Arthur Anderson South Texas Negro League Championship Jacket

Arthur “Rip” Anderson was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1918. Anderson grew up in San Antonio playing sandlot ball for teams like Lotts Grocery and Reyna’s Café.  In 1938, Anderson headed up a group of players that formed the San Antonio Black Sox. For the next forty years as a player, coach and manager, Anderson was a Black Sox.  Anderson was primarily an outfielder, but he could play any position. And as Arthur used to say “ I was a ball player and a ball player played where ever you needed him.”

During his career with the San Antonio Black Sox, the team played in the Texas Negro League, South Texas Negro League and barnstormed throughout south Texas and into Mexico. The Black Sox were the powerhouse team in black baseball in south Texas from the time they started in 1938 until the South Texas League folded in 1978. Arthur Anderson was a big part of their success. He helped shape baseball in the San Antonio area for over forty years.

During these years the Black Sox won numerous baseball tournaments and league championships. This jacket was given to Arthur by team owner Fred Brock after the San Antonio Black Sox won the South Texas League championship in 1950.

San Antonio Black Sox Team Party (1950)