Rainey Bibbs

Junius Alexander Bibbs
(Rainey, Sonny)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
• School Indiana State University
• Debut 1933
• Final Game 1944
• Born October 31, 1910 in Henderson, KY USA
• Died September 11, 1980 in Indianapolis, IN USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Rainey Bibbs was a one-time All-Star in the Negro Leagues.

Bibbs had played football in college. He appeared with the Detroit Stars briefly in 1933. In 1936, he hit .292 as the starting second baseman of the Cincinnati Tigers. In 1937, he batted .265 for the Tigers. He was a backup to Newt Allen in the 1937 East-West Game and doubled off Leon Day in his lone at-bat.

Moving on to the Kansas City Monarchs, he hit .343 as their starting third baseman in 1938. He fell to .219 in 1939, when he formed an infield with Allen, Ted Strong and Buck O'Neil. When Allen moved to the outfield in 1940, Bibbs took over at second base and hit .324, fourth in the Negro American League behind Bill Williams, O'Neil and Herb Souell. By 1941, he was back at third base and fell to .245. He was 0 for 2 in an exhibition against Bob Feller and Ken Heintzelman.

Bibbs resurfaced briefly in 1944 with the Chicago American Giants and Cleveland Buckeyes. 36 years later, he died of a heart attack.

Notable Achievements

• NAL All-Star (1937)
• NAL Singles Leader (1938)

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