The Little-Known Legend of Spottswood Poles: A Phenomenal Baseball Player from the Early 1900s

The story of Spottswood Poles, a remarkable baseball player from the early 1900s, has been largely overlooked due to the era in which he played and the lack of organized statistics and achievements. Born on December 27, 1887, Poles began his career in 1909 and continued playing until 1923. He played in an era before the more organized Negro National League was established, which makes it difficult to accurately track his statistics and achievements.

Despite the lack of documentation, Poles was known to be an exceptional hitter, with career averages ranging from .300 to .400. SABR researcher John Holway even reported a .440 batting average in 1911, a .364 average in 1912 in Cuba, and an astonishing .487 average in 1914. Poles was not only a formidable hitter against Black pitchers but also managed to achieve a .610 average against Major League pitchers in limited at-bats.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Poles’ playing style was his speed. He was often compared to Cool Papa Bell, who is considered the fastest player in Negro Leagues history. Some even believe that Poles may have been even faster than Bell. Poles’ speed was evident in his ability to outrun even the fastest pitches, as well as his impressive athletic feats, such as running a 100-meter race in under 10 seconds.

In addition to his impressive skills on the field, Poles also demonstrated remarkable courage and patriotism by signing up to fight in World War I at the age of 30. Despite the United States not allowing Black men to serve alongside them at the time, Poles fought bravely for France as part of the 369th Infantry, also known as the Harlem Hellfighters. He earned five battle stars and a Purple Heart for his service.

After returning from the war, Poles continued his baseball career, maintaining his impressive batting averages. He eventually retired from competitive baseball in 1923, not because he was unable to play but because he was tired of the constant train travel and carrying his equipment.

Spottswood Poles remains an eligible candidate for the Hall of Fame through the Eras Committee process. His case will be considered when the Early Baseball Era meets next, currently scheduled to take place in December 2031 as part of the Class of 2032.

In conclusion, Spottswood Poles was a phenomenal baseball player whose achievements and contributions to the sport have been largely overlooked. His incredible speed, batting abilities, and patriotism make him a worthy candidate for recognition and celebration.