| Neale Henderson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born:(1930-06-24)June 24, 1930 Fort Smith, Arkansas | |
| Died: December 24, 2018(2018-12-24) (aged 88) San Diego, California | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Teams | |
Neale Henderson (June 24, 1930 – December 27, 2018),[1][2] nicknamed"Bobo", was an AmericanNegro league baseballshortstop. Henderson batted and threw right handed.[3]
Born inFort Smith, Arkansas,[3] Henderson moved with his family toSan Diego,California in 1941.[2] In there, he honed his skills atSan Diego High School, where he excelled inbaseball,football andtrack and field, winning three titles as aninfielder for the Coast League Baseball champion team[3] and two titles as thestarting quarterback of the Coast League Football squad,[3] becoming the first African-American quarterback to earn that accomplishment.[1]
His introduction to the Negro leagues came early on in 1937, when he was seven years old, and was used as abatboy for theKansas City Monarchs in an exhibition game against theHomestead Grays in Fort Smith.[3]
After graduating in 1949, Henderson signed with the Abilene Ikes, a farm team for the Monarchs. He was promoted to the big team in 1950, where he moved tooutfield to make room for a shortstop prospect namedErnie Banks. Henderson was a competent outfielder for the Monarchs during two seasons. In addition, he played from 1951 through 1953 for the Kansas City Travelers, an independent clubmanaged byCool Papa Bell.[1]
Henderson ended his baseball career when he was drafted into theU.S. Army during theKorean War. At this time, he played for baseball and football teams atCamp Roberts in California andFort Lewis inWashington. Following his discharge, he worked for 39 years atGeneral Dynamics as a supervisor.[3]
In 2008,Major League Baseball staged aspecial draft of the surviving Negro league players, doing a tribute for the surviving Negro leaguers who were kept out of the Big Leagues because of their race.Hall of Fame Baseball playerDave Winfield hatched the idea to have this draft, and MLB CommissionerBud Selig and executive vice presidentJimmie Lee Solomon also spearheaded the event, which was held before the2008 MLB Draft. MLB clubs each selected a former NLB player, and Henderson was drafted as a shortstop by theBaltimore Orioles.[4]
In 2014, Henderson was honored atPetco Park on African American Heritage Night. After the ceremony, he explained in a TV interview about playing in the Negro leagues.[5]
Henderson died in 2018 in San Diego, California, at the age of 88.[1]