Biz Mackey was born in 1897 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Mackey is considered by many as the best defensive catcher of all time, black or white. Roy Campanella credits Mackey with making him a Major League catcher.  Biz was also an outstanding hitter. He had a lifetime Negro League batting average of .335 and a .326 batting average against Major League competition.  In his prime, he was one of the best players in Negro League baseball. While playing for Hilldale of the Eastern Colored League from 1923 to 1931, he hit .423, .337, .350, .327, .315, 327, .337, .400 and .376. Mackey also found success as a manager by leading the Newark Eagles to a world’s championship in 1946 over the Kansas City Monarchs.

Raleigh “Biz” Mackey

During his Negro League career, he played and managed for the following teams:

San Antonio Black Aces              1918

San Antonio Giants                    1918-1920

Indianapolis ABC’s                      1920-1922

New York Lincoln Giants              1920

Colored All-Stars                        1921

Hilldale Daisies                           1923-1931

Philadelphia Royal Giants              1925

Philadelphia Stars                       1933-1935

Newark Dodgers                         1935

Washington Elite Giants               1936-1937

Baltimore Elite Giants                   1938-1939

Newark Eagles                            1939-1941, 1945-1947 and 1950

Raleigh "Biz" Mackey - Hilldale (1923)

Mackey also played winter league ball and barnstormed extensively during the off season. Biz Mackey died in 1959 in Los Angeles, California. Mackey was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.