Brehm: Roadside marker honoring Spottswood Poles installed in Virginia
From Brian Brehm at the Winchester Star on April 10, 2020:
A roadside marker honoring one of the best baseball players of all time has been erected in Winchester.
The silver-and-black sign at 502 N. Kent St. provides a brief history of Spottswood Poles, a legend in the Negro baseball leagues of the early 20th century who was born on Dec. 9, 1887, at 530 Fremont St. in Winchester.
In 1906, Poles joined the Harrisburg Colored Giants baseball team in Pennsylvania. He became a professional player in 1909 with the Philadelphia Giants, then signed with the New York Lincoln Giants when the Philadelphia team folded in 1911.
Poles enjoyed his best years in New York, batting .440 in his first season with the Lincoln Giants, .398 in his second, .414 in his third and, in his final season with the team, a stunning .487.
Read the full article here: https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/roadside-marker-honoring-baseballs-poles-installed-in-city/article_bcd35d48-53c1-531a-9b93-6eefe56af37d.html
- Related link: Learn more about Spottswood Poles in this SABR Baseball Research Journal article by John Holway
Originally published: April 13, 2020. Last Updated: April 13, 2020.