John Henry Lloyd

From Free net encyclopedia

John Henry "Pop" Lloyd (April 25 1884 - March 19 1965) was an American shortstop in Negro league baseball.

Born in Palatka, Florida, Lloyd began his professional baseball career in 1905, playing catcher for the Acmes of Macon, Georgia. He played second base with the Cuban X Giants in 1906 before switching to shortstop the following season. He batted .475 in 1910 and .444 in 1924. His greatest campaign was in 1928 when he batted .564 with 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases in only 37 games. This feat was made even more impressive by the fact that he was 44 years old at the time.

Template:MLB HoF Although in the later years of his career, Lloyd was stationed at first base, he is remembered as the best fielding shortstop of the Negro Leagues, earning the nickname La Cuchara or "The Spoon" from fans who saw his winter league play in Cuba. He was sometimes compared with major league shortstop Honus Wagner. Lloyd retired after the 1932 season. He was also a successful manager in the Negro Leagues from 1918 to 1930.

Off the field, Lloyd was noted for his gentlemanly conduct and his lack of resentment towards the racism of the day that kept him out of Major League Baseball. Both Babe Ruth and Ted Harlow, a noted sportswriter, considered Pop Lloyd to be the greatest baseball player ever. Described as "the black Honus Wagner", Wagner professed to be honored. Lloyd died in Atlantic City, New Jersey at age 80, 12 years too soon to see his belated 1977 induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

John Henry Lloyd's known statistics: .368 career batting average

[edit]