After finishing 1st in 1944 in the Negro American League, the 
Birmingham Black Barons lost to the Homestead Grays in the 
Negro League World Series.  The Cleveland Buckeyes, who 
finished 1944 with a record of 40-41, 13 1/2 games behind the 
Black Barons, were not expected to challenge for the 1945 title.

      The news in March that the Black Barons retained 
shortstop Arthur Wilson, 1944 runner up to Cleveland's 
Sam Jethroe for the Negro American League batting title, along 
with pitchers Johnny Huber, Schoolboy Jimmy Newberry and 
outfielder Ed Steele gave the Black Barons optimism that they 
would win their third straight Negro American League 
championship in 1945.  (Unlike their white counter parts, the 
Negro Leaguers enjoyed free agency)

       In March, the Buckeyes announced that they would 
upgrade their catching position by signing switch-hitting 
Quincy Trouppe as catcher-manager. 

      Quincy Trouppe, an intelligent, skillful catcher and 
excellent hitter, had spent over five years playing in 
Mexico, playing for the Mexico City Reds from 1942-1944. 
He would be a key to the success of the Buckeyes through 
1947.  

      Quincy is pictured here in the center between John 
Cowan (left) and Avelino Canizares (right). Quincy 
exhibited his scouting skills by also signing Canizares 
for the Buckeyes prior to the 1945 season. Spring 
Training is scheduled to start March 24th in Muskogee, 
Oklahoma and Fort Worth, Texas.
  
       Next - Spring Training