
NEGRO LEAGUES CENTENNIAL TEAM BOBBLEHEAD SERIES: Norman "Turkey" Stearnes

Item Number: | 2076449 |
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Item Description
The Negro League Centennial Team (1920-2020) is comprised of 30 of the greatest African-American and Cuban players from 1895-1947 plus a manager and a team owner. Each individual is depicted on a baseball-shaped base with replica of Kansas City's Paseo YMCA, the site where the Negro National League was organized on February 13th, 1920. The bobbleheads are officially licensed by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and approved by the families when applicable. Each player is individually numbered to only 2,020. This bobblehead is of Norman "Turkey" Stearnes, a member of the Detroit Stars. Stearnes was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.
Stearnes, a quiet man, never garnered the attention of his famous contemporaries. Besides being a brilliant outfielder, Stearnes hit .425 in 1930 and batted consistently over .350 during the heart of his career. He is first in documented Negro Leagues' history in career home runs with 187 ahead of Josh Gibson (175) and Oscar Charleston (172), though further research will add to these numbers. While the totals may seem low, a typical Negro League season was only 40 - 60 games. The players might play as many as 150 - 200 games per year including league games, exhibitions and playing in Latin America over the winter. Typically, the net proceeds of the gate were split between the teams with the winner taking 60%.
Stearnes, a quiet man, never garnered the attention of his famous contemporaries. Besides being a brilliant outfielder, Stearnes hit .425 in 1930 and batted consistently over .350 during the heart of his career. He is first in documented Negro Leagues' history in career home runs with 187 ahead of Josh Gibson (175) and Oscar Charleston (172), though further research will add to these numbers. While the totals may seem low, a typical Negro League season was only 40 - 60 games. The players might play as many as 150 - 200 games per year including league games, exhibitions and playing in Latin America over the winter. Typically, the net proceeds of the gate were split between the teams with the winner taking 60%.