1942 Kansas City Monarchs

1942 Kansas City Monarchs / Franchise: Kansas City Monarchs / BR Team Page

Record: 27-12-0, Finished 2nd in Negro American League (1942 NAL)

Won Negro World Series

Managed by Frank Duncan

Ballpark: Ruppert Stadium

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1942 Kansas City Monarchs played the franchise's 23rd season, and their sixth as a member of the Negro American League. The team finished second behind the Cincinnati-Cleveland Buckeyes, whose season was interrupted in September when a number of their players were killed or seriously injured in a road accident. The Monarchs played their home games in Kansas City's Ruppert Stadium.

Following the off-season resignation of their manager Newt Allen, they were managed during spring training by the team's business manager, retired pitcher Dizzy Dismukes, until veteran catcher Frank Duncan took the job. Duncan managed them to a four-game sweep of the World Series over the Homestead Grays.

Roster

The team had one of the most stable rosters in the Negro Leagues that season, though they did have a few roster fluctuations, caused mainly by military draft call-ups.

Hall of Famers are in boldface

Pitchers

• Clifford "Connie" Johnson
• Lefty LaMarque
• Jack Matchett
• Booker McDaniels
• Satchel Paige
• Hilton Smith

Catchers

• Frank Duncan (manager, backup catcher/pinch hitter)
• Joe Greene

Infielders

• Newt Allen
• John "Buck" O'Neil
• Bonnie Serrell
• Herb "Baldy" Cyrus (Souell)
• Bill Williams

Outfielders

• Willard Brown
• Willie "Jeep" Simms
• Ted Strong

Short-term & Part-time players

Pitchers

• Frank Bradley (released early in season)
• Gread "Lefty" McKinnis (signed from Birmingham in September, pitched one post-season game)
• Norris Phillips (released to Memphis)
• George "Schoolboy" Walker (released early in season)

Catchers

• Johnnie Dawson (also played for Birmingham)
• Hank "Slow" Robinson (signed late in season after Dawson's release, part-time player)

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Willard Brown, Joe Greene, Buck O'Neil, Satchel Paige, Hilton Smith and Ted Strong

Further Reading

• Frederick C. Bush and Bill Nowlin, eds.: When the Monarchs Reigned: Kansas City's 1942 Negro League Champions, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2021. ISBN 978-1-970159-53-0 KC