Sammy Hairston
From BR Bullpen
Samuel Harding Hairston
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10½", Weight 187 lb.
- Debut July 21, 1951
- Final Game August 26, 1951
- Born January 20, 1920 in Crawford, MS USA
- Died October 31, 1997 in Birmingham, AL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Sammy Hairston, progenitor of a large baseball family, played 4 games in the major leagues for the 1951 Chicago White Sox in July and August, hitting .400 with a .571 on-base percentage. He was a 31-year-old catcher and one of the earliest black players in the major leagues. He and Minnie Minoso both had their initial seasons with the White Sox in 1951 (Minoso came from Cleveland). Hairston had been signed by the White Sox as a free agent in 1950. He had previously played in the Negro Leagues.
He is the father of Jerry Hairston Sr., Johnny Hairston, and Sam Hairston Jr. (2B in White Sox chain 1966), and the grandfather of Jerry Hairston Jr. and Scott Hairston.
