John Patterson (Negro Leagues)

John W. Patterson (Pat)

• Throws Right
• Born March 2, 1872 in Omaha, NE USA
• Died August 23, 1940 in Battle Creek, MI USA

BR Register page

Biographical Information

John Patterson was a player in the early days of black baseball, before the Negro Leagues were formed. He broke in with the 1893 Cuban Giants, backing up Sol White at second base, and won the left field the job the next year. After three years with the Giants, he was a backup for the 1897 Page Fence Giants, then started for them at shortstop in 1898. In 1899-1900, he was an outfielder for the Columbia Giants. He manned the same spot for the 1902 Chicago Union Giants and 1903 Philadelphia Giants. In 1903, he went 3 for 28 against the Cuban X-Giants (for most of Patterson's career, top black teams rarely matched head to head). Patterson was the second base for the X-Giants in 1904, hitting .333 in his four games against other top black teams. After two years away, he went hitless in four games against other top black squads with the 1907 Brooklyn Royal Giants. Patterson made the preliminary ballot for the 2006 Special Committee on the Negro Leagues Election.

Sources

• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway