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Lyman Bostock, Sr.

Born in 1920, Lyman Bostock grew up playing baseball. He began playing baseball in a church courtyard, although scores weren't kept, if one of the players hit a homerun they were given a free glass of lemonade. Bostock moved from the churchyard to the industrial leagues.

The Ishkooda mines hired him to work outside of the mine and play baseball. Allowing baseball players to work and play for the mine team was a common practice. Amongst the mines there was a baseball league called the industrial leagues. The industrial league Lyman played for consisted of Ishkooda Mines, Stockham Pipe Shop, Bessemer, and Dickey Cleaves. When work at the Ishkooda mine became scarce, Lyman would find jobs digging ditches, laying pipes and doing whatever was necessary for him to survive.

Personal Statistics:
Played:

1938-1949

Teams:

Birmingham Black Barons, Chicago American Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, New York Cubans

Positions:

Short Stop and First Base

Career High:

1941 East-West All Star Game

After a period of time, Lyman left Birmingham and moved to Chicago. Since he could not make much money there, he decided to go to Detroit. Detroit's financial opportunities were no better than Chicago's, so Lyman moved to New York. While in New York, the New York Black Yankees invited him to spring training. When he arrived, they told him he did not have enough experience because at the time he was only eighteen. Since the Black Yankees did not want him, Lyman went to play for the Brooklyn Giants. The team received him with open arms. Lyman only played in Brooklyn for one year, then he returned to Birmingham.

During 1939 and 1940, Lyman played for Stockham Pipe Shop and Eagle Iron Works. In the 1940 and 1941 baseball seasons Lyman played for the Birmingham Black Barons. Playing in the East-West game during the 1941 season served as the highlight for Lyman Bostock's short-lived career with the Birmingham Black Barons. In 1942, Lyman the US government drafted Lyman to fight in World War II. On returning from the war in 1946, Lyman was traded to the Chicago American Giants. In 1948 he was sent to the New York Cubans, and then was sent back to Chicago. Finally, in 1949 Lyman went to Canada to play baseball. After one year, Lyman's career was over.

The one dream Lyman had all the years he played baseball, was a chance to play in the Major Leagues with the white players. This dream happened not for him, but for his son Lyman Bostock, Jr., who played for the Minnesota Twins and California Angels. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the Bostock family in 1977. Lyman Bostock, Jr. was shot and killed in Gary, Indiana.

When asked what his advice to other would be, he responded, "Don't forget where you come from, always stay in touch with God."


Lyman Bostock, Sr.
	Born in 1920, Lyman Bostock grew up playing baseball. He began playing baseball in a church courtyard, although scores weren't kept, if one of the players hit a homerun they were given a free glass of lemonade. Bostock moved from the churchyard to the industrial leagues. The Ishkooda mines hired him to work outside of the mine and play baseball. Allowing baseball players to work and play for the mine team was a common practice. Amongst the mines there was a baseball league called the industrial leagues. The industrial league Lyman played for consisted of Ishkooda Mines, Stockham Pipe Shop, Bessemer, and Dickey Cleaves. When work at the Ishkooda mine became scarce, Lyman would find jobs digging ditches, laying pipes and doing whatever was necessary for him to survive.
Personal Statistics: Played: 1938-1949 Teams: Birmingham Black Barons, Chicago American Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, New York Cubans Positions: Short Stop and First Base Career High: 1941 East-West All Star Game	After a period of time, Lyman left Birmingham and moved to Chicago. Since he could not make much money there, he decided to go to Detroit. Detroit's financial opportunities were no better than Chicago's, so Lyman moved to New York. While in New York, the New York Black Yankees invited him to spring training. When he arrived, they told him he did not have enough experience because at the time he was only eighteen. Since the Black Yankees did not want him, Lyman went to play for the Brooklyn Giants. The team received him with open arms. Lyman only played in Brooklyn for one year, then he returned to Birmingham. During 1939 and 1940, Lyman played for Stockham Pipe Shop and Eagle Iron Works. In the 1940 and 1941 baseball seasons Lyman played for the Birmingham Black Barons. Playing in the East-West game during the 1941 season served as the highlight for Lyman Bostock's short-lived career with the Birmingham Black Barons. In 1942, Lyman the US government drafted Lyman to fight in World War II. On returning from the war in 1946, Lyman was traded to the Chicago American Giants. In 1948 he was sent to the New York Cubans, and then was sent back to Chicago. Finally, in 1949 Lyman went to Canada to play baseball. After one year, Lyman's career was over. The one dream Lyman had all the years he played baseball, was a chance to play in the Major Leagues with the white players. This dream happened not for him, but for his son Lyman Bostock, Jr., who played for the Minnesota Twins and California Angels. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the Bostock family in 1977. Lyman Bostock, Jr. was shot and killed in Gary, Indiana. When asked what his advice to other would be, he responded, "Don't forget where you come from, always stay in touch with God."