Roy Partlow

A left handed pitcher of great strength whose hitting kept the scouts on the edge of their seats, he was the third black signed in 1946 by Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In order, Rickey signed Jackie Robinson, John Wright and Mr. Partlow. They were added to the roster of the Royals, his International League farm club in Montreal. It was about that time that the expansive Rickey signed Don Newcomb.Though Mr. Partlow quickly proved himself, maintaining his winning ways with Montreal through the 1949 season, he was left behind when the Dodgers called up Robinson. He waited patiently, but the call never came to play with the Dodgers. His widow and his children recall the period without bitterness. They remember his conversations with the front office, the talk about "more seasoning" and about the question of his age (he was 33 when he was first signed), and the usual, "We'll move you when you're ready."Mr. Partlow, who was known as the strikeout king of Negro Leagues, was born in Washington, Ga., and educated in Cincinnati. He played there with the Cincinnati White Sox and the Cincinnati Tigers before joining the Homestead Grays.The hitting of "Silent Roy," as he was known, was as powerful as his pitching. He took the Puerto Rican Winter League honors in 1940 with a .443 average. And in 1942, he pitched a no-hitter against Chicago's American Giants.He was playing for the Homestead Grays when World War II forced him from the diamond. He served in the Army and, at war's end, joined the Philadelphia Stars. It was 1945 and he had a good year. He participated in 17 games, winning nine, losing four and leading the National Negro League in strikeouts - 83. He caught Rickey's eye in a game at Ebbets Field between the all-stars of the National League and the National Negro League when he relieved Newcomb. Coming to the mound in the third inning, he was nicked for a hit by the first man he faced, Frank McCormick, who later joined the Phillies.But that was the last hit. He struck out Hal Gregg, Eddie Stanky and Goodie Rosen in one inning. He left the game in the eighth to give another pitcher a chance to show his stuff.Rickey signed him at the first opportunity.Sportswriters of the day who had watched the pitching duels that developed on occasion between Mr. Partlow and Sachel Paige in the Negro leagues applauded Rickey's move. They recognized his potential."Silent Roy" enjoyed the play in Montreal until 1949. Then he decided to rejoin the Homestead Grays. The Grays were delighted to have him. He played for them for an additional four seasons and played in the Caribbean league during the winters.Then he gave it all up and went to work for the American Container Corp. He worked there until he retired.In Bums, the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Roy Campanella offered a to- the-point assessment of Mr. Partlow. "No one," he said, "could beat Roy in pitching when he was in the mood.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy Partlow; his daughters, Doris Kitt, Brenda Williams, Anita Parker, Sharon Speller, Michele Jamison, and Debra; 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren..[2]

• Negro league baseball statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Negro leagues)

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Venezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics