Harry Kincannon

Harry Kincannon (Tin Can)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 190 lb.

• Born June 30, 1909
• Died October 1, 1965

Harry Kincannon pitched for a decade in the Negro Leagues, making one East-West Game. He was known for his sharp curveball.

Kincannon joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords in 1930 and went 4-4 for them in 1932; as Cum Posey overhauled the club as it rose to prominence, Harry was one of three original members to survive.

In 1933, "Tin Can" again was 4-4. He went 3-0 in 1934 and relieved Slim Jones in the 1934 East-West Game. After allowing 4 hits but no runs in two innings, he was yanked in favor of Satchel Paige, who completed the 1-0 shutout victory for the East. In a 1935 playoff against the New York Cubans, Kincannon got the call in game one and lost.

At age 26/27, Harry went 1-2 for the 1936 Crawfords. He faced a white MLB All-Star team that October in Mexico City; against Heinie Manush, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, Doc Cramer, Pinky Higgins, Red Kress, Eric McNair and Luke Sewell, Kincannon was on the losing end of a 11-1 decision against Ted Lyons. Pittsburgh traded him to the New York Black Yankees and he went 1-2 for them in 1937, then he briefly joined the Homestead Grays.

In 1938, the curveball artist was 1-1 for the Washington Black Senators, followed by a 1-0 season for the Crawfords, now based in Toledo for a career record of 15-13.

Kincannon was known for being a "dandy" and his fine dancing. He used to carry a pistol around and once threatened to shoot any teammates who touched his food. When he fell asleep, the other players emptied the gun, ate his chicken and made a necklace out of the chicken bones to drape around his neck. Harry laughed about the prank.

Sources: The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley, The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway, Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester