Pumpsie Green
Elijah Jerry Green
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
- School Contra Costa Community College
- High School El Cerrito High School
- Debut July 21, 1959
- Final Game September 26, 1963
- Born October 27, 1933 in Boley, OK USA
- Died July 17, 2019 in San Leandro, CA USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Pumpsie Green was the first black player to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last major-league club to integrate. He played five seasons in the major leagues, primarily with the Red Sox.
Born in Oklahoma, he moved to Oakland, CA at a young age and was long listed as having been born in that city. After high school, Green was set to attend Fresno State, but went to Contra Costa Community College after his high school coach took up the coaching position there and told him he could be his shortstop. While at Contra Costa he went to a tryout held by the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League and was signed by the team.
Green was first sent to play for the Wenatchee Chiefs in the Northwest League, and then moved to the California League's Stockton Ports. He was the league's MVP in 1955. During the season his contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox and the team wished to assign him to the team's Montgomery Rebels affiliate in the South Atlantic League. He was due to room with Earl Wilson the organization's other black player. However, Green requested and received permission to stay with his California League team through the end of the season.
He played with the Minneapolis Millers (American Association) through 1959 when he was called up to the Red Sox. He made his debut on July 21st.
After his baseball playing days were over, Green took a job with the Berkeley, CA school district and taught math and coached Berkeley High School's baseball team. His brother, Cornell, played in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.
Notable Achievements[edit]
Source[edit]
- Where Have All Our Red Sox Gone? by Harvey Frommer, Book Excerpt
Further Reading[edit]
- Bill Nowlin: "Pumpsie Green", in Mark Armour and Bill Nowlin, eds.: Red Sox Baseball in the Days of Ike and Elvis: The Red Sox of the 1950s, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2012, pp. 190-199. ISBN 978-1933599243
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