Robert Wiggins, former Negro Leaguer, passes away

[Cowtipper]

Mr. Wiggins died Nov. 16 at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital. He was 79.

This is a nice piece on him:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/16642349-418/outfielder-passed-up-by-sox-made-his-mark-in-the-old-negro-leagues.html

[philliesfiend55]

Thanks, Cowtipper. An interesting story on a forgotten era - the negro Leagues after integration of the majors.
After the final East-West Negro Lgs. All-star game of August 1953,writers say they could see the Negro Leagues were in trouble because there was not enough enthusiasm to support the continuence of the all-star game for 1954 or beyond since all of the best players were being signed by MLB teams.
Trivia: on the final East-West all-star game rosters there were only two players who reached the majors (where there had been 7 to 9 players on Negro Lg. all-star rosters in the late 1940s who would eventually reach the majors).
I won't turn this into a guessing game.- The two were Ernie Banks and Francisco "Pancho" Herrera. both of the Kansas City Monarchs.