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Joseph Black
Cincinnati Redlegs
Pitcher
Born: February 8, 1924, Plainfield, NJ
Acquired: Purchased with Jim Gilliam (#280) by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Baltimore Elite Giants (Negro League) for $11,000, before 1951 season
Major League Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers 1952-1955; Cincinnati Reds 1955-1956; Washington Senators 1957
Died: May 17, 2002, Scottsdale, AZ (age 78)
Joe Black helped lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to the 1952 World Series on his way to winning that year's National League Rookie of the Year honors. He had started his professional career with the Baltimore Elite Giants, where he was a two-time All-Star, before the Dodgers acquired him in 1951 along with teammate Jim Gilliam (#280). Black was a workhorse for Brooklyn in 1952, going 15-4 with a 2.15 ERA and 15 saves over 56 games pitched, including two starts. Black started three games for the Dodgers in the World Series against the Yankees, winning Game 1, but losing Game 4 and the decisive Game 7. Perhaps from overuse during the 1952 season, Black was never quite the same, and he'd spend the next 4 1/2 seasons pitching in middle relief roles with the Dodgers, Reds and Senators. He found some success in Cincinnati in 1955 and 1956, appearing in 32 games each season and earning an ERA of 4.34.
Black last appeared in the majors with the Senators in 1957, making him the team's first American-born black player. He stayed connected to baseball after his retirement, serving as a scout for the Senators (1959-1960), working with the commissioner's office in an outreach role, assisting with the Baseball Assistance Team, helping former players who were struggling financially, and working for the new Arizona Diamondbacks franchise as a community affairs representative. Black was one of several Dodgers from the early 1950s featured in Roger Kahn's classic book from 1972, The Boys of Summer.
Building the Set
December 2, 2000 from Raleigh, NC - Card #214
I went nuts and bought 16 cards for our 1956 Topps set on this day at the Sports Card & NASCAR Collectibles Show in Raleigh. My records show the 16 cards set me back $55 which I would have considered to be a small fortune back then. I hadn't yet moved back north yet, so I was still living in Raleigh at this time planning for my eventual escape. I would have provided my Dad with an updated checklist following this show as he was back in New Jersey.
The Card / Redlegs Team Set
The main photo is the same as used on Black's 1955 Topps card, except that Topps has replaced the Brooklyn hat logo with a Cincinnati hat logo. This is also Black's fifth and final appearance in a Topps flagship set. More proof that everything is pretty much cyclical is found on the final cartoon panel on the back of the card. Managers using their best pitchers to start World Series games, even if those pitchers are relievers, is not a new thing. Brooklyn's Chuck Dressen used Black to start three games of the 1952 World Series, as mentioned above. Black had made only two starts during the regular season, both in late September.
1956 Season
Manager Birdie Tebbetts used Black as a middle reliever through the 1956 season for the Reds. In 32 games, he was 3-2 with a 4.52 ERA and a pair of saves. Black only pitched 61 2/3 innings, striking out 27 to 25 walks. Only closer Hersh Freeman (#242), with 64 appearances, pitched in relief in more games for the Reds.
Phillies Connection
On May 25, 1957, the Phillies purchased Black from the Reds and assigned him to their Texas League club, the Tulsa Oilers. Black made only four appearances for the Oilers, limited by a sore arm which landed him on the team's disabled list at the end of June. On July 5th, with Black barely able to lift his pitching arm, the Phillies released him. He'd sign with the Senators on August 6th and he'd appear in his final seven big league games over the last month and a half of the season.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1952 Topps #321
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5): 1952-1956
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2005 Topps Dem Bums #DB-JB
69 - Black non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/28/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Building the Set
December 2, 2000 from Raleigh, NC - Card #214
I went nuts and bought 16 cards for our 1956 Topps set on this day at the Sports Card & NASCAR Collectibles Show in Raleigh. My records show the 16 cards set me back $55 which I would have considered to be a small fortune back then. I hadn't yet moved back north yet, so I was still living in Raleigh at this time planning for my eventual escape. I would have provided my Dad with an updated checklist following this show as he was back in New Jersey.
The Card / Redlegs Team Set
The main photo is the same as used on Black's 1955 Topps card, except that Topps has replaced the Brooklyn hat logo with a Cincinnati hat logo. This is also Black's fifth and final appearance in a Topps flagship set. More proof that everything is pretty much cyclical is found on the final cartoon panel on the back of the card. Managers using their best pitchers to start World Series games, even if those pitchers are relievers, is not a new thing. Brooklyn's Chuck Dressen used Black to start three games of the 1952 World Series, as mentioned above. Black had made only two starts during the regular season, both in late September.
1956 Season
Phillies Connection
On May 25, 1957, the Phillies purchased Black from the Reds and assigned him to their Texas League club, the Tulsa Oilers. Black made only four appearances for the Oilers, limited by a sore arm which landed him on the team's disabled list at the end of June. On July 5th, with Black barely able to lift his pitching arm, the Phillies released him. He'd sign with the Senators on August 6th and he'd appear in his final seven big league games over the last month and a half of the season.
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First Mainstream Card: 1952 Topps #321
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5): 1952-1956
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2005 Topps Dem Bums #DB-JB
69 - Black non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/28/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
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