Spottswood Poles (1886-1962)

Q-4-2

Spottswood Poles, baseball player and decorated World War I soldier, was born in Winchester and lived near here. From 1906 until 1923, a period that largely predated the Negro Leagues, he starred on all-black teams such as the Harrisburg Giants, the Philadelphia Giants, and the New York Lincoln Giants. His speed, high batting average, and outstanding defensive play won him recognition as one of the best players of his era. Poles interrupted his career to serve in World War I. As a sergeant with the 369th U.S. Infantry, known as the Harlem Hellfighters, he was wounded in action during the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France. Poles died in 1962 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Department of Historic Resources, 2019

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References/Bibliographic Citation:

Winchester birth register, 1886 Spottswood Poles death certificate, 1962 Spottswood Poles military records (Fold3) https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/wwi/infantry/369thInf/369thInfMain.htm John B. Holway, “Poles, Spottswood,” African American National Biography Chicago Defender, 22 Feb., 1 March 1919. Harrisburg Telegraph, 22 April 1919. Kansas City Plaindealer, 16 April 1937, 25 Dec. 1942, 13 Aug. 1943, 17 June 1949. Layton Revel and Luis Munoz, “Forgotten Heroes: Spottswood Poles” (Center for Negro League Baseball Research, 2013). John Holway, “Spottswood Poles” http://research.sabr.org/journals/spottswood-poles “Spot Poles,” Negro Leagues Baseball Museum eMuseum https://www.nlbemuseum.com/history/players/poles.html William F. McNeil, Cool Papas and Double Duties: The All-Time Greats of the Negro Leagues (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2001).