Jim Willis (Negro Leagues)

Jim Willis (Cannonball, Speedball, Speedboy)

• Bats Right, Throws Right

Hard-throwing Jim Willis went 3-7 in 1928 for the Birmingham Black Barons and Nashville Elite Giants in his first work in top-flight black baseball. In '29, Willis was 2-4 for Nashville and he followed with a 5-8 mark. In 1931, he went 5-5 for the Cleveland Cubs and 0-1 for Nashville. '32 produced a 7-7 record back with Nashville. In 1933, he went 2-0 for the Philadelphia Stars and 3-6 for the Elite Giants, then he followed with a 4-6 year for Nashville. He was picked to play in the 1933 East-West Game but did not appear in the contest. In 1935, the veteran hurler had a 5-1 ledger for the Columbus Elite Giants. In 1936, they became the Washington Elite Giants and Willis had a 3-5 campaign. He remained with the club for three more yars without a record against top black teams. Overall, he was 39-50.

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