The team's original name was the Sioux City Iowa Negro Ghosts which played in 1932 or 1933, and the team was brought back in 1960 under a different name.[1][2] The original group was one of the first touring softball teams.[3] General manager Harry Fisher came up with the Sioux City Iowa Negro Ghosts when he thought of adding comedy to softball, shadowball after each game, and "top-notch softball at all times".[2] Shadowball was when the team played without a ball.[1] They also played the sport in slow-motion.[2]
As many as over a thousand people gathered to watch performances by the Iowa Colored Cowboys, in an atmosphere similar to a Harlem Globetrotters event.[1] The team had players who were also entertainers, who Fisher said was "a Ball-Circus, America's greatest summer sport show."[1] Several members used to be a part of the original team.[1] Player Marland Buckner, also known as "Showboat", was known for showmanship and "goofy" antics, but for also being one of the team's "greatest defensive first basemen"[4] Marland was known for his jokes, spinning his bat, and embarrassing the umpires. Red Strickland might have been the team's only white player and he was known for his hurling.[1] Other players included "Tree Top" Patrick, Rip Collins, "Popeye" Smith, and L. J. "Compound" Flavors.[5][2][4]
Later yearsedit
Due to a ban of blacks joining major sports leagues, such teams allowed them to participate and also helped the later desegregation of major league baseball.[1] It is unknown when the team disbanded.[1] In 2007, the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, Iowa, opened an exhibit titled "Shades of Greatness: Art Inspired by Negro Leagues Baseball" that included a booklet about the team.[6]
^ abcd"Sioux City Nine Due Tonight". Arizona Daily Sun. June 1, 1961 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Sioux City's Ghosts: The Legendary Fast-Pitch Softball Team That Changed The Face of Iowa Athletics". SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
^ ab"Showboat Buckner". The Gustine Standard. May 18, 1961 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Iowa Colored Cowboys To Play Here Tuesday". The Sault Star. July 19, 1961 – via Newspapers.com.
^"D.M. gets Negro Leagues traveling presentation". The Des Moines Register. June 17, 2007 – via Newspapers.com.
April 08, 2024
iowa, colored, cowboys, barnstorming, softball, team, consisting, mostly, black, players, that, played, during, 1960s, team, based, sioux, city, iowa, united, states, sportsoftballfounded1932, 1933folded1960sbased, insioux, city, iowa, usmanagerharry, fisherfo. The Iowa Colored Cowboys was a barnstorming softball team consisting mostly of black players that played during the 1960s The team was based in Sioux City Iowa United States 1 Iowa Colored CowboysSportSoftballFounded1932 1933Folded1960sBased inSioux City Iowa USManagerHarry FisherFounding and gameplay editThe team s original name was the Sioux City Iowa Negro Ghosts which played in 1932 or 1933 and the team was brought back in 1960 under a different name 1 2 The original group was one of the first touring softball teams 3 General manager Harry Fisher came up with the Sioux City Iowa Negro Ghosts when he thought of adding comedy to softball shadowball after each game and top notch softball at all times 2 Shadowball was when the team played without a ball 1 They also played the sport in slow motion 2 As many as over a thousand people gathered to watch performances by the Iowa Colored Cowboys in an atmosphere similar to a Harlem Globetrotters event 1 The team had players who were also entertainers who Fisher said was a Ball Circus America s greatest summer sport show 1 Several members used to be a part of the original team 1 Player Marland Buckner also known as Showboat was known for showmanship and goofy antics but for also being one of the team s greatest defensive first basemen 4 Marland was known for his jokes spinning his bat and embarrassing the umpires Red Strickland might have been the team s only white player and he was known for his hurling 1 Other players included Tree Top Patrick Rip Collins Popeye Smith and L J Compound Flavors 5 2 4 Later years editDue to a ban of blacks joining major sports leagues such teams allowed them to participate and also helped the later desegregation of major league baseball 1 It is unknown when the team disbanded 1 In 2007 the State Historical Museum in Des Moines Iowa opened an exhibit titled Shades of Greatness Art Inspired by Negro Leagues Baseball that included a booklet about the team 6 References edit a b c d e f g h i Vermaas Lori Spring 2001 One in a Million PDF Iowa Heritage Illustrated 82 1 49 Retrieved January 12 2023 a b c d Sioux City Nine Due Tonight Arizona Daily Sun June 1 1961 via Newspapers com Sioux City s Ghosts The Legendary Fast Pitch Softball Team That Changed The Face of Iowa Athletics SiouxlandProud Sioux City IA News Weather and Sports 2015 02 19 Retrieved 2023 01 23 a b Showboat Buckner The Gustine Standard May 18 1961 via Newspapers com Iowa Colored Cowboys To Play Here Tuesday The Sault Star July 19 1961 via Newspapers com D M gets Negro Leagues traveling presentation The Des Moines Register June 17 2007 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Iowa Colored Cowboys amp oldid 1150609454, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
