Books and articles about Bill Monroe

Monroe was a star infielder during black baseball's early years. An exciting second baseman, he played regularly for top teams, including the Philadelphia Giants (1903-06), losers of the 1903 Black World Series, winners of the 1904 BWS, and the top black club in the East in 1905 and 1906. His stint with the Brooklyn Royal Giants (1906-10) included the 1909 Eastern title. He was with Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants when they claimed the 1913 and 1914 black Western crowns. Chicago then swept Monroe's former Brooklyn team in four straight in the 1914 BWS. Monroe paced a 7-6 third game victory with four hits.

A strong hitter, Monroe usually hit in the middle of the order on strong clubs. He batted .333 in the 1907-08 Cuban Winter League. Rube Foster and Philadelphia Giants manager Sol White considered Monroe capable of stardom in the white major leagues. John McGraw of the New York Giants echoed their sentiments. Monroe died at the age of 38. (MFK)