This game worn uniform belonged to and was worn by Hall of Fame shortstop Willie Wells during the 1944-45 Kansas City Royals California Winter League and barnstorming season. The uniform consists of both the jersey and pants.
St. Louis Stars 1924-1931
The Kansas City Royals baseball team was formed by Negro League pitching star Chet Brewer in 1943. Brewer played in the Negro Leagues from 1925-1948. He spent most of his career with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. When the Negro League season was over, Brewer would assemble an all-star team of Negro League players to form the Royals. The Kansas City Royals would play in the California Winter League and barnstorm on the West Coast and into Canada. The Royals played in the California Winter League for four seasons from 1943-1946. They won the league championship in 1945 and 1946. The team included Negro League greats: Cool Pappa Bell, Chet Brewer, Buck Leonard, Biz Mackey, Satchel Paige, Andy Porter, Jesse “Hoss” Walker, Willie Wells and Wild Bill Wright.
Willie Wells was one of the greatest shortstops in Negro League baseball history. He was a player who could truly do it all: he could hit for power, hit for average and fielded his defensive position at shortstop brilliantly. Over his Negro League career, Willie Wells played for the following teams:
| Austin Black Senators |
(1922-1923) |
|
Newark Eagles |
(1936-1939, 1942 & 1945) |
| San Antonio Black Aces |
(1923) |
|
Memphis Red Sox |
(1936-1939, 1942 & 1945) |
| St. Louis Stars |
(1924-1931) |
|
American Giants |
(1944) |
| Detroit Wolves |
(1932) |
|
New York Black Yankees |
(1945-1946) |
| Homestead Grays |
(1932) |
|
Baltimore Elite Giants |
(1946) |
| Cole’s American Giants |
(1932-1935) |
|
Indianapolis Clowns |
(1947) |
| Kansas City Monarchs |
(1934) |
|
Birmingham Black Barons |
(1954) (Manager) |
Wells also played baseball in Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Canada and the California Winter League. In eight seasons in the California Winter League, Wells batted for .301 with 11 homeruns.
Some of the highlights of Well’s Negro League career include:
· Negro National League Batting Titles in 1929 (.368) and 1930 (.404)
· Negro National League Homerun Titles in 1927 (23), 1929 (27) and 1930 (14)
· Selected eight (8) times to Negro League All-star team
· Career batting average of .363 in Negro League play
· Career batting average of .392 in games against Major League All-Stars
· Selected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown) in 1997
Willie Wells - St. Louis Stars