November 02, 1999 14:08:25 CST
John Henry “Pop” Lloyd
One of baseball’s first genuine superstars.
NLBDC Staff
| |
John Henry “Pop” Lloyd |
One of baseball’s first superstars, John Henry "Pop" Lloyd set the standard for shortstops during the first two decades of the 20th century. Lloyd’s sharp fielding skills combined with extraordinary hitting prowess and speed on the basepath to make him black baseball’s most valuable player during baseball’s deadball era.
Lloyd’s professional career began in 1906 with the Cuban X Giants, an aging team whose glory days were coming to a close. After gaining three years experience at the top professional level Lloyd joined the New York Lincoln Giants at the beginning of the 1911 season as a player-manager. Compiling batting averages above .360 during each of the next three seasons, Lloyd powered the Lincoln Giants to the top spot among eastern black clubs.
After Lloyd’s Lincoln Giants defeated Rube Foster’s Chicago American Giants for the 1913 title the flashy shortstop signed on with the American Giants for the next four seasons, leading the Chicagoans to three western region championships and two championships over the leading eastern squads.
During the following two decades Lloyd moved between several clubs, including the New York Lincoln Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, New York Bacharach Giants, Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, Columbus Buckeyes, Hilldale Daisies and Harlem Stars. During his 27 years as a professional player he compiled a phenomenal .360+ batting average, and as a manager he contributed to the development of some of black baseball’s most enduring stars.
Lloyd’s work with young players continued after his professional baseball career had come to an end. For many years Lloyd organized and managed youth leagues in the Atlantic City area, often serving as the commissioner of the city’s youth baseball leagues. In 1949 John Henry Lloyd Park was dedicated in his honor.
In 1992 the John Henry "Pop" Lloyd Committee was organized in Atlantic City, initially to restore the ballfield dedicated to the legendary shortstop. For the past several years the Committee has established an annual Humanitarian Awards ceremony and lecture series to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary civic contributions.
Lloyd was inducted into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1977.
RELATED INFO
1999 Pop Lloyd Humanitarian Award Nominees Announced
|
