William Allen "Frank" Hudson (June 2, 1918 – September 27, 1943) was an American Negro league outfielder, first baseman and pitcher who played between 1937 and 1942.

Willie Hudson
Outfielder / First baseman / Pitcher
Born: (1918-06-02)June 2, 1918
Devereux, Georgia
Died: September 27, 1943(1943-09-27) (aged 25)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Negro league baseball debut
1937, for the Cincinnati Tigers
Last appearance
1942, for the Chicago American Giants
Teams

Career

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A native of Devereux, Georgia, Hudson began his career playing sandlot ball in Cincinnati.[1] He joined the Cincinnati Tigers in 1937[2] and spent 1938 with the Cincinnati White Sox.[3]

Hudson joined the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League in 1939. He went on to play three seasons with the Chicago American Giants from 1940 to 1942, and was selected to play in the East–West All-Star Game in 1941.[4][5] That season, Chicago manager Candy Jim Taylor regarded Hudson as the best left-handed pitching prospect since Bill Foster.[6] While with the American Giants, he earned the moniker "Rubber Arm" for his ability to extend his body for errant throws at first base.[7]

Hudson died in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1943 at age 25.

References

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  1. ^ "Oilers to Play Chicago Giants". (The Times) Hammond, Indiana). July 15, 1940. p. 10. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Riley, James A. (1994). The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0959-6.
  3. ^ "Bay Parkways Get Ready for Chicago Giants". Brooklyn Citizen. August 22, 1941. p. 6. Retrieved January 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Frank Hudson". seamheads.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Frank Hudson". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "American Giants To Start The Season With a Stronger Team Than in 1940". Detroit Tribune. May 10, 1940. p. 8. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Giants Battle 210 Club Here". (The Times) Hammond, Indiana). September 13, 1940. p. 53. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
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