Looking back at Negro Leagues great Dink Mothell
From SABR member Brian McKenna at Glimpses Into Baseball History on January 16, 2012:
Carroll [Mothell] grew up playing baseball with his friends and extended family. The town had a prominent club which traveled the country at times – the Topeka Giants. The nine was run by Topeka Jack Johnson, well-known as a sparring partner of the heavyweight boxing champion with the same name. James Mothell, Carroll’s uncle, played for the Giants in at least 1906.
Dink was initially a catcher but developed into a valued utility player, playing all positions but heavily on the right side of the infield. Outside parts of two seasons, he played exclusively with clubs from his home state.
He was a righthanded thrower and switch-hit. Historian James A. Riley lists him at 6’ and 175 pounds.
It’s been listed in several sources – particularly from historians John Holway and Riley – that Mothell played for the Topeka Giants in 1914 at age 16 or 17. This wasn’t verified; however, a listing was found in 1917 which shows Dink at catcher and his 17-year-old brother Ernest pitching:
Read the full article here: http://baseballhistoryblog.com/3755/dink-mothell/
Related link: Mothell was the latest Negro League player to receive a grave marker via the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project (June 18, 2011)
Originally published: January 20, 2012. Last Updated: January 20, 2012.