Hi, I'm Deborah Richards in
honor of Black History Month.
This is the story of Ted
Radcliffe.
My great uncle Ted, double duty.
Radcliffe was a two way player
in the Negro Leagues serving on
both sides of the battery as
pitcher and catcher.
In 1932 Ted was given a nickname
, double duty by a newspaper
columnist for his team at both
positions during a double header
at Yankee Stadium as a child in
Alabama.
Ted and his brothers played and
learned the game of baseball
using a taped ball of rags with
their friends.
Radcliffe's first baseball
opportunity came as a semi pro
player with the Illinois Giants
where he made $50 for every 15
games and was given 50 cents per
day for meal money working his
way up in 1928 Radcliffe signed
with the Detroit stars of the
Negro National League.
He served as the premier catcher
until 1929 when the pitching
staff was hit by injuries late
in the season and needed a fresh
arm.
Ted Radcliffe was one of the few
baseball players to live past
his 1/100 birthday, impacting
the game of baseball for far
more than a lifetime.
Thanks for learning about my
great uncle.