Jimmy Wilkes

American baseball player
Baseball player
Jimmy Wilkes
Outfielder
Born: (1925-10-01)October 1, 1925
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: August 11, 2008(2008-08-11) (aged 82)
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Negro leagues debut
1945, for the Newark Eagles
Last appearance
1948, for the Newark Eagles
Negro National League statistics
Batting average.239
Home runs4
Runs scored59
Teams
  • Newark Eagles (1945–1948)
Career highlights and awards

James Eugene Wilkes (October 1, 1925 – August 11, 2008), nicknamed "Seabiscuit", was a professional baseball outfielder. He played in Negro league baseball for the Newark Eagles from 1945 to 1948.[1] He was a member of the 1946 Negro World Series championship team,[2] and was an All-Star in 1948.[3]

In 1949 and 1950, Wilkes played for the Houston Eagles of the Negro American League.[4] He then played in Minor League Baseball from 1950 through 1952 in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization.[5] After only appearing in nine minor-league games in 1952,[5] he returned to the Negro American League with the Indianapolis Clowns that season.[4]

Wilkes subsequently played with the Brantford Red Sox of Southern Ontario from 1953 through 1963.[6] In five of those seasons, the Red Sox were champions of the Intercounty Baseball League.[4] He is considered one of the top 100 players in league history.[6] After retiring as a player, Wilkes served as an umpire in the league for 23 years.[7][4]

References

  1. ^ "Jimmy Wilkes Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "1946 Newark Eagles Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "All-Star Game Player Career Batting Register". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Jimmy 'Seabiscuit' Wilkes". Western Canada Baseball. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Jimmy Wilkes Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Top 100 IBL Players". theibl.ca. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. ^ Beare, Ted (May 29, 1976). "Beare Facts (column)". The Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. p. 8. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via newspapers.com.

Further reading

  • Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Seamheads
  • Jimmy Wilkes at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
  • v
  • t
  • e
Newark Eagles 1946 Negro World Series champions
Manager
Biz Mackey