Ira McKnight

Ira D. McKnight, Jr.

• Bats Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 182 lb.
• Born August 5, 1935 in Trenton, TN USA
• Died August 28, 2018

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Catcher Ira McKnight had a long career in the post-integration Negro leagues. He played in the Negro American League for the Memphis Red Sox (1952), Kansas City Monarchs (1956-1962) and Birmingham Black Barons (1962) and for independent incarnations of the Philadelphia Stars and Monarchs. He played for a variety of minor league, independent and amateur teams until at least 1973. He played briefly in the New York Yankees system in 1958, hitting .308 in 8 games for the Auburn Yankees.

He made the Negro League All-Star team fives times from 1956 to 1962; he didn't make the team in 1958 or 1959.

He later served as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Further Reading

• Obituary
• Player profile