Pearl Webster

Pearl Franklyn Webster (Specks)

• Died November 16, 1918

Biographical Information

Pearl Webster was a Negro League player of the 1910s. He debuted with the Brooklyn Royal Giants in 1912, hitting .241 while splitting catching duties with Doc Wiley. Becoming the starter when Wiley left in 1913, he batted .294. He fell to .238 in 1914 but hit .333 in 1916. Moving to the outfield with Hilldale in 1917, he hit .381, 4th in the east behind Smokey Joe Williams, Pelayo Chacón and Louis Santop.

Webster served as a corporal in the 807th Pioneer Infantry during World War I. He died of the Spanish influenza pandemic five days after Armistice Day; he contracted the influenza during the war.

Sources

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