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Negro League Legends Being Honored 5/16/08 In Goldsboro North Carolina... See Slide Show

my playing days-career with the Indianapolis Clowns

Loo Oates, age 18, in a proof of his baseball card which was made after he signed a contract to play in the Atlanta Braves Farm System.

Throughout his career with baseball's equivalent to the Harlem Globetrotters , he's convinced that he helped erase the few remaining stains of baseball's color line. The saga that took him from the rural area of North Carolina across North America meeting such baseball luminaries as Home Run King, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Satchel Paige, Cito Gaston, Bob Gibson, John Wyatt, Jim Ray Hart, George Altman, Tommy Aaron, Earl Williams, Don Drysdale, Maury Willis, Bobby Bonds and many other major leaguers as well as a cast of colorful characters aboard "Big Red" the traveling machine that took them to the games. Life aboard "Big Red" is a story all to it self. >>>>>> from the beginning

"Notable Quotes"

that boy couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper bag... Sandy Grant, a catcher from Indianapolis Ind, referring to a player who looked like Mickey Mantle, but played like a third grader.

Loo, you got to take it easy on the stars, or you have to pitch for the A team...Nature Boy Williams, the star attraction, scolding me about striking out the stars.

they both look like Andy Gump, Dirty Ann and Filthy McNasty all in one... Sandy Grant, referring to two sloppy looking players on our team.

I swear I didn't know...pitching coach Charles Middlebrooks, explaining to us why we got kicked out of a restaurant in Marietta GA., because they didn't serve Blacks.

the only difference between Cassius Clay and me, "I look better than him... Billy Ray Taylor, dubbed Cassius because he talked non stop.

lets rob ed..Sam Bryson aka "Birmingham Sam" talking about ripping off Ed Hamman, the owner of the Clowns.

Chicago sure is big, muttered by my childhood friend, Hubert "Daddy" Wooten when he joined the team in Chicago and saw comiskey park.

why don't you just let them hit it...My high school coach...JD Evans, on his visit to the mound my Jr. year in high school after I had walked 8 straight batters,and then I took his advice and started lobbing it up to the plate and they hit it everywhere, and I lost that game taking his advice.

I didn't see it... explained my best friend and 3rd baseman in high school... George Thompson, reacting to me cursing him after a screaming liner went through his legs.

you know.. Loo is stupid enough to do it, Billy "Midget" Vaughn referring to a concocted plan for the catcher to dive out of the batter's box and let the pitch hit a umpire who was robbing us blind against a local team.

not only is that boy super stupid, he's simple minded, ignorant, ugly and has no home training.. Sandy Grant referring to the Blade after he beat out a lazy grounder, that could have ended the game, but bought Sandy to the plate to face a pitcher who had already struck him out 4 times.

Articles

Loo Oates Aboard Big Red

With The Indianapolis Clowns

by: John Devard

Urban People USA

Urban People USA News

This site is dedicated to all the players who toiled in Negro League Baseball, and all the Barmstorming Teams, eventually paving the way for modern day players. To my father, Jack Oates who made me believe I could play and instilled the most vital aspect of my game, the killer instinct, by encouraging me to throw the brushback at batters digging in. To my uncle Demetrius "T-Meat" Raynor who taught me the will to win, my high school coach, JD Evans who taught me to work hard and excel at my game. Coaches Lionel Hickerson and Sonny"JO" Bennett who taught and encouraged me. To my sandlot catcher, Bruce Bennett who allowed me to throw any pitch I wanted. I owe a special thanks to a man I learned to love, the late Charles Middlebrooks, my baseball coach with the Clowns, who taught me toughness and pride in playing baseball.
I would like to pay a special Tribute to my good friend, the late Carver Durham, a walking encyclopedia on the Negro League Baseball and one helluva baseball player too. We miss you my friend. Also to Allen Warren, Buck Oates and my teammates on the Indianapolis Clowns.

Leroy Satchel Paige Touring With The Clowns