Bill Ricks
John William Ricks
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut 1944
- Final Game 1948
- Born September 1, 1919 in Lexington, NC USA
- Died July 15, 1987 in Brooklyn, NY USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Bill Ricks was a top Negro League pitcher for a couple of years. He threw a fastball and spitball.
Ricks debuted with a bang with the Philadelphia Stars in 1944, going 10-4. He led the Negro National League in both wins and strikeouts (74). Bill was 5-5 for the 1945 Stars byut his 1.87 RA led the NNL, .54 over Pullman Porter. In the 1945 East-West Game, he relieved Tom Glover in the second with his East club down 2-0, two outs and two on. He promptly served up a two-run triple to Bill Williams before retiring Jackie Robinson on a pop-up. In the third inning, he got Lloyd Davenport to ground out, but Neil Robinson and Alec Radcliffe both singled. Lester Lockett grounded in a run for a 5-0 lead, then Archie Ware singled for a 6-0 edge. Ricks walked Quincy Trouppe, then opposing hurler Verdell Mathis got an infield hit and Williams singled in another couple runs. Martin Dihigo relieved. Ricks wound up with four runs and five hits in one inning, even worse than his predecessor, Glover (four runs, five hits in 1 2/3 IP) as the East lost, 9-6.
Ricks fell to 0-10 with the 1946 New York Black Yankees, did not get a decision in 1947 and was on the Stars' staff in 1948, by which point Negro League records were minimal; he would remain with the team for two more years. Bill was also named MVP of the 1949 National Baseball Congress World Series while playing for Fort Wayne General Electric. Ricks signed with the Granby Red Sox for 1951 and went 8-8 with a 4.21 ERA, also hitting .255 (with two homers in 47 AB) to end his career.
Notable Achievements[edit]
- NNL All-Star (1945)
- NNL Earned Run Average Leader (1948)
- NNL Wins Leader (1944)
- NNL Winning Percentage Leader (1948)
- NNL Games Pitched Leader (1944)
- NNL Saves Leader (1945)
- NNL Innings Pitched Leader (1944)
- NNL Strikeouts Leader (1944)
Sources[edit]
- The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
- The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
- Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester
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