month, Frank Williams, 50, building mechanic; wife Emma, 36, public school teacher; and stepchildren Norwood, 21, odd jobs laborer, Mabel, 16, and Johnie Brewington, 14.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 309 Elba Street, rented for $20/month, widow Emma Williams, 45, public school teacher; daughter Mable Brewington, 25, public school teacher; son Johnie Brewington, 24, new worker; and lodgers Walter Holmes, 35, veneer factory laborer, and Alice Bryant, 33, household servant.

In 1940, Johnie Marion Brewington registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 3 February 1916 in Clinton, N.C.; lived at 309 Elba Street, Wilson; worked for Imperial Tobacco Company, Wilson; and his contact was mother Emma Williams.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 23 July 1941.

Even as he managed the Grays, Brewington played football at North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University.)

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 4 October 1941.

Johnnie Brewington enlisted in the United States Army on 26 January 1942 in Daytona Beach, Florida, and was discharged 4 August 1945, having achieved the rank of first sergeant in Company A, 184th Engineer Combat Battalion.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 411 North Vick, John E. Dixon, 38, science teacher in city school; wife Mable E., 33, elementary educator in county school; sons John E. II, 6, and Levie, 4; mother-in-law Emma B. Williams, 50; and brother-in-law Johnie M. Brewington, 31.

Johnie Marion Brewington died 20 November 1964 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 3 February 1916 in North Carolina to Neal Brewington and Emma Moore; was never married; lived at 411 North Vick Street, Wilson; and was a merchant (“general work & sports”); was a World War II veteran; and was buried in Rest Haven cemetery. Emma Williams was informant.

Black History Month Throwback: Wilson’s black baseball history.

A recent Facebook post by Wilson’s new Minor League baseball team, the Warbirds, reminded me of the city’s deep black baseball roots. Check out the links below.

americas-game

homestead-grays-at-spring-camp

pop-eye-leonard-and-the-wilson-braves

wilson-braves-negro-nine

homestead-grays-play-the-new-york-black-yankees-in-wilson

the-stantonsburg-hawks

rest-in-power-fred-valentine

elm-city-negro-giants-were-not-boasting-but-we-believe-were-the-best

Wilson Braves best the Raleigh Tigers!

The Afro-American (Baltimore, Md.), 7 July 1934.

Accounts of the Wilson Braves are frustratingly stingy with the names of the team’s players. Here, we learn that “Leach” was the third baseman and that Charlie Leonard, whom we met as a crack shortstop on the 1925 Braves team, was both pitcher and manager.

Wilson edges Elm City in baseball.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 14 August 1948.

Many of the Wilson Eagles baseball team lived in the Daniel Hill community.

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  • Bobby Farmer
  • Bill Lucas
  • Willie Neal — in 1945, Willie Lee Neal registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 June 1927 in Nash County, N.C.; lived at 611 Norfolk Southern R.R. Street, Wilson; his contact was Lola Bell Neal; and he worked for Southern Dairies.
  • Harvey Scarborough — in 1945, William Harvey Scarborough registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 September 1927 in Wilson County; lived at 511 West Walnut Street, Wilson; his contact was Festus Scarborough; and he worked for Casters Beauty Supply.
  • John Wooten — probably: in 1944, John Henry Wooten registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 September 1926 in Pitt County, N.C.; lived at 513 South Warren Street, Wilson; his contact was Hattie Lee Wooten; and he worked for American Tobacco Company.
  • Robert Scarborough — in 1941, Robert Edward Scarborough registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 19 February 1920 in Wilson County; lived at 511 West Walnut Street, Wilson; his contact was Mary Parker Scarborough; and he was unemployed.
  • Larry Thomas — in 1945, Larry Thomas registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 June 1911 in Wilson County; lived at 604 Warren Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Marcella Thomas; and he worked for Liggett-Myers Tobacco Company, Wilson.
  • Austin Leach
  • William H. Vick
  • L. Cobb
  • Lathan, Davis, Bowden, Wynn, Barnes
  • George McNeal
  • Y. Tarry
  • Robert Knight

Elm City Negro Giants: ‘we’re not boasting, but we believe we’re the best!’

Finding the Elm City Negro Giants was surprising enough, but to read that their first baseman was future Negro League legend Buck Leonard?!?

News and Observer, 13 August 1930.

For more links between Wilson County and the baseball-star Leonard brothers, see here and here and here.

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  • Morris Williams
  • Ralph Ricks

In the 1920 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Ed Ricks, 41; wife Nannie, 38; children Siddie, 20, Annie, 17, Maggie, 11, Mamie, 10, Raph, 8, and Ruth Ricks, 5; and niece Albie Walston, 17.

In the 1933 Washington, D.C., city directory: Ricks Ralph clo clnr Economon Bros r2137 L nw

On 17 June 1936, Ralph Ricks married Cornelia Harrell in Washington, D.C.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: Cornelia H. Ricks, 23, cook, and husband Ralph, 28, cleaning shop presser, lodgers.

Ralph Ricks registered for the World War II draft in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 16 September 1911 in Elm City; lived at 1530 Swann Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.; his contact was mother Nannie Ricks, 1742 – 6th Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.; and he worked for Joseph Westline.