Pete Willett
Infielder
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Negro league baseball debut
1923, for the Buffalo Colored Giants
Last appearance
1928, for the Cleveland Tigers
Teams

James R. "Pete" Willett[1] was an American athlete who played baseball as an infielder in the Negro leagues and basketball. He played baseball with several teams from 1923 to 1928.[2]

Athletic career

Willett attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and also played football, basketball and ran track for Wilberforce University in 1922 to 1924.[3][4][5][6][7]

In 1923, Willett played baseball with the Buffalo Colored Giants,[8] and also played with the Lincoln Giants of the Eastern Colored League.[9] He spent time with the independent Dayton Marcos in 1924, before playing with the Cleveland Browns.[2] In June 1925, he was acquired by the Homestead Grays to fill in for injured players.[10] In September 1925, he played with the Pullman Colored Giants of Buffalo.[11] In 1926, he saw time with the Brown's Stars of Youngstown, Ohio,[12] and the Cleveland Elites.[13] Willett later played in 25 recorded games with the Cleveland Tigers of the Negro National League in 1928.[14] He also appeared with the Cleveland Oaks and Cleveland Pyramids in 1928.[15][16]

Outside of baseball, he captained and coached the Benjee Drugs basketball team in 1925 and 1926.[1][7] Willett also played with the Cleveland Elks in 1926 and 1927,[17][18] and the Loendi Big Five in 1927 and 1928.[19]

On February 10, 1927, Willett dislocated his knee and two other Elks players were seriously injured after their car went into a ditch and overturned multiple times near London, Ohio.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 C. W. Moorehead (4 February 1926). "Sport News". The Buffalo American. p. 3. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 Riley, James A. (1994). The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0959-6.
  3. ↑ "Wilberforce Ready for Simmons Tilt". Dayton Daily News. October 20, 1922. p. 44. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Three "Triple Threat" Men at Wilberforce". The New York Age. October 13, 1923. p. 7. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "West Va. Institute Five Defeats Wilberforce Team". Pittsburgh Courier. March 15, 1924. p. 6. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Baseball, Track and Football Men Report". Pittsburgh Courier. April 5, 1924. p. 11. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Cleveland to Have Speedy Floor Team". Pittsburgh Courier. October 17, 1925. p. 12. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Baseball Tonight". The Buffalo Commercial. July 19, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "8,000 Howling Fans See Lincoln Giants Take Two Games From Hilldale Nine". The New York Age. August 11, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Homestead Grays Obtain Infielder". Pittsburgh Courier. June 27, 1925. p. 12. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Good Twirlers of Colored Giants to Face Bisons". Buffalo Courier. September 3, 1925. p. 11. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ William G. Nunn (28 August 1926). "Diamond Dope". Pittsburgh Courier. p. 15. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Cleveland Team To Play Four Games at Stadium" (PDF). Buffalo Evening News. Fultonhistory.com. July 2, 1926. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Pete Willett". seamheads.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Cleveland Oaks Look Good Now" (PDF). Pittsburgh Courier. Fultonhistory.com. March 10, 1928. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Cleveland Pyramids Open to Good Clubs" (PDF). Pittsburgh Courier. Fultonhistory.com. April 21, 1928. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Cleveland Elks Beat Midlands". Pittsburgh Courier. December 11, 1926. p. 14. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Basketball Players Injured". The Daily Advocate. February 10, 1927. p. 9. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Cumberland Posey (11 February 1928). "The Sportive Realm". Pittsburgh Courier. p. 17. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Three Players Injured". The Lima News. February 11, 1927. p. 22. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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