Raleigh “Biz” Mackey Game Used Bat (c. 1940’s)
Biz Mackey was born in 1897 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Mackey is considered by many as the best defensive catcher of all time, black or white. Roy Campanella credits Mackey with making him a Major League catcher. Biz was also an outstanding hitter. He had a lifetime Negro League batting average of .335 and a .326 batting average against Major League competition. In his prime, he was one of the best players in Negro League baseball. While playing for Hilldale of the Eastern Colored League from 1923 to 1931, he hit .423, .337, .350, .327, .315, 327, .337, .400 and .376. Mackey also found success as a manager by leading the Newark Eagles to a world’s championship in 1946 over the Kansas City Monarchs.
Raleigh “Biz” Mackey
During his Negro League career, he played and managed for the following teams:
San Antonio Black Aces 1918
San Antonio Giants 1918-1920
Indianapolis ABC’s 1920-1922
New York Lincoln Giants 1920
Colored All-Stars 1921
Hilldale Daisies 1923-1931
Philadelphia Royal Giants 1925
Philadelphia Stars 1933-1935
Newark Dodgers 1935
Washington Elite Giants 1936-1937
Baltimore Elite Giants 1938-1939
Newark Eagles 1939-1941, 1945-1947 and 1950
Raleigh "Biz" Mackey - Hilldale (1923)
Mackey also played winter league ball and barnstormed extensively during the off season. Biz Mackey died in 1959 in Los Angeles, California. Mackey was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Center for Negro League Baseball Research
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