Macon teen honors hometown Negro League baseball players

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Several former Negro League baseball players are being honored forever in Macon. One teen got the idea to honor them after realizing there wasn’t anything representing the players in town.

Time is precious, but you don’t have to tell that to Bob Scott.

“It’s so wonderful that I lived to get this old and to come back to this ball park and see what I see,” he said while laughing.

Nearly 70 years ago, Robert “Bob” Scott pitched in the Negro Leagues at one point at Luther Williams Field.

“I had that urge to see this ball field and I couldn’t wait to get here,” Bob said.

The dirt, the diamond, the dugouts — all memories of a career that saw history being made right before his very eyes; including a run-in with Jackie Robinson.

“Jackie came up to me and he said to me, ‘You’ve pitched for innings already, I’m sure you’ll want to pitch tomorrow night in Macon,” he said praising the legendary player.

Bob played for several teams including the New York Black Yankees.

“Baseball is a nice game, I tell you something. I love the game,” the 84-year-old said.

It’s a love shared by one quiet, shy yet determined Eagle Scout candidate. Gordon Smith, a high school baseball player himself, wanted to honor Bob and three others who were born in Macon and played in the Negro League.

He got the idea after visiting the Negro League museum in Kansas City, Missouri.

“It was amazing because you would see a lot of history and the people that played Negro League baseball being honored,” Gordon said.

Gordon raised more than $2,000 for four wall plaques with a brief history of each of the players born in Macon.

“That’s so wonderful to see the young man have the knowledge to do this,” Bob said.

An appreciation for a game shared by two guys separated by 70 years.

“Great to know that I can go in a good direction,” Gordon said.

“These things don’t come all the time. There’s a whole lot of good things that we can do in life, and I hope that the young people will get a urge to do the right thing,” Bob said about Gordon.

As the years pass, memories fade — but Gordon is making sure these players live on forever.

“It’s something that’s magic to me,” Bob said.

Macon-Bibb County leaders approved Gordon’s signs for Luther Williams Field. When Bob and Gordon met, it was the first time they’d ever done so. After talking, the two found out that somewhere down the line they’re cousins.

Gordon is honoring:

Marion “Sugar” Cain (b. February 4, 1914) – a right-handed hurler (pitcher) but doubled in the outfield. He started his career with the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and went on to the Brooklyn Royal Giants and the Oakland Larks.

Ernest Fann (b. July 24, 1943) – attended Ballard-Hudson High School and led his baseball team to state championships in 1961 and 1962. He was the catcher for John “Blue Moon” Odom, as well as a pitcher, and played with the Atlanta Black Crackers, and in Brunswick, Georgia, and in Daytona, Florida.

Lemuel Hawkins (b. October 2, 1895) – played for the Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago Giants, and Chicago American Giants, as a pitcher and first baseman. Hawkins was the first baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs during the 1924 Negro League World Series.

Robert “Bob” Scott (b. June 22, 1931) – was a pitcher for the Macon Braves and Macon Cardinals. He also played for the New York Black Yankees and Boston Blues. Finally in 1950, he played on the Jackie Robinson Barnstorming Team.