Speed Whatley

David Samuel Whatley (November 10, 1914 – March 13, 1961), nicknamed "Speed" and "Hammer Man", was an American Negro league outfielder in the 1930s and 1940s.

Not to be confused with David Whatley.
Speed Whatley
Outfielder
Born: (1914-11-10)November 10, 1914
Griffin, Georgia
Died: March 13, 1961(1961-03-13) (aged 46)
Oakland, California
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Negro league baseball debut
1937, for the Birmingham Black Barons
Last appearance
1944, for the New York Black Yankees
Teams

A native of Griffin, Georgia, Whatley made his Negro leagues debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1937, leading the Negro American League in batting average with a .428 mark. He played for the Homestead Grays from 1939 to 1942,[1] then served in the United States Army during World War II.[2][3] He returned to the Grays during their 1944 Negro World Series championship season, but finished the season with the New York Black Yankees.[4] Whatley died in Oakland, California in 1961 at age 46.

References
  1. "David Whatley". seamheads.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  2. "Negro Leaguers Who Served With The Armed Forces in WWII". baseballinwartime.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  3. Gary Ashwill (July 25, 2017). "The Hammer Man". Agate Type. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  4. "1944 Homestead Grays". seamheads.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.


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