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History of Grays Baseball
One of the greatest teams in the history of the Negro Leagues, the Homestead Grays won eight of nine NNL titles between 1937 and 1945. The team started in Homestead, Pennsylvania, in 1910 as a recreational activity for black steelworkers. Cum Posey, an outfielder who joined the team in 1912, turned the Grays into one of the country's finest black professional teams. The Grays most famous players included catcher Josh Gibson, first baseman Buck Leonard, pitcher Smokey Joe Williams, outfielder Cool Papa Bell, third baseman Judy Johnson, outfielder and manager Vic Harris, outfielder and infielder Sam Bankhead, and pitcher Ray Brown. Prior to 1940, the Grays barnstormed and played their home league games at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh's Hill district or at the Pittsburgh Pirates' ballpark, Forbes Field. The Grays played in Washington, D.C. until they disbanded in 1950.
In 2007, we honor this tradition and proudly present Grays baseball.
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Now: Grays Baseball
After a successful 2006 campaign, the Grays return with renewed vigor and hunger in our quest to win crown jewel. In 2006, The Grays were only 4 outs away from the ‘Final Four’ only to have it slip away. While 2006 ended in a disappointment, the season certainly was not. We discovered Justin Hawkins, hands down one of the top 5 pitchers in the league (key stat: 59 innings, 1.85 ERA). We were lucky enough to acquire one of the best backstops in the league Rich Gamble. Brian D’Anna barely breaking the starting lineup in 2005 became a middle of the order force along with his side-kick Gamble. Jeff Isola a free agent pickup during the 05 fall season became a premier hitter spraying base-hits game after game. Captain Ricky Callivo won his first gold glove with the grays. Ricky’s defensive prowess and clutch hitting was one of the keys to the Grays’ success.
With little turnover the 2007 Grays return 9 players from last year’s squad along w/ 4 key acquisitions – Mike Williams (Fresno State - 1996), Matt McEnerney (University of Wisconsin – Whitewater-2004), Tony Lee (Georgetown U. – 2003) and Wes Warfield (Oregon City Community College – 2004). We are armed and ready to do battle for this year’s championship. Fans, stay tuned...
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Walter "Buck" Leonardy - Homestead Gray
Smooth-fielding, sweet-swinging first baseman Walter "Buck" Leonard was the backbone of the Homestead Grays' dynasty of the late 1930s and 1940s. Even-tempered, modest and loyal, the left-handed hitting Leonard was a model of consistency and one of the best pure hitters to play in the Negro leagues. He played in a record 11 East-West All-Star games, and his remarkable 17-year tenure with the Grays is the longest term of service with one team in Negro leagues history.
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1913 Homestead Grays champions.
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