Spottswood Poles by Fredrico, Part One

Fredrico is a Renaisance Man from Mechanicsburg, PA. He is a Mensa level musician, inventor, philosopher, griot, sage, and Negro League Baseball fan. This piece was written around 1998 for a Harrisburg Negro League event. In order to manage the article is broken into sections. Apologies to Fredrico.

Spottswood Poles was a great athlete and was called one of the four greatest black athletes of all time by famed actor, singer and athlete, Paul Robeson. Robeson also placed pugilists, Jack Johnson and Joe Louis, plus track star, Jesse Owens among the quartet of all-time superstars. Hall of Fame manager, John McGraw echoed Robeson’s sentiments when he placed Spottswood Poles among the all-time great outfielders in baseball history. Syd Pollock noted Negro League owner and excutive said that Oscar Charleston and Spottswood Poles were the two greatest outfielders in Negro League history.

Many in his time would compare and call him the black Ty Cobb, but the comparison to Cobb would have to end when they have left the ballfield. Cobb’s intensity on and off the diamond many have said came from almost a demonic driven desire, which catapulted him to the upper echelons of success both in baseball and in business. That same demonic driven desire would also burn compassion and gentility out of Cobb’s life to the point that his personal relationships with his wives, his children, many players and fans would be left in ashes.

Whatever liberties sportswriter Al Stump took in writing his book on Cobb and Hollywood in bringing it to the silver screen, there still seems to be very few admirable traits to be found in Ty Cobb’s life except his skill as a baseball player. I find it quite strange that advertising executives have decided to use Cobb’s image for the 1998 baseball season’s campaign for ESPN. In this day and age when there are many complaints about the lack of role models in the pool of sport’s heroes, wouldn’t it have been refreshing to see Spottswood Poles, who deserves the same acclaim as afforded to Cobb, be portrayed in a baseball promotion. I must admit that Ty Cobb was an awesome baseball player, but I feel that Spottswood Poles may very well have been his equal or even better!

From what I’ve gathered in my search for who Spottswood Poles was as a man, which in the end is more important than his playing skills, I’ve assimilated the following impressions: His intensity came from a love of life and a desire to do the right thing. He was a man of dignity and pride, but had understanding and compassion. He was a man who didn’t suffer fools gladly and expected maximum effort from those around him in whatever mutual endeavor. He was a man of honor, who despite suffering the throngs of racism, still went to do what he believed was his duty by serving in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 369th infantry in France during World War I.