More Terrier History, News (Terriers Baseball)

Terriers and Dickson Parks link to the negro leagues… During the 50's and 60's the Terriers were loaded with great local players and US imports. Home brews Verne ”Tex” Kaiser, Wray Upper, Ron Smith, Ernie Hatt and Roger Dewaele to name a few. During the early 50s the Inter County was a haven for ex negro league players that found their way here to play in Canada, away from the racial prejudice they endured before professional baseball lifted the color barrier.

Outfielder Ed Steele from the Birmingham Black Barons and a teammate of Willie Mays played for the Terriers, along with Gentry “Jeep” Jessup, a great pitcher with the Chicago Black Giants. Both Steele and Jessup, along with another ex Terrier pitcher Mel Duncan of the Kansas City Monarchs toured with Satchel Paige's all stars throughout the US and Cuba playing exhibition games.

If it hadn't of been for the ban on negro players until 1947, these players would certainly have been major leaguers. Unfortunately many of them had their better days behind them before the ban was lifted. Other Major League players on the 1949 team included Jim Bagby Jr, who, only 2 years before playing for the Terriers, was one of the pitchers that stopped Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak at 56 games. Bagby was pitching for the Cleveland Indians at the time. Picture - Ed Steele