Hey! Well, we're over the halfway point here in February. Weather-wise, no one should be sad to see it go, it's been a rough month! However, it does mean that the Negro Leagues display here at Grand Central will be coming down sooner rather than later.  Going into the month and during preparations, my knowledge of Negro League baseball history was rather lacking. Now I'm happy to say I learned a great deal about a lot of different players who took the field during that era. Guys like Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Monte Irvin, and the late Ernie Banks were all able to not only play in the Negro Leagues, but also make a mark on the game's biggest stage as well. A lot of men did not have this opportunity, and it's only right that we acknowledge them and their achievements too.

On a sillier note, one thing I certainly noticed while researching Negro Leaguers were the amount of nicknames they all produced. It seems you weren't anybody unless you had a nickname in tow! So without further ado, let's dive into a few of the Negro Leagues' most unique nicknames, and find out where they came from!

1. "Satchel" Paige - Ah of course, the great Satchel Paige is first on this list. Wait, you thought "Satchel" was his real name? Once upon a time I did too, so don't feel so bad. Satchel Paige's birth name was actually Leroy Robert Paige. Arguably the most-celebrated of all Negro League hurlers, Paige dominated the black baseball scene with a number of different clubs, but played on the Kansas City Monarchs the longest. He signed with the Cleveland Indians midway through the 1948 season, one year after the Indians integrated the American League with their signing of Larry Doby. Though Paige only made 179 appearances in Major League Baseball over parts of six seasons (he made the Hall of Fame largely on his work in the Negro Leagues) he did set records for being the oldest-ever rookie (42 years and 20 days old), oldest player to ever appear in a game (a "publicity stunt" appearance organized by Kansas City Athletics owner Charlie Finley that saw him toss three scoreless innings as a 59 year old), and first black pitcher to appear in a World Series. So where did his nickname derive from? Paige himself said it was a childhood nickname bestowed upon him when he was earning money carrying passenger's bags and satchels around train stations. He came a long way since then.

2. "Turkey" Stearnes - One of the best hitters you've never heard of? Might be. Norman Thomas "Turkey" Stearnes had a blend of power and speed that made him one of the finest leadoff hitters in Negro League history. And that's in addition to being a standout centerfielder. Though not all Negro League data was preserved, we do know that Stearnes had at least 176 home runs, played in at least 5 East-West Negro League All-Star games, and won at least 6 Negro League home run titles.  As for the nickname? Well it's said that it came from Stearnes's unusual running style, that saw his arms fly about like a turkey flapping its wings!

3. "Mule" Suttles - When it comes to top sluggers in Negro League history, catcher Josh Gibson is probably the name that comes to the forefront of your mind, understandably so. But let's not forget about George "Mule" Suttles. This is a man who was so strong, he swung a 50-ounce bat with regularity! Suttles's feats at the plate are legendary. He hit 3 home runs in a single inning in a game against the Memphis Red Sox. In another game played in Cuba, Suttles slammed a home run that cleared the park's 60-foot high centerfield fence, and landed somewhere in the ocean. Believe it or not, the not oft talked about slugger is the Negro Leagues all-time leader in home runs, with 190 of them documented. Truly one of the most powerful men in the history of the game, Suttles's strength is where his "Mule" nickname comes from. The mule is known for carrying things via carts. So when the fans needed Mule Suttles to carry the ballclub, they started a chant "Kick, Mule!" in an attempt to get their beloved slugger to deliver in a big spot.

4. "Cool Papa" Bell - So what was James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell's biggest calling card as a ballplayer? Allow this anecdote by Satchel Paige to give you a hint: "Let me tell you about Cool Papa Bell. One time he hit a line drive right past my ear. I turned around and saw the ball hit his rear end as he slid into second." Fast as a screaming line drive, Bell's wheels made him absolutely famous in the baseball world, where he's regarded as one of the speediest players to ever play the game. Bell had a 20+ year career as a speedy centerfielder in the Negro leagues, where he routinely hit .300, and even topped the .400 mark in a few seasons. However, Bell actually started his career in the Negro Leagues as a pitcher. In 1922, while playing for the Negro National League's St. Louis Stars, Bell (who was only 19 years old at the time) struck out future Hall-of-Famer Oscar Charleston in a pressure-filled situation. This strikeout earned a lot of respect from his teammates, who were incredibly impressed with how poised, how cool Bell reacted when performing under heavy pressure. From there on, Bell was branded "Cool Papa", a nickname that never faded. 

5. "Biz" Mackey - Before Josh Gibson came onto the Negro League scene in the 1930s, James Raleigh "Biz" Mackey was the premiere catcher there for almost two decades. His career spanned 30 seasons, and he had all the tools worthy of a future Hall-of-Famer, including annually high batting averages and an incredible throwing arm. His 1925 Hilldale Athletic Club won the 1925 Colored World Series. Then in 1946, his leadership and experience helped the Newark Eagles win the Negro World Series, a team he skippered. Mackey also passed on plenty of advice and counseling towards younger players who would go on to star in the Major Leagues, such as Roy Campanella and Larry Doby. While he has sort of been overshadowed by other catchers of that time, like Campy and Josh Gibson, Mackey is still only one of 19 catchers who're enshrined in the Hall of Fame, which is a testament to how good he really was. Now as for his nickname, "Biz", well let's just say it was another advantage he utilized while playing. "Biz" is short for "business", which is what Mackey's opponents say he used to give them while they were in the batter's box. Mackey would be behind the dish as hitters dug in, and Mackey just would not stop talking. His jolly nature would have him talking the batter's ear off, doing anything in his power to distract them as they hit. Surely his pitchers were appreciative!

6. "Bullet" Rogan - Charles Wilber "Bullet Joe" Rogan was a rare breed of ballplayer. He was successful not only on the mound, but at the plate too. Some statistical compilers actually have Rogan as the all-time winningest pitcher in Negro League history. Of course we'll never know if that statement is true or not, but it's impressive nonetheless. Other compilings have stated that Rogan's .338 batting average is fourth best all time in black baseball. He was an absolute superstar, and the great Casey Stengel once declared Rogan to be the best pitcher to ever live. He played 19 seasons for the Kansas City Monarchs, helping them win three straight pennants from 1923-1925. In the 1924 Colored World Series between Kansas City and Hilldale, Rogan carried the Monarchs to a Series victory, winning two games as a pitcher and collecting 13 hits over the best-of-9 Series. As you probably guessed, Rogan's "Bullet Joe" nickname came from his pistol-quick fastball that he had in his arsenal of pitches. Rogan's fastball was so fast, it was deemed too fast to catch by teammates and adversaries alike. In addition to his blazing heater, Rogan also utilized curves, forkballs, and the occasional spitball in order to retire hitters.

7. Arthur "Rats" Henderson - Maybe the least known out of all the players found on this list, don't let his obscurity fool you. Henderson was said to possess a curveball that was unhittable by anyone in any league. He pitched 7 seasons for the Bacharach Giants of the Eastern Colored League, a club that won pennants in both 1926 and 1927. Unfortunately, they fell in both years to the Chicago American Giants. One of the brightest young pitches the Negro Leagues had seen, Henderson's career ultimately came to a premature end due to injuries that would render his arm dead. Now as for the "Rats" nickname, it came from an infamous incident that happened while he was working at a glass factory as young teen. Oblivious, some coworkers had decided to play a bit of a practical joke on their unsuspecting friend. They hid a rat in his lunchbox, and sure enough when the unsuspecting Henderson opened up his lunch that day, the rat popped out scaring the daylights out of him. The nickname followed Henderson all throughout his career.

To read about other great Negro League players with other unforgettable nicknames, such as John Henry "Pop" Lloyd and "Smokey Joe"/"Cyclone Joe" Williams, please visit our catalog.