Net54baseball.com Forums - 1912 Ellensburg's African American Baseball Team

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I've been assembling a list of pre WW1 black baseball teams in Washington state and their rosters. Here's a couple articles about Ellensburg's 1912 team with quite a few connections to other athletes from central Washington including "Yakima's Ghost of Joe Gans" Henry Woods, and Negro League hurler Bob Saunders:

"The members of the African Methodist Episcopal church are planning to give a barbecue at the local baseball park on Wednesday, June 19, the proceeds to be used to clear the church debt, Reverend GT Kinchion, who has been in Ellensburg since March 9, has been working in the interest of the church, with the aim of lifting the debt, and is helping plan the barbecue. Mrs. Carrie Jimmirson will have charge of the dinner, and will be assisted by Mrs. Josie Harlow, Mrs. John Woods, Miss Garvin, Mrs. Hunter, and others." June 11, 1912 Ellensburg Evening Record

"To free the AME church from a debt that has been hanging over it for a number of years, the negroes of Ellensburg and the surrounding country yesterday gave an all day program beginning with speeches, including a baseball game and barbecue and ending with a reception in the evening.

Mayor JA Mahan in the address of welcome told the large audience of the legal rights of the negro race. Reverend Sharp of the Presbyterian church spoke and told of the power of the Christian people in the world today. Following the speeches, the crowd repaired to the ballpark, where a nine inning baseball game between the North Yakima and Ellensburg negro teams was played. The lower valley nine (Yakima) won the contest the score being 13 to 8. John "Goldie" Golden, who played first base on the Ellensburg team several years ago, pitched three innings for the home team, no hits or runs being made. Although the team had indulged in but little practice, they made a most creditable showing, and the game was fast and exciting. The (Ellensburg) line-up: Brown, first, Brewer, second, "Star" Hunter, third, William Thomas, catcher, John "Goldie"Golden, pitcher, Morrison, shortstop, Forney, centerfield, Gratton, rightfield, and Evans, leftfield.

A barbecue dinner was served in the AME church after the ball game. During the afternoon a steer, sheep, hogs, and other meats were roasted, and although the hungry crowd would not wait till the meats were thoroughly cooked, the repast was said to be excellent.

In the evening a reception was held in the Grace church parish house, at which the 56 out-of-town people were guests. Miss Margaret S. Sanders and her sister, Liette Sanders, of North Yakima, sang several songs during the course of the evening. Close to 200 people attended the reception and the celebration was a success in every way." June 20, 1912 Ellensburg Evening Record

Highlighted names include Mrs. Della Woods and Evans, Henry Woods mother and uncle. The Evans family was very well known as Jasper P. Evans (pictured above) was a decorated Civil War veteran who fought for the 18th infantry in Missouri before homesteading 160 acres outside of Selah, Washington in 1896. Mrs. Woods would have been 3 months pregnant at this event with Henry's older brother, Albert J. Woods. Jasper would have been 64 at this event, so the left-fielder was probably one of his two oldest sons Edward or Nathan Evans, 26 and 22 respectively. Miss Margaret Sanders and Liette Sanders were Bob Saunders mother and aunt. This is probably more genealogical record than interests most but I thought it was a nice background story about church, community, barbecue, and baseball.