Sammy T. Hughes: The Problem with the Hall of Fame
As we head into the last days of 2020, I thought I’d share some of the drawings I did for my ill-fated Negro League Card Set. The bios will be bite-sized as it is taken from the text I wrote for the backs of the cards. I hope you enjoy these and I wish you and your families Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and the very best in the New Year!
The biggest problem with the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown is that Sammy T. Hughes isn’t in it. Throughout the 1930’s and 40’s, Hughes was the best second baseman in the Negro Leagues, and his solid hitting and expert baserunning skills made him the complete ballplayer. He excelled in the hit-and-run play and was a master of the bunt. With the exception of one season in Mexico, Hughes was a fanchise man, spending his entire career with the Elite Giants, moving with the team from Nashville to Columbus to Washington and Baltimore. He was voted to the East-West All-Star game five times, more than any other second baseman in Negro League history. In 1942, Hughes was considered one of the candidates to integrate baseball when the Pittsburgh Pirates invited him and teammate Roy Campanella to a tryout. A quiet and friendly man off the field, Hughes was instrumental in tutoring future Dodger star Junior Gilliam.
