The Charlotte Black Hornets were a Negro League baseball team in Charlotte. The team existed from the late 1910’s until possibly sometime in the mid 1950s. The Black Hornets had more money and manpower, and were a great team for their time. When you went to a Black Hornets game, it was a big community event. All kinds of food, welcoming people, dedicated fans, and great baseball action, were some of the things to take place back then.

 

However, the recording of Negro League Baseball history was somewhat ignored for lesser known Negro League ball clubs back then, which means things like photos, stats, etc.. may be harder to come across.

 

The owner of the Brown Bees (or one of the owners) was Pringle Ferguson. Fred Kemp promoted Black Hornets games in the local newspaper. Some of the Black Hornets' opponents were the Goshen Red Wings, Charlotte Red Sox, and even the House of David played against the Black Hornets once in the 1940s.

 

Back in the old days of baseball, it was common for players to have a nickname that they went by.  “Sue” Prim Hall, Richard “Red” Stewart, and “Sloppy” Jack Lowery, were some of the nicknames on the Brown Bees many rosters over the years.

(above)

Charlotte Observer video with family of Samuel Douglas and Pringle Ferguson

talking about what it was like to attend a Charlotte Black Hornets game.

 

 

Images from left to right:

 

1934 Black Hornets team photo

- Charlotte Observer photo

 

1946 Black Hornets players and team bus

- 1980s Burlington Daily Times photo

 

Black Hornets owner

Pringle Ferguson

- Charlotte Observer photo

 

1929 player

Charles Parks

- Newark Eagles photo

 

1940 player 

William Davis

- Goshen Red wings photo

 

1944 player and 1946 manager 

Melvin "Slick" Coleman

- 1940 Miami Ethiopian Clowns photo

 

1946 manager 

Samuel Douglas

- Charlotte Observer photo

 

1946 player 

Jesse Sandle

- 1980s Burlington Daily Times photo

 

1947 player 

James Pinckney Tillman Sr.

- 2008 gazette.net photo

 

1950 - 1951 player

James "Willie" Sheelor

- Memphis Red Sox photo

 

1956 player

Carl Edward "Satch" Forney

- Indianapolis Clowns photo

 

confirmed league(s) that the Black Hornets played in:

 

Negro Southern League

1946

 

Negro Carolina League

1947

 

 

Found Black Hornets player names:

 

Issac "Ike" Glover -- 19??

 

______ Brown -- 1929

______ Howard -- 1929

Charles Parks -- 1929

 

 

______ Archer -- 1934

______ Avery -- 1934

______ Davis -- 1934

Son Foots -- 1934

P. Greer -- 1934

Stafford Neal -- 1934

Wright Wallace -- 1934?

 

 

Edward "Pete" Sims -- 1936

 

 

Edward "Pete" Sims -- 1937

 

 

Edward "Pete" Sims -- 1938

 

 

Edward "Pete" Sims -- 1939

 

 

William Davis -- 1940

Edward "Pete" Sims -- 1940

 

 

Richard J. Cureton -- 1941

 

 

______ Barnes -- 1944

______ Clawson -- 1944

"Butch" Davis -- 1944

Melvin "Slick" Coleman -- 1944

______ Foots -- 1944

"Sue" Prim Hall -- 1944

"Sloppy" Jack Lowery -- 1944

______ Robinson -- 1944

 

 

______ Prannon -- 1945

Fate Sims -- 1945

______ Springs -- 1945

 

 

______ Alexander -- 1946

Willie Brannon -- 1946

Nat Caldwell -- 1946

Ben Camel -- 1946

David Campbell -- 1946

______ Davis -- 1946

______ Grier -- 1946

"Sue" Prim Hall -- 1946

Charlie Harris -- 1946

______ Herrion -- 1946

______ Johnson -- 1946

______ Johnson -- 1946

Willie Johnson -- 1946

Graham Johns(t)on -- 1946

Mackey -- 1946

Auburn Nelson -- 1946

John Sadler -- 1946

Jesse T. Sandle -- 1946

Fate Sims -- 1946

Richard "Red" Stewart -- 1946

Will Thompson -- 1946

______ Wallace -- 1946

Tommie Woods -- 1946

 

 

James Pinckney Tillman Sr. -- 1947

 

 

Fate Sims -- 1950

James "Willie" Sheelor -- 1950

 

 

James "Willie" Sheelor -- 1951

 

 

______ Davis -- 1952

 

 

Lafayette "Larry" Stubbs -- 1953

 

 

Carl Edward "Satch" Forney -- 1956