| Nat Peeples | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born:(1926-06-29)June 29, 1926 Memphis, Tennessee | |
| Died: August 30, 2012(2012-08-30) (aged 86) Memphis, Tennessee | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Negro American League debut | |
| 1948, for the Memphis Red Sox | |
| Last appearance | |
| ?, for the ? | |
| Teams | |
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Nathaniel Peeples (June 29, 1926 – August 30, 2012) was a professional baseball outfielder in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He played in theNegro leagues and inminor league baseball.
Peeples was born inMemphis, Tennessee. He attendedLeMoyne-Owen College.
He played for theMemphis Red Sox (in 1948),[1]Kansas City Monarchs andIndianapolis Clowns of theNegro American League.[2]
Peeples spent ten seasons in the minor leagues, from 1951 to 1960. He began his career in theBrooklyn Dodgers system, playing there from 1951 to 1953. He joined theMilwaukee Braves system in 1953 and remained there until 1959. He briefly joined theChicago Cubs system in 1959 and last played in theMexican League in 1960.[3]
In 1954, Peeples played briefly for theAtlanta Crackers of theSouthern Association. Though he played only two games with the team, his stay was notable for he became the only African American to ever play in the Southern Association. The ripples of racism still permeated the South in those days, however, and – facing pressure from other league clubs – the Crackers sent him to theJacksonville Braves of theSouth Atlantic League, prematurely ending his stay with the Atlanta squad after a two-week stint.[4] Other sources say it was Peeples' lack of ability that earned his demotion to Jacksonville.[2]
In 1957, with theCorpus Christi Clippers of theBig State League, Peeples hit .314 with 25 home runs, 116 runs scored and 99 RBI, leading the league in the latter two categories and finishing second in home runs, behindDon Miles' 28. The following year, with theAustin Senators of theTexas League, he hit .259 with 21 home runs, 79 RBI and 23 stolen bases, finishing second in the league in steals, behindRod Kanehl.[3]
Peeples died at the age of 86 in Memphis, Tennessee.
| International | |
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| National | |
