Pep Young (Negro Leagues)

Edward Young

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.

Pep Young was a Negro League player of the 1930s and 1940s. There were a few Negro Leaguers named Young who were nicknamed Pep, but this was the only one known primarily by his nickname rather than his first name.

Young debuted with the Chicago American Giants in 1936, riding the pine for two years. He hit .400 as their startng first baseman in 1938 and led the Negro American League by 23 points over Donald Reeves. He also tied for fourth with two triples. Pep hit .279 in 1939, .286 in 1940 and .342 in 1941.

Moving to catcher in 1942, Young batted .389. Had he qualified, the Chicago batter would have been second in the NAL in average, behind Barney Serrell. He split catching duites with Ted Radcliffe in 1943, then moved to the Kansas City Monarchs as a sub in 1944. After a year off, he hit .250 as Chicago's first baseman in 1946. He ended his career with the Homestead Grays of 1947, trying to fill the void left at catcher when Josh Gibson died and also filling in at first base when Buck Leonard got hurt.

Sources

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