Hank Mason

Henry Mason
(Bo)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Marshall (MO) High School
• Debut September 12, 1958
• Final Game April 24, 1960
• Born June 19, 1931 in Marshall, MO USA
• Died May 29, 2020 in Richmond, VA USA

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Biographical Information

Right-hander Hank Mason made four appearances on the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies during 1958 and 1960 with no decisions. He was apparently the first black pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hank was a pitcher with the Kansas City Monarchs in the declining years of the Negro Leagues in the early 1950s, and was the winning pitcher in the 1954 East-West Game.

In the minors he pitched in several leagues, including six years in the International League. Hank was a 15-game winner for the Schenectady Blue Jays in their pennant-winning year of 1956 with an Eastern League-leading seven shutouts. He also went 12-3 for the Buffalo Bisons in 1959. Hank finished his eight-season minor league career in 1962 with a 60-46 record and a 3.49 ERA, while pitching 943 innings.

Mason later became an ordained minister in the Methodist Church in Kansas City, MO. He died in Richmond, VA aged 88 in 2020.