Wikipedia

Alvin Gipson

Alvin "Bubber" Gipson, Sr. (May 7, 1914 – March 25, 1987) was an American Negro league pitcher in the 1940s. A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Gipson spent most of his career in Birmingham as a mainstay of the Black Barons' pitching staff.

Alvin Gipson
Pitcher
Born: (1914-05-07)May 7, 1914
Shreveport, Louisiana
Died: March 25, 1987(1987-03-25) (aged 72)
Shreveport, Louisiana
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Negro Major Leagues debut
1941, for the Birmingham Black Barons
Last appearance
1946, for the Birmingham Black Barons
Teams
Independent/Minor

Major Leagues

Career highlights and awards
  • 1942 Negro League All-Star
  • NAL single game strikeout record (20)

Early life

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Alvin Gipson was born on May 7, 1914, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Career

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Independent ball

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Alvin Gipson began his career playing with Abe Saperstein's independent Cincinnati Buckeyes/New Orleans Crescent Stars, touting a 22–3 record in 1939 or 1940.[1][2] Gipson was billed as "potentially another Satchel Paige" in press announcing his team's barnstorming tours.[2]

Negro Major Leagues

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Chicago American Giants

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Though no league play statistics are listed for Gipson with the Chicago American Giants,[3] he appears in their 1941 team photo taken at Muelenbach Field in Kansas City.[4]

Birmingham Black Barons

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Gipson joined the Black Barons in 1941 and was on the pitching staff as they won the NAL pennant in 1943 and 1944. He registered a 0–1 record in the NAL's split season playoffs against the American Giants in 1943,[5] but did not make any appearances in either World Series.[6][7]

1942 All-Star Game

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In 1942, two East-West All-Star games were played to benefit the Army-Navy Relief Fund. Gipson was named to the West's roster for the second game, held in Cleveland at Municipal Stadium. Gipson made an appearance in relief, pitching 3 innings and giving up 2 runs (1 earned) in the 9-2 loss to the East.[8]

Strikeout Record

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On August 21, 1943, Alvin Gipson struck out 20 Philadelphia Stars batters in Birmingham, setting a Negro American League record. In the 5-1 victory, Gipson struck out the side in 4 of the 9 innings he pitched, including the ninth. Stars second baseman Marvin Williams was fanned 4 times. Following his performance, fans rushed the field to celebrate.[9][10]

Military service

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On July 2, 1945, Gipson was drafted into the United States Army.[11]

Return to barnstorming

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After leaving the Black Barons, Gipson pitched for the independent Detroit Senators and Cincinnati Crescents. Both teams were managed by Winfield Welch, Gipson's manager in Birmingham.[12][13]

Return to Chicago

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In 1949, Gipson followed his old manager Welch and returned to the American Giants, staying with the team through the 1950 campaign.[14][15] Gipson represented the American Giants on a Negro League all star team taking on an integrated Major League all star team in October 1950.[16]

Death and legacy

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Alvin Gipson died on March 25, 1987, at the VA Medical Center in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana following a brief illness.[3][17] In 1999, The Times newspaper in Shreveport listed Gipson among the top 100 baseball players to come from the area.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Black Barons Headed for Home; "Welch Day" Here to Be Season's Big Attraction". The Weekly Review. Birmingham, Alabama. August 22, 1941. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Coming Monday". The Independent-Record. Helena, MT. August 3, 1940. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Alvin Gipson". seamheads.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Chicago American Giants Team photograph, 1941 | Digital Collection". collection.baseballhall.org. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  5. ^ "Play-Off Championship Series" (PDF). Center for Negro League Baseball Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  6. ^ "1943 Season- Seamheads Negro Leagues Database". seamheads.com. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  7. ^ "1944 Season- Seamheads Negro Leagues Database". seamheads.com. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  8. ^ Lester, Larry (2001). Black baseball's national showcase : the East-West All-Star Game, 1933-1953. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-8000-9. OCLC 45951683.
  9. ^ Hauser, Christopher (2006). The Negro Leagues chronology : events in organized Black baseball, 1920-1948. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. ISBN 0-7864-2516-4. OCLC 63277903.
  10. ^ "On this day in Alabama history: Strikeout record set". Alabama NewsCenter. 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  11. ^ "67 Negroes are Called for Army Induction July 2". The Times. Shreveport, LA. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Detroit and Cubans Tangle Here Tonight". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. July 11, 1947. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Welch Pilot of Top Negro Agreggation". Saint Joseph Herald-Press. Saint Joseph, MI. June 15, 1948. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "A Series With Chicago". The Kansas City Star. July 24, 1949. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Negro Giants and Cubans to Play 2 Games Today". Chicago Tribune. June 4, 1950. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Major Leaguers Meet All-Stars". Chicago Defender. p. 18 – via Proquest.
  17. ^ "Obituary for Alvin Gipson (Aged 74)". The Shreveport Journal. March 27, 1987 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "The Top 100 List". The Times. Shreveport, LA. August 22, 1999. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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