Earlier this year, Major League Baseball finally integrated statistics from several Negro Leagues that existed prior to Jackie Robinson becoming the first black baseball player to open the door to the integration of MLB. Many may know the story of Meade County native PeeWee Reese's role in advocating for and supporting his teammate, Robinson, during that transition period. MLB's recognition of the Negro Leagues as official major leagues and incorporation of those players' stats into their official historical database, back in May of this year, rearranged many "all-time greatest" leaders for MLB across their statistical categories. One of those lists moved Meade County native Charles H. "Rucker" Blackwell into the Top 5 for best season batting average in the history of baseball. In 1921, Blackwell hit for a mindblowing .432 average, the fourth-best output in a season ever accomplished by any professional batter in the league's history.
Blackwell was born in Brandenburg on December 12, 1894. The southpaw went on to play for several different teams in the Negro League from 1915 to 1929. He debuted in 1915 with the West Baden Sprudels but predominantly played for the St. Louis Stars/Giants and the Indianapolis ABCs. He would also play for the Birmingham Black Barrons, Detroit Stars, Bacharach Giants and end his career with the Nashville Elite Giants. During the 1918 and 1919 seasons, Blackwell would miss out on most of the seasons after being drafted into service during World War I along with over a 100 other players from the league.
According to the Center for Negro League Baseball Research, "Charles Blackwell was an excellent contact hitter. He had an extraordinary eye for the ball and rarely struck out. Reportedly, he was an extremely disciplined hitter at the plate and had no problem waiting on his pitch to hit. In addition to hitting for average, he also hit for power. Defensively, Charles was an outfielder. He possessed outstanding speed, which gave him exceptional range in chasing down fly balls. Blackwell routinely robbed opposing hitters from an extra-base hit. He also possessed excellent speed on the base paths and was a very smart runner. Over his career, Charles got more than his fair share of stolen bases."
His prowess at the plate also has him now ranked in the Top 50 all-time greats in MLB history in several other categories, including tied at 22nd best on-base percentage ever at .502, 29th best on-base plus slugging percentage at 1.218, and 45th best slugging percentage at .716. Rucker was also an outstanding outfielder. While playing in the Negro League, Blackwell ranked near the top of the league in most all offensive and defensive statistics.
Blackwell passed away on April 22, 1935, in Proviso, Illinois, at the young age of 40. He is buried in the Cap Anderson Cemetery in Brandenburg with his father, Charles, and mother, Annie. His obituary read: “He was to baseball what the “killer” is to prize fighting, a dangerous slugger, who was dynamite to a pitcher every time he walked up to the plate. Not only was he a great natural hitter from the left side which enabled him to often connect for two homers a game, but he was nearly everything in baseball well – fielding, running the bases and outwitting his rivals.”
So, with the 2024 Major League Baseball Playoffs in full swing, let us not forget that Meade County is not just home to Hall of Fame Brooklyn Dodger PeeWee Reese but is also home to the man with the fourth-best batting average ever in the history of baseball, Charles H. "Rucker" Blackwell, who was a prolific player in his own right.
Comments