Memphis Red Sox Night

The Memphis Red Sox was a Negro League baseball team founded in 1923 by J. B. Martin and Dr. B. B. Martin, brothers from a prominent African-American family in Memphis.

In 1920, the Martin brothers built Martin Stadium at Lewis Park on Iowa Avenue (now Crump Blvd) between Lauderdale and Driver/Cannovan (now Danny Thomas Blvd), making the Red Sox one of the few baseball clubs in the Negro League with their own ballpark. Most Negro League teams played in white team parks when the white teams were on the road.

The stadium was built from scratch, but not without resistance from the white supremacy establishment in Memphis under what was called the “Crump Machine.”

In 1937, the Memphis Red Sox were one of the eight founding members of the Negro American League, and even went on to win a title in 1938!

Not many Negro League teams had over 30 years of operation, but the Memphis Red Sox were one of them. The Red Sox weren’t goliaths of the Negro Leagues, but they did have their high points.

The Red Sox were able to send four players to the Major Leagues, including pitchers Dan Bankhead, Jehosie Heard and Marshall Bridges, who played for the Dodgers, Orioles and Cardinals, respectively, and first baseman Bob Boyd, who played for the White Sox and Orioles. Other Memphis Red Sox who were said to have Major League potential included Verdell Mathis, Marlin Carter, Joe Scott, Frank Pearson and Charley Pride, who would achieve fame as a country western singer.