Russell Awkard
Outfielder
Born: (1917-10-07)October 7, 1917
Howard County, Maryland
Died: April 1, 2002(2002-04-01) (aged 84)
Louisville, Kentucky
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Negro league baseball debut
1940, for the New York Cubans
Last appearance
1941, for the Newark Eagles
Teams

Russell Alfred Awkard (October 7, 1917 April 1, 2002) was an American Negro league outfielder in the 1940s.

A native of Howard County, Maryland, Awkard initially played for the Washington Royals,[1][2] and joined the New York Cubans in 1940. Awkard was a World War II veteran, having served in the US Army's Quartermaster Corps in England, France and Belgium.[2][3] He was considered to be one of the Negro league's finest players.[4] He was featured in an article in USA Today titled "The Name is Awkard, with one W." in 1993.[5] Prior to his death, he met with Bill Clinton along with other Negro league players arranged by Bob Hieronimus.[6]

References

  1. "nlbpa.com - Awkard, Russell". nlbpa.com.
  2. 1 2 "Russell Awkard Obituary - Washington D.C., DC - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  3. "Negro Leaguers Who Served With The Armed Forces in WWII". baseballinwartime.com. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  4. Elias, R. (2010). The Empire Strikes Out: How Baseball Sold U.S. Foreign Policy and Promoted the American Way Abroad. New Press. ISBN 978-1-59558-528-8. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  5. Heaphy, L. A. (2003). The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-1380-5. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  6. Glenn, S. (2006). Don't Let Anyone Take Your Joy Away: An Inside Look at Negro League Baseball and Its Legacy. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-40075-1. Retrieved 2015-04-29.


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