Rap Dixon/pagetext

From SABR Encyclopedia

Rap Dixon played rightfield in the greatest outfield to play on any team, in any league or in any era in the history of the game. From 1924 through 1927, Dixon was teamed with centerfielder Oscar Charleston (HOF, 1976) and leftfielder Fats Jenkins in the outfield of the Harrisburg Giants of the Eastern Colored League.

Colonel Strothers, owner/manager of the Harrisburg Giants, discovered Rap playing on the local sandlots and signed him in 1922. By the time the Giants joined the Eastern Colored League in 1924 they had added Charleston, Jenkins, Heavy Johnson, and Nat Rogers. Later, Hall of Famer Ben Taylor joined the team in 1925 and John Beckwith replaced Taylor as the big bat behind Charleston in '26. All of these players were among the greatest to play in the Negro Leagues. It is no wonder, then, that the Harrisburg Giants compiled the second best record in the ECL during their brief tenure.

In the winter of 1927, the great catcher and future Hall of Famer Biz Mackey recruited Rap for his all-star team he was taking to Japan (a full seven years before Ruth's more noted tour). During the tour Rap would entertain fans by participating in shadowball routines with his teammates, by speeding around the bases in 14 seconds, and by standing on home plate and tossing balls over the outfield walls. His play was recognized by the Japanese fans when they erected a marker at the site of one of his homers and, no less a fan than the Emperor himself, Hirohito presented Rap with a trophy commemorating his great play on the tour.

In 1929, Rap pounded out 14 consecutive hits against the Homestead Grays. This accomplishment - subsequently matched by Pinky Higgins and Walt Dropo in the major leagues - represents a profesional hitting standard yet to be broken after 8 decades.

On July ?, 1930 when the doors of Yankee Stadium were first opened to the Negro Leagues. tourisburg experience Japan 14 Yankee Stadium Crawfords All Star Leon Saving Cool Integration

1949 - Charlie 1952 -

Rap Dixon is buried in Historic Midland Cemetery located just outside of his home in Steelton, PA. His grave is marked by both a family gravestone and a marker extolling his triumphs on the ball field.