Walter McCoy obit

 Negro League Star Walter McCoy Has Died

He was not on the list.

Walter McCoy grew up in San Diego and played for the Chicago American Giants and Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. He entered military service in July 1942 and earned an MVP award as a pitcher with an Army team.

Following his discharge in January 1945 he returned to the American Giants. He entered organized baseball in 1949, playing for Visalia of the California League. In 1950 he became the first black player to play for Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League. He later played for Tijuana of the Southwest International League and ended his professional playing days with Nuevo Laredo of the Mexican League in 1955.

McCoy later worked as a building contractor and coached his grandson’s Little League team. He was “drafted” by the San Diego Padres in the Negro Leagues Player Draft, held prior to the Major League draft at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on June 5, 2008. Each Major League club drafted a surviving former Negro Leagues player, who represented every player who did not have the opportunity to play baseball in the major leagues.

Baseball Career Highlights:

"Twice in the 1945 season, I trapped Jackie Robinson off third base. Once during a spring training game, I walked straight toward him and tagged him out coming from the mound. The other time was at a game in Comiskey Park. One year, I pitched 11 complete games of the 20 games I started. This record was second only to Gentry Jessup, who started 28 games. My rookie year, I compiled a 9-6 record by striking out 95 of the 475 batters I faced. In a game against the Birmingham Black Barons (1946), I struck out 21 batters."

"In 1948 while playing in the Mexican Winter League for Cuidad Obregon, I set a league pitching record by winning 11 consecutive games. During this 11-game winning streak, I twice defeated the New York Yankees' Whitey Ford. From 1946-1948, 1 played with Satchel Paige's All Stars and frequently played against Bob Feller's All-Stars. In 1950, I became the first black player to play for Sacramento Solons in the AAA Pacific Coast League."

Professional/Personal Accomplishments:

"I have been a building contractor for more than 40 years. In 1996-1997, I played on a 30-year and older baseball team with my sons and was chosen for the all-star team. From 1997 99, I managed and coached my grandson's little league team; my daughter was my assistant coach."

Awards, Honors, Titles, Championships,

Schools, Colleges:

• U.S. Army's MVP Award (while pitching on the special services

   team, July 1942 - January 1945)