Senate Concurrent Resolution 547

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE POSTHUMOUS INDUCTION OF LEGENDARY BASEBALL PITCHER BILL FOSTER INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2003.

WHEREAS, the Jackson Touchdown Club and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled the Class of 2003, which features the Posthumous Induction of Bill Foster, famed Negro League Baseball Pitcher from Alcorn A & M (now Alcorn State), who is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, born in Calvert, Texas, Bill Foster was raised in Rodney, Mississippi, and is the half-brother of Hall of Fame founder Rube Foster; and

WHEREAS, Bill signed with the Memphis Red Sox in 1923, but Rube had him traded to the Chicago American Giants, where he became a reluctant star left-handed pitcher; he pitched in the Negro Leagues for 15 seasons with the Memphis Red Sox, Chicago American Giants, Birmingham Black Barons, Homestead Grays, Kansas City Monarchs, Cole's Chicago American Giants and the Pittsburgh Crawfords; and

WHEREAS, he compiled a career record of 137-62 with 734 strikeouts and 34 shutouts plus a 6-1 mark against white major league all-stars in a barnstorming tour; he led the Chicago American Giants to pennants in 1926, 1927 and 1933, including the 1926 Black World Series Championship; and

WHEREAS, Bill reportedly won 80 games during the 1926 and 1927 seasons with 26 consecutive victories in 1926 against all levels of competition; he out dueled rival pitcher and fellow Baseball Hall of Fame member Satchel Paige in several encounters; he was teammate of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame member "Cool Papa" Bell and Josh Gibson, the legendary Negro Leagues home run hitting catcher; and

WHEREAS, as star of the 1933 and 1934 Negro Leagues East/West All-Star games, Bill Foster played at Commiskey Park in Chicago before huge crowds; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Foster served as Dean of Men and Head Baseball Coach at Alcorn A & M (now Alcorn State) from 1960-1970; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Foster passed away in 1978 in Lorman, Mississippi, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 1996; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the life and career of this outstanding athlete who has brought honor to his university and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the Posthumous Induction of legendary Negro League Baseball Pitcher Bill Foster into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2003.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented at induction ceremonies to be held on April 4, 2003, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.