Hattiesburg Black Sox

The Hattiesburg Black Sox are a semi-professional baseball team located in historic Palmers Crossing, right outside of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The team started in 1941 by Milton Barnes as part of the Independent Negro League. Favorites such as Oil Can Boyd and Satchel Paige graced the field during this time. Games were held on Sundays – beginning on Easter Sunday and ending around Labor Day. Games always started at 3:00 so no one had to miss church. Once you turned down Hattiesburg Avenue, you could hear the blues playing and the bets being made. It was not until the mid-80s that Barnes made the decision to integrate the team. In 1993, Barnes made a call to Trey Aby, who at the time was a catcher with William Carey College.

After years of playing for the Sox, Barnes decided it was time to pass the torch to Aby. In 2003, Aby purchased the Hattiesburg Black Sox for an undisclosed amount. During the first season under Aby's leadership, the team had an outstanding record of 41-7, but finished last in the NSPBA World Series held in Evansville, Indiana. In 2004, the Sox went 57-6 and came in runner-up at the NSPBA World Series in Evansville, Indiana. In 2005, the Sox were 59-5, winning the NSPBA World Series. In 2006, the Black Sox finished 59-6, winning the Disney Classic held at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

In 2007, Hattiesburg Black Sox stepped it up, capturing various titles. The team won the 2007 MJMBL League - in early July.Then on July 28th, they won the ASPBA World Series (aluminum bat). One week later, the same guys won the NSPBA World Series (wood bat) thereby becoming the first team to win both a wood bat and aluminum bat title in the same year.

Some things have changed since 1941, the field is probably in a bit better shape and maybe the umpires are a little more fair to the opposing team, but much remains the same. Black Sox Park is a place unto itself. It is a place lost in time where you can pay $3 and spend an afternoon watching crazy, competitive baseball all the while drinking a cold beer, eating a fish sandwich and listening to the blues playing on the loudspeaker.

External links

* [http://www.eteamz.com/hattiesburgblacksox Team's website]

www.hattiesburgamerican.com, hattiesburgamerican.com/communities/stories/.../outlook2004/50590.html,hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?.../SPORTS/806140306 ,