Thomas "Toots" Sampson (August 31, 1912 – January 24, 2002) was an American second baseman in the Negro leagues.
| Tommy Sampson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Second baseman/Manager | |
| Born: August 31, 1912 Calhoun, Alabama | |
| Died: January 24, 2002 (aged 89) Elizabeth City, North Carolina | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Negro league baseball debut | |
| 1938, for the Chicago American Giants | |
| Last appearance | |
| 1948, for the New York Cubans | |
| Teams | |
|
He played from 1938 to 1948, playing mostly with the Birmingham Black Barons. During the 1944 Negro World Series, Sampson was injured in a car accident. Fellow players John Britton, Pepper Bassett, Art Wilson, and Leandy Young were also in the car, but sustained minor injuries. Sampson's right leg was broken, and he missed the remainder of the series. In 1946 and 1947, he served as the manager of the Black Barons, before being replaced by Piper Davis. In 1948, Sampson discovered future Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays, which led to Mays signing with the Black Barons.[1]
References
edit- ^ Riley, James A. (1994). The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0959-6.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference and Seamheads
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