Felton Snow

Felton "Skipper" Snow (October 23, 1905 – March 16, 1974) was a Negro leagues professional baseball player who played for the Nashville Elite Giants that later became the Columbus Elite Giants, the Washington Elite Giants, and the Baltimore Elite Giants. Snow played on the West Squad in the East-West All-Star Games of 1935 and 1936. In 1940, he became a player-manager for the Baltimore Elite Giants.

Felton Snow
Third base
Born: October 23, 1905 Oxford, Alabama
Died: March 16, 1974 (aged 68) Louisville, Kentucky
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Negro league baseball debut
1931, for the Louisville White Sox
Last appearance
1947, for the Baltimore Elite Giants
Teams
As player Louisville White Sox (1931) Louisville Black Caps (1932) Nashville Elite Giants (1933–34) Columbus Elite Giants (1935) Washington Elite Giants (1936–37) Baltimore Elite Giants (1938–47) As manager Baltimore Elite Giants (1939–42, 1944–47)

Snow was born in Oxford, Alabama in 1905 and moved to Louisville, Kentucky as a youngster. In 1929, he began playing for different Louisville ballclubs and eventually joined Tom Wilson's Nashville Elites. Snow was known as a solid hitter, and a good fielder and baserunner. Eventually, Snow became the Elite Giants' standout third baseman. He batted .301 in 1939 and played in two Negro league All-Star games. In the 1935 All-Star game, he batted .670. His 1936 West All-Star team included such stars as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell.

During the 1940s he did double duty by managing and playing for the Baltimore Elite Giants. In seven seasons as player-manager he batted .333, .227, .269, .200, .270, .245, and .306. Snow retired from baseball in 1950 with over 21 years of playing time.

In retirement, Snow returned to Louisville and worked for the local armory. Following a work injury, he took a job at the Hubbard's Lane Barber Shop where he worked until his death in 1974 at the age of 69.

Since 1987, there has been a Felton Snow baseball team in the St. Matthews, Kentucky Little League Baseball program.

Further reading

For more details on this topic, see:

• James A. Riley, The Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues, 1994, ISBN 0-7867-0959-6
• Donn Rogosin, Invisible Men, 1983, ISBN 1-56836-085-1
• John Holway, Voices from the Great Black Baseball Leagues, 1975 ISBN 0-396-07124-4
• Robert Peterson, Only the Ball was White, 1970, ISBN 0-07-049599-8

External links

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