Lou Dials

Oland Cecil Dials
also known as Lou Diaz

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 185 lb.
• School Santa Barbara City College, University of California
• Debut 1927
• Final Game 1933
• Born January 10, 1904 in Hot Springs, AR USA
• Died April 5, 1994 in Modesto, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Lou Dials played for 11 years in the Negro Leagues and also appeared in Mexico and briefly in the minors.

Dials came up with the Chicago American Giants in 1925, as a backup, then took off two years to attend college, where he got a degree in electrical engineering. In 1928, Lou hit .206 for the Birmingham Black Barons. Dials became a starter in 1929 with the Memphis Red Sox, hitting .316, second on the club.

Dials became the first baseman for the Detroit Stars in 1930, hitting .275. He was only 3 for 20 in a playoff series against the St. Louis Stars. Moving back to the outfield in 1931, Dials hit .255. He did rank among the Negro National League leaders in home runs (5, tied with Willie Wells for second behind Turkey Stearnes) and doubles (10, 3rd behind Stearnes and Dink Mothell).

Moving to the Philadelphia Hilldales in 1932, Dials fell to .111. He spent a couple years with minor clubs. In 1936, the Arkansas native was back with Chicago and hit .271. The veteran made the 1936 East-West Game, going 0 for 2 with an error after replacing Leroy Taylor in right field for the West.

Dials went to Mexico in 1938 to play in a lesser circuit there, working as a player-manager from 1939-1941. He worked for Lockheed in Los Angeles from 1941-1945 and was with the Saltillo All-Stars of LA from 1946-1949. Pants Rowland of the Los Angeles Angels reportedly wanted to sign Dials in 1943 but was nixed by Philip Wrigley, the club's owner.

In 1950, Dials appeared in a handful (less than 10 games) for the Tijuana Potros.

After retiring as a player, Dials was a electrician for Lockheed and also scouted for 8 years for the Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City (A's or Royals?) and Baltimore Orioles.

Notable Achievements

• All-Star (1936)
• NNL Triples Leader (1931)

Sources

• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester