From SABR Encyclopedia

Contents 1 Profile 1.1 Personal 1.2 Pre-professional career 2 Contract signing 3 Source =

Profile

Personal

• Resided in Oakland, California in 1953.
• Self-identified as being of African-American ancestry.
• Played in the game for Oakland the day he signed and slammed a double against the left field wall

 as a pinch hitter that won the game; the first thing Mann did after reaching the clubhouse at 
 intermission was to call his mother and tell her of the feat.

• His manager, Mel Ott, speaks highly of him saying "Willie Mays can't run, throw or hit any harder

 than Mann and Dave still has a lot to learn, of course, be he ought to make a great ball player, 
 he is a fine athlete now."

Pre-professional career

• Attended Castlemont High School.
• Was an all athlete in high school.
• Was a letterman in basketball in high school.
• Was all-city in both baseball and football in high school.
• Attended Oregon State but because of grades dropped out of school.
• Played freshman and sophomore football at Oregon State.

Contract signing

• Signed with the Oakland Oaks on June 9, 1952.

Source =

• 1953 Pacific Coast League Sketch Book.