Jessie was a big sports fan. She played basketball, she liked watching football, and she loved going to baseball games. On the last two Fridays in April of 1910, she mentions going with some friends to the ballgame at Red Elm Park (later renamed Russwood Park). Memphis has had a minor league baseball team since 1877. When Jessie went to see them in 1910, it was the Memphis Turtles, part of the Southern Association. Previously the team was the Memphis Egyptians. The Turtles played in Memphis from 1909-1911. After that and for most of the years until 1997, the Memphis Chickasaws or “Chicks” played in the Southern League. From 1920 to 1950 the Memphis Red Sox played as part of the Southern Negro League and the Negro National League.
*Information on minor league teams in Memphis is from Baseball-reference.com.
*Photo of Russwood Park from the Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis.
Trying to fine out ifmy grandfather played on league his name was LEE KIRBY FUL NAMR WAS LEONIDAS KIRBY
Hi Nancy. I couldn’t find anything about Leonidas Kirby being a member of a Southern League baseball team. When was your grandfather born?
JA