Cum Posey
From BR Bullpen
Cumberland Willis Posey, Jr.
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 145 lb.
- Born June 20, 1890 in Homestead, PA USA
- Died March 28, 1946 in Pittsburgh, PA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Posey attended Penn State University (1909-1910), the University of Pittsburgh (1913), and Holy Ghost College (1915). He led the basketball team at Holy Ghost in scoring and was the captain of the golf team. He later played pro basketball until 1925.
Posey was working as a mail clerk when the Homestead Grays were first formed in 1910 as a semi-pro team and he joined the team in 1911 as an outfielder. Posey took control of the team in 1912. Eventually, the team became the biggest attraction in independent ball, and many teams patterned themselves after the Grays.
Posey ended his playing career in 1929 (he had not played much in the few years since the team had joined the top ranks of black baseball) and devoted his time to managing the team, then turned over the bench manager's job to Vic Harris in 1937 to concentrate on the business end of the team.
In 1922, Posey secured the use of Forbes Field when the Pittsburgh Pirates were out of town. This helped to hold off the threat of the Pittsburgh Keystones who were also trying to raid the Grays' roster. The Grays entered the Negro American League in 1929, but returned to independent play when the league folded in 1930.
Posey used night baseball long before the major leagues, and in 1940 he also secured the use of Griffith Stadium for some of his home games.
Posey died at Mercy Hospital in 1946 of lung cancer.
- Owner of the Homestead Grays from 1911-1946.
- Also served as secretary of the Negro National League
