William Henry Francis (February 28, 1879 – January 26, 1942) was a Negro leaguesThird baseman for a few years before the founding of the first Negro National League, and in its first few seasons.
He was playing for the Philadelphia Giants at the age of 27 years in 1906, and continued with that team until 1910, playing Winter Ball for the Matanzas team in Cuba in 1908 and 1909.
The 1912 Lincoln Giants
Francis went to the Leland Giants in 1911 and stayed there for three seasons.[2] He went back to Cuba, playing for Club Fé in 1912-1913.
During a 1914 four-game series against the Chicago Giants, sportswriter Cary B. Lewis said of Francis, "Although short, Francis runs like a deer."[3] Sources show Lewis stood 5 foot, 5 inches tall.
In 1918, 39 year-old Francis registered for the WWI Draft. He lists his current occupation as "Laborer" for the Illinois Plating Company on Randolph Street in Chicago, Illinois. He lists his nearest relative as Mamie Francis.[8]
When Francis left Chicago in 1919, he played the rest of the season for the Detroit Stars.
The Hilldale Club in 1921
At the forming of the first Negro National League, the 41-year-old Francis found himself on the Hilldale Club where he would also manage the team.
^"Philadelphia Giants Subdue Leland Giants" Indianapolis Freeman, Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday, August 21, 1909, Page 7, Columns 3 and 4
^ ab"Lincoln Giants Win First Two Games in Championship Series" Indianapolis Freeman, Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday, August 2, 1913, Page 4, Columns 3 and 4
^ ab"American Giants Win Fourth Straight Game" Indianapolis Freeman, Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday, May 23, 1914, Page 4, Column 4 and 5
^"Palm Beach Weekly Review" Indianapolis Freeman, Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday, February 19, 1916, Page 5, Columns 5 to 7
^"Hilldale Wins Final" Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Friday, August 8, 1919, Page 14, Column 4
^"Cockrell Enters Hall of Fame" Cleveland Gazette, Cleveland, Ohio, Saturday, July 1, 1922, Page 2, Column 3
^"The Browns on a Rampage" The Gazette, Cleveland, Ohio, Saturday, May 3, 1925, Page 1, Columns 3 and 4
^"WWI Draft Registration Card for William Francis" Local Board Division 4, Chicago, Illinois, September 12, 1918
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference and Baseball-Reference Black Baseball stats and Seamheads
January 01, 1970
william, francis, baseball, william, henry, francis, february, 1879, january, 1942, negro, leagues, third, baseman, years, before, founding, first, negro, national, league, first, seasons, bill, francisthird, baseman, managerborn, 1879, february, 1879philadelp. William Henry Francis February 28 1879 January 26 1942 was a Negro leagues Third baseman for a few years before the founding of the first Negro National League and in its first few seasons Bill FrancisThird baseman ManagerBorn 1879 02 28 February 28 1879Philadelphia PennsylvaniaDied January 26 1942 1942 01 26 aged 62 Chicago IllinoisBatted RightThrew Rightdebut1906 for the Philadelphia GiantsLast appearance1925 for the Chicago American GiantsTeamsPhiladelphia Giants 1906 1910 1 Matanzas 1908 1909 New York Lincoln Giants 1911 1913 2 Club Fe 1912 1913 Chicago American Giants 1914 1919 1925 3 Breakers Hotel 1915 1916 4 Detroit Stars 1919 5 Hilldale Club 1920 1922 6 Atlantic City Bacharach Giants 1923 Cleveland Browns 1924 7 He was playing for the Philadelphia Giants at the age of 27 years in 1906 and continued with that team until 1910 playing Winter Ball for the Matanzas team in Cuba in 1908 and 1909 The 1912 Lincoln Giants Francis went to the Leland Giants in 1911 and stayed there for three seasons 2 He went back to Cuba playing for Club Fe in 1912 1913 During a 1914 four game series against the Chicago Giants sportswriter Cary B Lewis said of Francis Although short Francis runs like a deer 3 Sources show Lewis stood 5 foot 5 inches tall In 1918 39 year old Francis registered for the WWI Draft He lists his current occupation as Laborer for the Illinois Plating Company on Randolph Street in Chicago Illinois He lists his nearest relative as Mamie Francis 8 When Francis left Chicago in 1919 he played the rest of the season for the Detroit Stars The Hilldale Club in 1921 At the forming of the first Negro National League the 41 year old Francis found himself on the Hilldale Club where he would also manage the team Francis died in Chicago Illinois at the age of 62 He is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island Illinois References edit Philadelphia Giants Subdue Leland Giants Indianapolis Freeman Indianapolis Indiana Saturday August 21 1909 Page 7 Columns 3 and 4 a b Lincoln Giants Win First Two Games in Championship Series Indianapolis Freeman Indianapolis Indiana Saturday August 2 1913 Page 4 Columns 3 and 4 a b American Giants Win Fourth Straight Game Indianapolis Freeman Indianapolis Indiana Saturday May 23 1914 Page 4 Column 4 and 5 Palm Beach Weekly Review Indianapolis Freeman Indianapolis Indiana Saturday February 19 1916 Page 5 Columns 5 to 7 Hilldale Wins Final Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia Pennsylvania Friday August 8 1919 Page 14 Column 4 Cockrell Enters Hall of Fame Cleveland Gazette Cleveland Ohio Saturday July 1 1922 Page 2 Column 3 The Browns on a Rampage The Gazette Cleveland Ohio Saturday May 3 1925 Page 1 Columns 3 and 4 WWI Draft Registration Card for William Francis Local Board Division 4 Chicago Illinois September 12 1918External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference and Baseball Reference Black Baseball stats and Seamheads Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Francis baseball amp oldid 1187593907, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
