Ted Radcliffe(1902-2005)
Ted Radcliffe was an American baseball player who played and managed in the Negro leagues. He played from 1928 until 1946. He managed from 1937 until 1943 with the exception of 1942. He was a 6 time East-West All Star and won the pennant with the Memphis Red Sox in 1938.
Radcliffe was born Theodore Roosevelt Radcliff in Mobile, Alabama. He was one of 10 children. One his brothers was Alex Radcliffe who also achieved claim as baseball player in the Negro leagues. In 1919, he and Alex hitchhiked to Chicago, Illinois to live with an older brother. A year later, he would sign to play for the semi-pro team, the Illinois Giants. After a few seasons with the Illinois Giants, he would join another semi-pro team, the Gilkerson's Union Giant. He would play with them until he signed with the Detroit Stars, of the Negro League, in 1928.
Radcliffe would be dubbed, Double Duty, by newspaper man, Damon Runyon after he saw Radcliffe pitch in one game and play catcher in the next game of a doubleheader. He wrote that Radcliffe was worth the price of admission to the double header. In the first game of the doubleheader, Radcliffe would catch Leroy 'Satchel' Paige's shut out and then pitched a shutout himself in the second game.
Radcliffe was born Theodore Roosevelt Radcliff in Mobile, Alabama. He was one of 10 children. One his brothers was Alex Radcliffe who also achieved claim as baseball player in the Negro leagues. In 1919, he and Alex hitchhiked to Chicago, Illinois to live with an older brother. A year later, he would sign to play for the semi-pro team, the Illinois Giants. After a few seasons with the Illinois Giants, he would join another semi-pro team, the Gilkerson's Union Giant. He would play with them until he signed with the Detroit Stars, of the Negro League, in 1928.
Radcliffe would be dubbed, Double Duty, by newspaper man, Damon Runyon after he saw Radcliffe pitch in one game and play catcher in the next game of a doubleheader. He wrote that Radcliffe was worth the price of admission to the double header. In the first game of the doubleheader, Radcliffe would catch Leroy 'Satchel' Paige's shut out and then pitched a shutout himself in the second game.
