Walt Calhoun

Walter Calhoun
(Lefty)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 9", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut 1932
• Final Game 1946
• Born August 21, 1911 in Union City, TN USA
• Died October 2, 1976 in Cleveland, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Walt Calhoun was a Negro League pitcher noted for his control.

Calhoun made his debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1931. He split 1932 between the Memphis Red Sox (1-2) and Montgomery Grey Sox (2-8), leading the Negro Southern League in losses. He returned to Birmingham in 1933. His next appearance with a major blackball club was in 1937 with the Pittsburgh Crawfords. He pitched in 1938 for the Indianapolis ABCs (1-1) and Washington Black Senators. He was 2-2 for the St. Louis Stars in 1939.

Lefty went 1-0 for the New Orleans-St. Louis Stars in 1940. He appeared for the West in their 11-0 loss in the 1940 East-West Game, relieving Gene Bremer in the 4th. He gave up sixs hits, one walk and six runs (three earned) in 2 1/3 innings, striking out one, before Connie Johnson relieved him. He was 2-5 for Habana and the Santa Clara Leopards in the 1940-1941 Cuban Winter League. Calhoun went 3-1 for the Stars in 1941.

The Union City native pitched for the 1942 New York Black Yankees and Philadelphia Stars (2-2). He was back with the Stars in 1943. He ended his career with the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1946.

Notable Achievements

• NAL All-Star (1940)
• NAL Saves Leader (1940)

Sources

• 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
• Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History by Jorge Figueredo