NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL HISTORY Arthur Art Lee Hamilton, catcher Indianapolis Clowns & Detroit Stars

FOUR MORE YEARS

Art Hamilton - Four More Years

JACKSONVILLE - This talented All-Star Catcher ended his career with a bang by blasting a game-tying home run in what was then the final East - West Negro League Baseball All-Star Game which was played in August of 1960.

As the West team’s starting catcher, Art “Junior” Hamilton, then 26, launched a solo shot to tie the score at four after his team gave the East four gift runs committing three errors in the first four innings.

Heading into the bottom of the fourth with the West trailing 4-3, Hamilton was his team’s staring catcher after Ira McKnight of the Kansas City Monarchs chose not to participate and instead headed to Canada on a Barnstorming tour.

“There must of been at least 20,000 fans there,” Hamilton recalled. “I read in some places that said there were only 5,000 people in the stands, but that is not true. The place (Chicago’s old Comiskey Park) was at least half full!

A few years earlier we also had a huge crowd in Detroit over at Briggs Stadium,” Hamilton continued. “Of course at that time everyone came to see ol Satchel (Paige).”

Hamilton’s blast was a low line drive that reached the left field seats. And after his team had tied the score in the fourth at four, it was the East Team’s time to play Santa Clause, committing five errors of their own in the bottom of the fifth as the West scored four runs to win the contest 8-4.

“Overall it was a great day,” said Hamilton. “There was a parade before the game which took us to the ball park. Lots of celebrities were there including the great Ertha Kitt and even jackie Robinson came out to Chicago to throw out the first pitch.”

Born July 27 1934, Hamilton began his professional baseball career in 1953 at the age of 19. He played with both the Indianapolis Clowns and Detroit Stars as a catcher through 1960 before he decided to hang up his cleats.

Today he lives in Jacksonville, Florida where he continues to be an All-Star - except this time to his community. Whenever there is a need to raise funds for a worthy cause, Hamilton and fellow Jacksonvillers, Harold “Buster Hair and Odell Norris are there.

One worthy cause close to their heart is the Durkeeville Historical Society, site of the old Durkee Field, which is now called James P. Small Park. Located on the corner of Myrtle and 7th this was the site of the former Jacksonville Red Caps and the Jacksonville Tars - where the great Hall of Famer Hank Aaron toiled while in the Negro Leagues.

"Nobody loves the baseball game today like they did back then, Hamilton said. All they love (today) is the money."

"Whites had their league and the blacks had to have their own," said Hamilton.

Hamilton said he mainly watches the Los Angeles Dodgers because the Dodgers were the first team to accept a black player.]

"They started it all," he said. "The Major Leagues might never have had black players if it wasn't for the Dodgers."


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J. WASHINGTON : Harold "Buster" Hair : CHARLES JOHNSON : Satch vs Presswood : Sonny Weston : Robert "BOB" Wiggins : Barnstormer Odell Norris : 4 More Years! ... The Art Hamilton Story
			"Back in the Day" › 4 More Years! ... The Art Hamilton Story
			FOUR MORE YEARS Art Hamilton - Four More Years JACKSONVILLE - This talented All-Star Catcher ended his career with a bang by blasting a game-tying home run in what was then the final East - West Negro League Baseball All-Star Game which was played in August of 1960. As the West team’s starting catcher, Art “Junior” Hamilton, then 26, launched a solo shot to tie the score at four after his team gave the East four gift runs committing three errors in the first four innings. Heading into the bottom of the fourth with the West trailing 4-3, Hamilton was his team’s staring catcher after Ira McKnight of the Kansas City Monarchs chose not to participate and instead headed to Canada on a Barnstorming tour. “There must of been at least 20,000 fans there,” Hamilton recalled. “I read in some places that said there were only 5,000 people in the stands, but that is not true. The place (Chicago’s old Comiskey Park) was at least half full! A few years earlier we also had a huge crowd in Detroit over at Briggs Stadium,” Hamilton continued. “Of course at that time everyone came to see ol Satchel (Paige).” Hamilton’s blast was a low line drive that reached the left field seats. And after his team had tied the score in the fourth at four, it was the East Team’s time to play Santa Clause, committing five errors of their own in the bottom of the fifth as the West scored four runs to win the contest 8-4. “Overall it was a great day,” said Hamilton. “There was a parade before the game which took us to the ball park. Lots of celebrities were there including the great Ertha Kitt and even jackie Robinson came out to Chicago to throw out the first pitch.” Born July 27 1934, Hamilton began his professional baseball career in 1953 at the age of 19. He played with both the Indianapolis Clowns and Detroit Stars as a catcher through 1960 before he decided to hang up his cleats. Today he lives in Jacksonville, Florida where he continues to be an All-Star - except this time to his community. Whenever there is a need to raise funds for a worthy cause, Hamilton and fellow Jacksonvillers, Harold “Buster Hair and Odell Norris are there. One worthy cause close to their heart is the Durkeeville Historical Society, site of the old Durkee Field, which is now called James P. Small Park. Located on the corner of Myrtle and 7th this was the site of the former Jacksonville Red Caps and the Jacksonville Tars - where the great Hall of Famer Hank Aaron toiled while in the Negro Leagues. "Nobody loves the baseball game today like they did back then, Hamilton said. All they love (today) is the money." "Whites had their league and the blacks had to have their own," said Hamilton. Hamilton said he mainly watches the Los Angeles Dodgers because the Dodgers were the first team to accept a black player.] "They started it all," he said. "The Major Leagues might never have had black players if it wasn't for the Dodgers."