While working on something else entirely today, I ran across some items in the Chicago Whip that shed light on a couple of minor mysteries. In his Complete Book, John Holway writes that the Knoxville Giants, champions of the 1920 Negro Southern League, challenged the NNL champion Chicago American Giants to a playoff, “but nothing came of it” (p. 146). And Riley’s Biographical Encyclopedia has an entry on a “One-wing Maddox” who played for the 1923 Birmingham Black Barons, of whom he only says that he carried “an unusual nickname.” Patrick Rock, in his 1923 Negro National League Yearbook, goes into much more detail (or as much as the available sources would allow):
Of “One-Wing” Maddox we know very little, including his first name. What specific disability provided cause for his unique nickname is likewise unknown, but that nickname makes it impossible to ignore him. He was a weak hitter, had no power, but pitched a scoreless inning, as well as covering the outfield well. Who this man was remains a mystery today.
In the Chicago Whip (October 2, 1920) I found this:
Still no first name, but here we do have confirmation that (as it’s pretty clear Patrick suspected) “One-Wing” referred to Maddox’s one-armed condition. Also, the championship series between the two Negro League pennant winners of 1920 did go forward, almost immediately upon the close of the NNL season in September. (Although it took place in Birmingham, not Knoxville.) “Starnes,” the Knoxville right fielder, is very likely Hall of Famer Turkey Stearnes. Riley and The Negro Leagues Book has Stearnes with the Nashville Elite Giants in 1920, but not Knoxville.
In the neighboring column, another item appears:
It seems that Chicago swept the series, three games to none, though Maddox knocked “a terrific triple to deep left,” and “made two pretty catches in center.”
By the way: I promise to get back on the story of the 25th Infantry, St. Louis Giants, and Heavy/Wise/Bubbles Johnson tomorrow.
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