Berry began his career with the Thatcher's Colts, a Black semi pro team sponsored by a local Kansas City mortuary.[2] A short time later, he joined the barnstorming Van Dyke's Colored House of David in 1935 as a pitcher, where he was often advertised as their "ace hurler".[3] On August 12, 1937, Berry garnered attention in Vancouver, British Columbia when he struck out 20 batters and allowed 1 hit in a 3–0 victory over a local all star team.[4] He remained with this club through 1939. During World War II, Berry worked at the shipyards in the San Francisco/Oakland area and played on the A-26 Boilermakers, a club representing Black trade workers.[5] Berry appeared for various other teams in California including the Oakland Pierce Giants,[6] California Eagles, San Francisco Sea Lions, and Berkeley Tigers.[7] In 1951 Berry joined several other Negro Leaguers on the Brandon Greys and Elmwood Giants of the Man-Dak League in Canada.[8]
Seattle Steelheadsedit
When Abe Saperstein's Harlem Globetrotters baseball team joined the West Coast Negro Baseball Association and rebranded as the Seattle Steelheads in 1946, Berry was on the roster. On June 20, Berry fanned 13 hitters in a 10–0 win over the Portland Rosebuds in Vancouver.[9] Berry remained with the club when the league folded and the ballclub itself was merged into the Cincinnati Crescents later that fall.[10]
Major Leaguesedit
St. Louis Starsedit
Berry had 4 stints in the majors, first appearing with the St. Louis Stars of the Negro American League in 1937. In St. Louis, Berry made a lone appearance in league play, giving up 2 runs in 0.1 innings of relief.[11]
Atlanta Black Crackersedit
Berry made a single recorded appearance in 1938 with the Atlanta Black Crackers, starting 1 game and giving up 8 runs in 3.1 innings.[11]
Kansas City Monarchsedit
Berry received a brief trial on the Monarchs in 1934, pitching in an exhibition game against his former Thatcher's Colts team.[2] In 1947, Berry reunited with the Monarchs, where he primarily pitched as a reliever. In Kansas City, Berry logged 36 innings and 15 appearances, posting a 5.50 ERA.[11]
Cleveland Buckeyesedit
Berry made a single appearance in right field for the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1948, going hitless in 3 at bats.[11]
Pitching styleedit
Initially receiving the nickname "Cannonball" from newspaper writers for his high speed fastball,[4] Berry was also described as a "curve ball artist."[12] As he continued barnstorming and playing into his 40s, he was noted for his "stuff" deliveries.[7]
Early sources attribute some of Mike's career information to John Paul Berry, a first baseman who briefly appeared on the Monarchs barnstorming rosters in 1935, 1936, and 1945.[13][14]
Referencesedit
^Riley, James A. (1994). The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York: Carroll & Graf. ISBN0-7867-0959-6.
^ abDixon, Phil (2019). The Dizzy and Daffy Dean barnstorming tour : race, media, and America's national pastime. Lanham, Maryland. ISBN978-1-5381-2739-1. OCLC 1084695691.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Young, William A. (2016). J.L. Wilkinson and the Kansas City Monarchs : trailblazers in Black baseball. Jefferson, North Carolina. ISBN978-1-4766-6299-2. OCLC 948547804.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Satchel Paige and company : essays on the Kansas City Monarchs, their greatest star and the Negro leagues. Leslie A. Heaphy. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company. 2007. ISBN978-0-7864-3075-8. OCLC 137246014.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors) and Seamheads
January 01, 1970
cannonball, berry, timothy, mike, cannonball, berry, august, 1911, 1992, also, nicknamed, showboat, mike, american, baseball, pitcher, negro, leagues, pitcher, outfielderborn, 1911, august, 1911kansas, city, kansasdied, 1992, 1992, aged, oakland, californiabat. Timothy Mike Cannonball Berry August 23 1911 May 2 1992 1 also nicknamed Showboat Mike was an American baseball pitcher in the Negro leagues Cannonball BerryPitcher OutfielderBorn 1911 08 23 August 23 1911Kansas City KansasDied May 2 1992 1992 05 02 aged 80 Oakland CaliforniaBatted UnknownThrew RightNegro league baseball debut1937 for the St Louis StarsLast appearance1948 for the Cleveland BuckeyesTeams Negro Major Leagues St Louis Stars 1937 Atlanta Black Crackers 1938 Kansas City Monarchs 1947 Cleveland Buckeyes 1948 Contents 1 Early life 2 Playing career 2 1 Barnstorming Independent Minor Leagues 2 1 1 Seattle Steelheads 2 2 Major Leagues 2 2 1 St Louis Stars 2 2 2 Atlanta Black Crackers 2 2 3 Kansas City Monarchs 2 2 4 Cleveland Buckeyes 3 Pitching style 4 Death 5 Confusion with John Paul Berry 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editTimothy Mike Berry was born on August 23 1911 in Kansas City Kansas Playing career editBarnstorming Independent Minor Leagues edit Berry began his career with the Thatcher s Colts a Black semi pro team sponsored by a local Kansas City mortuary 2 A short time later he joined the barnstorming Van Dyke s Colored House of David in 1935 as a pitcher where he was often advertised as their ace hurler 3 On August 12 1937 Berry garnered attention in Vancouver British Columbia when he struck out 20 batters and allowed 1 hit in a 3 0 victory over a local all star team 4 He remained with this club through 1939 During World War II Berry worked at the shipyards in the San Francisco Oakland area and played on the A 26 Boilermakers a club representing Black trade workers 5 Berry appeared for various other teams in California including the Oakland Pierce Giants 6 California Eagles San Francisco Sea Lions and Berkeley Tigers 7 In 1951 Berry joined several other Negro Leaguers on the Brandon Greys and Elmwood Giants of the Man Dak League in Canada 8 Seattle Steelheads edit When Abe Saperstein s Harlem Globetrotters baseball team joined the West Coast Negro Baseball Association and rebranded as the Seattle Steelheads in 1946 Berry was on the roster On June 20 Berry fanned 13 hitters in a 10 0 win over the Portland Rosebuds in Vancouver 9 Berry remained with the club when the league folded and the ballclub itself was merged into the Cincinnati Crescents later that fall 10 Major Leagues edit St Louis Stars edit Berry had 4 stints in the majors first appearing with the St Louis Stars of the Negro American League in 1937 In St Louis Berry made a lone appearance in league play giving up 2 runs in 0 1 innings of relief 11 Atlanta Black Crackers edit Berry made a single recorded appearance in 1938 with the Atlanta Black Crackers starting 1 game and giving up 8 runs in 3 1 innings 11 Kansas City Monarchs edit Berry received a brief trial on the Monarchs in 1934 pitching in an exhibition game against his former Thatcher s Colts team 2 In 1947 Berry reunited with the Monarchs where he primarily pitched as a reliever In Kansas City Berry logged 36 innings and 15 appearances posting a 5 50 ERA 11 Cleveland Buckeyes edit Berry made a single appearance in right field for the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1948 going hitless in 3 at bats 11 Pitching style editInitially receiving the nickname Cannonball from newspaper writers for his high speed fastball 4 Berry was also described as a curve ball artist 12 As he continued barnstorming and playing into his 40s he was noted for his stuff deliveries 7 Death editMike Berry died on May 2 1992 in Oakland California Confusion with John Paul Berry editEarly sources attribute some of Mike s career information to John Paul Berry a first baseman who briefly appeared on the Monarchs barnstorming rosters in 1935 1936 and 1945 13 14 References edit Riley James A 1994 The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues New York Carroll amp Graf ISBN 0 7867 0959 6 a b Dixon Phil 2019 The Dizzy and Daffy Dean barnstorming tour race media and America s national pastime Lanham Maryland ISBN 978 1 5381 2739 1 OCLC 1084695691 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link 1936 Snapshots www attheplate com Retrieved 2021 09 09 a b Finlay Billy August 12 1937 Colored Pitcher Whiffs Twenty Local Leaguers The Vancouver Sun via Newspapers com Auther Ronald Mike Showboat Berry The Shadow Ball Express Retrieved 2021 09 10 5000 See Feller But Not Satchel Oakland Tribune October 29 1945 via Newspapers com a b Berkeley Tigers Will Bring Strong Team Here This Week The Times Standard Eureka CA May 1 1952 via Newspapers com 1951 Rosters www attheplate com Retrieved 2021 09 10 Steelheads Win The Tacoma News Tribune June 21 1946 via Newspapers com Klenard Dick October 14 1946 Crescents Wind Up Series By Copping Last 2 Games Honolulu Star Bulletin via Newspapers com a b c d Cannonball Berry Seamheads Profile seamheads com Retrieved January 7 2021 Triple Bill at Oaks Park Oakland Tribune August 17 1941 via Newspapers com Young William A 2016 J L Wilkinson and the Kansas City Monarchs trailblazers in Black baseball Jefferson North Carolina ISBN 978 1 4766 6299 2 OCLC 948547804 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Satchel Paige and company essays on the Kansas City Monarchs their greatest star and the Negro leagues Leslie A Heaphy Jefferson N C McFarland amp Company 2007 ISBN 978 0 7864 3075 8 OCLC 137246014 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors and Seamheads Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cannonball Berry amp oldid 1198194916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
