aCentury

ofChange

African American History
in Pennsylvania:
the 20th Century

The items below are small articles and bits and pieces of data that are interesting but do not justify the creation of an entirely separate page.  We call them TNT, for "this 'n' that."

James Buster "Buzz" Clarkson, Negro Leagues Star

The following proclamation pays homage to Negro Leagues Baseball player and star James Buster Clarkson, of Pittsburgh Crawfords fame.  It was originally published in Windows to Westmoreland, a county newsletter.

Rededication Of The Buster Clarkson Ball Field – Jeannette

Whereas, James Buster Clarkson was born on March 13, 1918, in Hopkins, South Carolina, who at the age of six moved to Jeannette, Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Buster Clarkson became a Negro League player in 1937 as a right- handed power hitter who played all infield positions for the Pittsburgh Crawfords, was a two-time All-Star (1940 and 1949) and served his country in the Army during World War II from 1943-1945, before finally making it to the Major Leagues in 1952 with the Boston Braves; and
Whereas, Buster Clarkson ended his 14-year career in 1952 with a .359 lifetime batting average and was inducted into the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame on May 19, 1974. James spent his remaining time living and working in Jeannette at the American Saint-Gobain Glass Factory, until his death on January 18, 1989; and
Whereas, Buster Clarkson is an important historical figure in the community of Jeannette, and in 1990 a baseball field in West Jeannette was named in his honor; and
Whereas, the Greensburg/Jeannette Branch of the NAACP will be holding a "Blast From the Past" Arts and Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 26, 2003, from 11:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., that will feature the rededication of the Buster Clarkson Ball Field. 
Therefore, we, the Commissioners of the County of Westmoreland, Tom Balya, Tom Ceraso, and P. Scott Conner, do hereby recognize the Greensburg/Jeannette Branch of the NAACP in honoring this celebrated Westmoreland County resident for his achievements in baseball and the community.

In Witness Thereof, we have hereunto set our hands and caused the Seal of the County to be affixed this 24th day of July 2003.

Source: Proclamation approved at the July 24, 2003 Commissioners’ Public Meeting.  Window to Westmoreland, August 1, 2003, Vol. 2, issue 16.  Published at the Westmoreland County Courthouse, Greensburg, PA 15601)

James Buster "Buzz" Clarkson is buried in the Brush Creek Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland County, PA.

sources

Windows to Westmoreland: August 1, 2003, Greensburg, PA.

more info

Historic Baseball, Clarkson

Baseball-Reference, Clarkson

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