Johnnie Cowan

“That was the best play I’ve ever seen in my life.” — Happy Chandler, soon-to-be commissioner of baseball, September 18, 1945, reportedly commenting on a sparkling play by Johnnie Cowan in the 1945 Negro World Series1

From his Stockham Valves and Fittings industrial league team in Birmingham, Johnnie Cowan moved in 1940 to the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Southern League. Later, in the midst of World War II, he earned a shot in 1944 with the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro American League. Cowan made the most of his opportunity, starting at second base a year later when the Buckeyes won the 1945 Negro World Series.

Cowan and the Buckeyes returned to the championship two years later, losing this time to the New York Cubans. After stints with the Memphis Red Sox and again with the Black Barons, Cowan returned to Stockham, eventually becoming their manager in the 1950s, before finally receiving recognition, well after retiring, as a Negro Living Legend.

Johnnie Wart Cowan was born on May 31, 1913, in Pleasant Hill, Alabama, about 110 miles south of Birmingham. He was the fourth of eight children born to Henry Cowan, a farmer, and Lena (Butler) Cowan.

Not much information has been unearthed about Cowan’s younger years, or how he and his family migrated north to Birmingham. However, by 1932, the 19-year-old Cowan had begun a long history of playing ball (and working) for Stockham Valves and Fittings, which played in the Negro Industrial League run by the YMCA. The next year, 1933, Cowan played for an airport semipro team in the newly formed New Deal League in Birmingham. In one May tilt, the right-hander “hit well for the losing team” and even relieved on the mound.2

In early 1934 Cowan (at times cited as Johnny Cowans) tried out for the Black Barons (also sometimes referred to that year as the Black Giants) of the Negro Southern League, a team organized by Frank Purdue and Ludie Keys.3 The rookie Cowan was usually penciled in by manager Bill Perkins (a Pittsburgh Crawfords catcher who was holding out) playing third base and batting in the eighth spot.4 Cowan’s three-run home run helped Birmingham sweep the Atlanta Black Crackers on June 3.5

It’s unclear what became of Cowan in 1935, but he returned to the Black Barons for 1936 and became the “new Black Baron second sacker.”6 Cowan collected four hits, including a triple and double, in a doubleheader sweep of the Montgomery Gray Sox on June 14,7 which ran Birmingham’s record to 25-6.8 Cowan would later reminisce about playing at Rickwood Field, saying “I loved playing at Rickwood. The field was so beautiful and it was a regulation field. They kept it up, unlike many black ballfields.”9

Johnnie married Daisy Sands, a South Carolina-born schoolteacher, in April 1937. They would have a son, Charles, and a daughter, Evelyn. Cowan returned to play for his work squad at Stockham. His extra-inning double in August gave Stockham a win against its archrivals, the American Cast Iron Pipe Co.(“Acipco”).10 It seems Cowan spent 1938 and 1939 in Birmingham playing in various local leagues.

Cowan did play in three games with the Black Barons in 1940, going 1-for-11 at the plate. His October 1940 draft registration listed him as married, brown-eyed, 5-feet-10 and 160 pounds, working as a chucker and machine operator at Stockham. Cowan was invited to play for a Birmingham all-star squad in September against Satchel Paige’s All Stars while second baseman Tommy Sampson was recovering from being hit by a bat.11

Back with Stockham in 1941, Cowan, playing second base, “showed the fans some sensational fielding” in a July game against Acipco.12 He earned a tryout with the revamped Black Barons and manager Winfield Welch in September 1941, along with other stars of the local industrial league including first baseman Jim Canada, outfielders Piper Davis and Ed Sickle, and catcher Bill Perkins.13 Apparently, in Cowan’s case, it did not pan out, as in October, Cowan, playing for Stockham, was with the City Negro Industrial League All-Stars in a five-game series against the Black Barons.

Playing in a benefit game in August 1942 for Stockham and manager Joe Borden, Cowan “executed the fielding gem of the game” in a loss to undefeated Acipco, which had Piper Davis and, later, Sam Hairston.14 The next day, Cowan, possibly pressed into service, debuted with the Cleveland Buckeyes, going 2-for-5 while playing third base, then second, on August 21 in a doubleheader defeat at the hands of the Black Barons in Birmingham.15 Less than a week later, Cowan “led the explosives for Stockham” in a 13-1 drubbing of US Pipe of Bessemer, Alabama.16 He returned to play for Stockham in 1943. He also played second base with a Birmingham all-star team managed by Ed Steele in a series against the Atlanta Black Crackers in August 1943.17

In April 1944 Cowan signed with the Buckeyes and reported to spring training in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Buckeyes manager-third baseman Parnell Woods had been summoned by his draft board for a pre-induction examination. Cowan competed with Herman Purcell (who eventually became a pitcher) for the Buckeyes infielder opening.18 He was described by a sportswriter as “a fast baserunner and a good hitter.”19 After Cowan won a job, one newspaper report held that “Johnnie Cown [sic], a 31-year-old veteran from Pleasant Hill, Alabama, is doing a remarkably good job at the hot corner”;20 another that “Johnny Cowan of Birmingham … will make you sit up and take notice.”21 However, Woods was rejected by the draft board and quickly returned, although two other Buckeyes infielders, second baseman Marshall Riddle and shortstop Billy Horne, reportedly were drafted.22 So Norman Young moved to shortstop, and Cowan to second base, although Horne returned from the Army by mid-May and Young was traded to the Kansas City Monarchs.23 Cowan was soon labeled “the season’s find of the rookie crop,” and part of a Cleveland infield quartet “judged to be the best all-around inner defense in Negro baseball.”24

The Buckeyes split with the Indianapolis Clowns in Cleveland on May 14 with Cowan batting second. He belted a three-run home run in a win on July 7 over the Memphis Red Sox.25 By August, Cowan was labeled a “brilliant performer in his first year” with Cleveland.26 He went 4-for-5 with a double and triple in a 12-6 victory over the Outwin (Wisconsin) Zephyrs on August 17.27 The new Buckeye just over a week later had two triples, two singles, and a walk for a perfect night in a 12-2 drubbing of the Chicago American Giants.28 The Buckeyes finished just behind the Birmingham Black Barons for the NAL pennant. Seamheads shows Cowan hit .237 over 17 league games. He also led NAL second basemen in fielding percentage (.947)29 Cowan earned the nickname “J-Hands” for his large and deft hands around the infield.

Returning to the Buckeyes for the 1945 campaign, and under their new manager, catcher Quincy Trouppe, Cowan knocked in the go-ahead run with a double in a 9-8 win over the Chicago American Giants of Chicago at Katy Field in Waco, Texas, on April 26. By late May, Cowan had replaced second baseman Billy Horne, who was now in the Navy.30 Cowan was “playing great ball,” a sportswriter commented.31 The Buckeyes won the first half in the Negro American League.

Before a July 29 doubleheader loss to the Cuban Stars in front of 6,000 at the Polo Grounds (the same day as East-West Game attended by Buckeyes Lloyd Davenport, Archie Ware, Trouppe, and Eugene Bremer), Cowan was labeled a “midway guardian and double play artist” alongside shortstop Avelino Cañizares.32 Cowan led off, going 0-for-5, in a 4-3 loss again to the Cubans on July 30 at Dexter Park in Brooklyn. On August 10 Cowan “started the prettiest double play ever seen here,” with a “remarkable stop and throw” in a win over the Lloyd (Pennsylvania) Athletic Club.33

The Buckeyes won both halves of the NAL season, and thus faced the Homestead Grays in the 1945 Negro World Series. Cowan notched the first hit and RBI of the Series.34 His sacrifice fly scored manager Trouppe (who had tripled) with Cleveland’s first run on September 13 at Cleveland Stadium in Game One, which the Buckeyes won, 2-1. The Buckeyes won three days later, 4-2, at League Park to take a 2-0 Series lead.35 Cowan was identified as part of an “airtight” Cleveland infield, which included Woods at third, Cañizares at shortstop, and Ware (also from Birmingham) at first.36

The Buckeyes defeated the Grays 4-0 on September 18 at Griffith Stadium in Washington to go up three games to none. Cowan’s defensive prowess caught the attention of many a spectator. He made an incredible snag of a mid-game liner of the bat of the Grays’ Buck Leonard. A reporter overheard US Sen. Albert “Happy” Chandler, in attendance and just over a month away from becoming the new commissioner of baseball, state, “That was the best play I’ve ever seen in my life.”37 Later accounts claim Chandler hailed Cowan as “the best infielder I’ve ever seen.”38 Cowan’s son Charles, after his father had died, relayed the quote as “Johnny Cowan is one of the best groundball men I’ve ever seen.”39 After another Cowan defensive gem, The Cleveland Call and Post reported, “The Washington fans almost jumped out of their seats when Cowan threw a ball on one knee to retire the side.”40 Regardless of the superlatives, Cowan’s heroics greatly impressed the attendees.

Capping the historic run, Cleveland beat the Grays 5-0 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia on September 20 to win the Series.41 Cowan, Trouppe, and Cañizares were singled out for their “brilliant playing and strategy.” Cowan, it was said, “really found his place in the sun as he fielded strategic balls which spelled the difference between win and lose for the opposing Grays.”42

Statistics from Seamheads show Cowan as a light hitter, not accumulating a single extra-base hit in over 100 plate appearances in 1945. He ended the year on the diamond by going 1-for-4 as the starting second baseman for the South All-Stars (with five Buckeyes as starters) on October 7 in New Orleans as they fell to the North All-Stars, 7-1.43

Cowan experienced his best offensive season for the Buckeyes in 1946, hitting .313 over 17 official contests. A newspaper called him a “timely-hitting second sacker.”44 Another proclaimed him as “just about as fine a ballplayer as you’ll find any place. … He really covers territory.”45 The “fleet” Cowan was nonetheless rated “a shade” slower than Indianapolis Clowns second sacker Ray Neil in August 1946, although the Erie fans “marveled at (Cowan’s) play.”46 Cowan was also described as “one of the best defensive second basemen.”47

Cowan returned in 1947 for his last of four seasons with the Buckeyes. He was in the running at second base for the West squad at the Negro League All-Star Game, along with Birmingham’s Piper Davis (who was selected) and the Clowns’ Ray Neil. Cowan belted a two-run homer off Martin Crue in a 9-7 defeat of the New York Cubans on August 31 at the Polo Grounds.48 Still under manager Trouppe, the Buckeyes won the Negro American League pennant but fell in the Negro World Series to the New York Cubans, four games to one (with one tie). Cowan hit a three-run homer in the Game One opener, which ended 5-5.49 The Buckeyes were described as a little long in the tooth with manager-catcher Trouppe, pitcher Chet Brewer, outfielder Sammy Jethroe, and Cowan all in their 30s or older.50

After the 1947 season, the Buckeyes made wholesale changes. Alonzo Boone replaced Trouppe as manager, with Trouppe being sold to the Chicago American Giants, where he became the manager. They traded Clyde “Lefty” Williams to the Indianapolis Clowns for catcher Buster Haywood.51 Sam Jethroe and Al Smith went to play in Puerto Rico, Archie Ware went to Venezuela. Chet Brewer went to Mexico for $600 per month.52 In February 1948 Cowan was sold to the Memphis Red Sox (at the same time Ed Steele was traded to Memphis for Red Longley,53) with Leon Kellman replacing Cowan at second for Cleveland. Memphis appointed catcher Larry Brown as the new manager.54 Before shipping off for Memphis, Cowan manned third base for former Black Barons manager Tommy Sampson’s Birmingham All-Stars in Atlanta against the Black Crackers.55 Cowan would form a solid double-play combo with player-coach Willie Wells Jr., formerly of the New York Black Yankees. Cowan hit only .175 in 11 league games (40 at-bats). Memphis finished fourth in the NAL in 1948. In mid-October, after the regular season, Memphis, with Cowan, as the “flashy fielding second baseman,” faced an all-star team coordinated by Jackie Robinson and Roy Campenella at least twice.56

Cowan returned to Memphis for 1949, playing for new manager Goose Curry.57 Cowan homered on April 10 in a 6-5 win against the league’s new entry, the Houston Eagles.58 However, by September, Cowan was back with Birmingham in a three-game series against the Buckeyes. He was placed on Memphis’s reserve list at the end of the season.

Back with Birmingham in April 1950, Cowan “clouted a 360-foot homer for the Black Barons” in their opener.59 He and young center fielder Willie Mays were a part of manager Vic Harris’s lineup through April and May. However, by June, Cowan had moved to the Elmwood (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Giants of the independent Manitoba-Dakota (Mandak) League. Ray Finch pitched for them and Cowan Hyde, a 1948 Memphis teammate of Cowan’s, also was a teammate. Fellow Birminghamian Lyman Bostock Sr. competed for the crosstown Winnipeg Buffaloes and played in the Mandak for four seasons. Cowan tallied two doubles in a mid-July contest against the Minot (North Dakota) Mallards.60 Cowan hit .249 in 45 games. Elmwood finished in last place. By the end of September, Cowan was seen once again patrolling second base for the Birmingham Black Barons against one of his former teams, the Memphis Red Sox.61

With the Black Barons and new manager Ed Steele committing to a youth movement for 1951, Cowan was not retained, so he returned to his Stockham Valves and Fittings team, which he represented in an August Negro YMCA Industrial League all-star game at Rickwood Field.

Not done playing competitive ball just yet, Cowan suited up in the summer of 1952 for a “Canadian Stars” team of players previously from the Negro American and Negro National Leagues who migrated to play in Canada and who were embarked on a US tour.62 It was managed by Freddie Shepard, formerly of the Black Barons, and also included catcher Harry Barnes. They played the Havana Cuban Red Sox on July 18 at Legion Field in Montgomery, then the Zulu Giants from Louisville in a doubleheader on July 27 at Rickwood.

Cowan began managing the Stockham squad in 1953. His son Charles played with him, then later against him in the industrial league for rival Acipco. After his active playing days were over, Cowan got heavily involved with the 45th Street Baptist Church. He was a co-chairman of a Men’s Day event at the church.63 He also was as an usher, deacon, and singer.

In April 1987 the retired Johnnie and Daisy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their two children (Charles and Evelyn), eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.64 They lived in the East Lake community. In 1989 Cowan was invited to a three-day celebration of the Negro Leagues in Atlanta.65 In August 1991 Cowan attended a Black Legends of Baseball reunion in Cooperstown, New York, with fellow Alabamians Bostock, Piper Davis, and others.66 In July 1993 he was invited to the major leagues’ All-Star Game in Baltimore and recognized as one of 25 Negro League Living Legends. He was quoted as saying, “We need more managers and higher-ups now. Baseball is such a business now, if you don’t get some kind of accountability, you don’t know where (minority hiring) is going to go.”67 During this time, his son, Charles, was member of the Friends of Rickwood, a group tasked with the old Birmingham field’s restoration.

Johnnie Cowan died on October 24, 1993, at the age of 80 in Birmingham and is buried at Shadow Lawn Memorial Gardens in Birmingham. He was survived by his wife; Daisy; his son, Charles; his daughter, Evelyn; his brother, James; a niece, Harriette Williams; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren, all of Birmingham.68

Sources

In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author consulted Johnny Cowans’ Baseball Hall of Fame file, Seamheads.com, Baseball-Reference.com, and MyHeritage.com.

Wayne Pearsall, Cleveland Buckeyes Baseball website, accessed December 26, 2024: https://clevelandbuckeyesbaseball.com.

Photo credit: Johnnie Cowan, Cleveland History Museum.

Notes

1 Dave O’Karma, “The Forgotten Championship,” Cleveland Magazine, April 28, 2006. Accessed online December 26, 2024. (https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/sports/articles/the-forgotten-championship).

2 “Gross Drug Takes Airport Team, 17-2,” Birmingham Post-Herald, May 22, 1933: 8.

3 Wilson L. Driver, “Birmingham to Show They Do Come Back in Baseball,” Chicago Defender, March 24, 1934: A5.

4 Cowan’s last name was occasionally misspelled as “Cowans” or even “Cowas” during this time.

5 “Black Giants Annex Couple Over Atlanta,” Birmingham Post-Herald, June 4, 1934: 8.

6 “Black Barons Play Gray Sox in Night Game,” Birmingham News, June 15, 1936: 12.

7 “Gray Sox Beaten in Double-Header by Black Barons,” Birmingham Post-Herald, June 15, 1936: 10.

8 “Bruton Brothers Get Mound Posts for Sunday Tilts,” Birmingham News, June 12, 1936: 14.

9 Anne Ruisl, “Rickwood Remains More Than Field of Dreams for Black Barons,” Birmingham News, July 14, 1993: 102.

10 “Stockham Wins 2nd Straight Victory from Acipco; Fist Fight Figures in Seventh,” Atlanta Daily World, August 20, 1937: 5.

11 “‘Satchel’ Paige Comes to Town with Stars to Play Black Barons,” Birmingham News, September 27, 1940: 16.

12 “Acipco Ends Stockham’s Clean Slate,” Atlanta Daily World, July 29, 1941: 5.

13 “Black Barons Play Black Yanks Double Header Sunday 2 PM,” Birmingham Weekly Review, September 26, 1941: 7.

14 Jimmy Couey, “Acipco Beats Stockham in Benefit Game,” Birmingham News, August 21, 1942: 44.

15 “Black Barons Win Twin Bill from the Buckeyes, 5-2 and 3-0,” Birmingham Weekly Review, August 22, 1942: 7.

16 “Stockham Blasts U.S. Pipe 13-1; Near Title,” Atlanta Daily World, August 26, 1941: 5.

17 “Birmingham All-Stars Rout Black Crax, 6-4, in ‘Rubber Game’ of Heated Series,” Atlanta Daily World, August 10, 1943: 5.

18 “Four St. Louis Boys Make Grade with Cleveland Club,” St. Louis Argus, April 14, 1944: 10.

19 “Cleveland Buckeyes Lose Parnell Woods,” Chicago Defender, April 8, 1944: 9.

20 Russ J. Cowans, “Buckeyes Face Loss of Pilot to the Army,” Michigan Chronicle (Detroit), April 15, 1944: 16.

21 “Ware Acting Manager as Bucks Lose Woods to U.S.” Cleveland Call and Post, April 15, 1944: 10B.

22 “Buckeyes Open Arc Season at Ducks Tuesday,” Journal Herald, April 29, 1944: 8.

23 “Buckeyes are Strengthened for Game Here Tomorrow,” Buffalo Evening News, May 17, 1944: 15.

24 “Black Barons Will Meet Buckeyes Here Friday,” Dayton Journal Herald, May 21, 1944: 14.

25 “Buckeyes Pound Ball and Win,” Dayton Herald, July 8, 1944: 5.

26 “Leading Sluggers of Negro League Will Accompany Cleveland Buckeyes Thursday,” Muskegon (Michigan) Chronicle, August 16, 1944: 12.

27 “Great Lakes Colored Team Next for Outwin Zephyrs,” Muskegon Chronicle, August 18, 1944: 14.

28 “Buckeyes Beat League Foe, 12-2,” South Bend (Indiana) Tribune, August 26, 1944: 8.

29 “Bucks Lead in Batting, Fielding; Jethroe Is League Champ,” Cleveland Call and Post, October 14, 1944: 6B.

30 “Buckeyes, Memphis in League Game Here,” Dayton Daily Bulletin, May 24, 1945: 3.

31 Wendell Smith, “The Sports Beat,” New Pittsburgh Courier, June 2, 1945: 12.

32 “Cleveland Buckeyes Here for Twin Bill With Cubans,” People’s Voice (New York City), July 28, 1945: 29.

33 “Buckeyes Beat Lloyd; Negro GI ‘9’ Here Monday,” Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, Pennsylvania), August 11, 1945: 10.

34 Jimmy Jones, “Buckeyes Beat Grays First Two Games of Series, 2-1, 3-2,” Cleveland Call and Post, September 22, 1945: 6B.

35 Wendell Smith, “Battling Bucks Win 2 to 1, 4 to 2 in World Series,” New Pittsburgh Courier, September 22, 1945: 12.

36 Wendell Smith, “The Sports Beat,” New Pittsburgh Courier, September 22, 1945: 12.

37 Dave O’Karma, “The Forgotten Championship,” Cleveland Magazine, April 28, 2006. Accessed online December 26, 2024. (https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/sports/articles/the-forgotten-championship).

38 American Loop Negro Teams Clash Here Tomorrow Night,” Montgomery Advertiser, May 26, 1946: 11.

39 Jimmy Bryan, “Glove Man Johnnie Cowan Remembered Fondly by Peers,” Birmingham News, October 28, 1993: 21.

40 Harry Walker, “World Series – Dots and Dashes,” Cleveland Call and Post, September 29, 1945: 6B.

41 William J. Scheffer, “Buckeyes Blank Grays, Win Title,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 21, 1945: 24.

42 “Key Personalities Who Sparked Amazing Championship of ‘Cinderella’ Team,” Cleveland Call and Post, September 29, 1945: 6B.

43 Retrosheet.org. (Retrosheet Boxscore: North All Stars(N) (NAS) 7 South All Stars(S) (SAS) 1).

44 “Buckeyes Face Ex-Manager Here,” Flint (Michigan) Journal, August 2, 1945: 28.

45 Peg Parsons, “Realm of Sports,” Erie Daily Times, July 4, 1946: 15.

46 “Indianapolis Clowns Play Crescents Here Tonight,” Erie Daily Times, August 20, 1946: 15.

47 “Cleveland Nine to Play G.E. Club Here Tonight,” Fort Wayne (Indiana) News-Sentinel, September 21, 1946: 24.

48 Haskell Cole, Cleveland Homers Beat Cubans, 9-7,” New Pittsburgh Courier, September 6, 1947: 13.

49 “Buckeyes Take 1st World Series Tilt,” Baltimore Afro-American, September 27, 1947: 14.

50 Russ J. Cowans, “Sports Chatter,” Michigan Chronicle, September 27, 1947: 14.

51 Jimmie N. Jones, “Buckeyes Undergo Changes,” Ohio Daily Express (Dayton), February 26, 1948: 2.

52 Jimmie N. Jones, “Along the Sports Trail,” Ohio Daily Express, February 27, 1948: 2.

53 “Memphis Strengthens Lineup; Gets Ed Steele,” Chicago Defender, February 28, 1948: 11.

54 “Brown to Pilot Memphis Red Sox,” New Pittsburgh Courier, February 21, 1948: 17.

55 Joel W. Smith, “Ellison, Barnes to Share Spotlight Here Sunday,” Atlanta Daily World, April 9, 1948: 5.

56 “Top Negro Stars in Game With Robinson Here Monday Night,” Houston Post, October 14, 1948: 29.

57 Sam Brown, “Memphis Red Sox Gunning for 1949 Pennant; Team Looks Good,” Kansas City (Kansas) Plain Dealer, April 29, 1949: 6.

58 “Red Sox Trip Eagles, 6-5,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, April 11, 1949: 17.

59 “Black Barons Win Two from Clowns, 6-4, 4-0,” Birmingham Herald, April 17, 1950: 12.

60 “Danielson Hurls Mallards to Win,” Regina (Saskatchewan) Leader-Post, July 17, 1950: 14. Was called Joe Cowan.

61 “Fine Crowd Sees First Game at GHA Park,” Hattiesburg (Mississippi) American, October 2, 1950: 9.

62 “Visitors Sub for Black Barons Here Sunday,” Birmingham News, July 27, 1952: 41.

63 “Church to Hold Men’s Day Observance,” Birmingham News, June 15, 1952: 26.

64 “Golden Weddings,” Birmingham News, April 12, 1987: 23E. The obituary incorrectly identified niece Harriette Williams as a third child of the Cowans.

65 Malcolm Moran, “Former Negro League Stars Take Sentimental Journey,” Wilmington (North Carolina) Morning Star, June 7, 1989: 12.

66 Ron Ingram, “Baseball Opens Its Doors,” Birmingham News, August 18, 1991: 37.

67 Lisa Farbstein, “Negro League Stars Back Jesse Jackson,” Carroll County Times (Westminster, Maryland), July 11, 1993: 13.

68 “Cowan, Johnnie,” Birmingham Post-Herald, October 27, 1993: 41.