Interview with Delores Dandridge, Ray E. Dandridge, November 12, 1979

Interview Summary

Ray Dandridge was born in Virginia, and played his entire baseball career in the Negro Leagues. He was later a scout for the San Francisco Giants. In this interview, Ray Dandridge discusses Willie Wells, Negro League players in general, Hall of Fame selection, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and the practice of barnstorming. He talks about Bob Feller, playing with the Detroit Stars in 1933 and the Newark Dodgers in 1934, bus travel, and Abe Manley, the owner of the Newark Eagles. He describes his troubles with Effa Manley and his leaving the Eagles in 1940, his playing schedule, the team rivalry with the Homestead Grays, and player fraternization. He compares player salaries in the Negro Leagues and the Mexican League, and talks about his jumping to the Mexican League, segregation in Louisville, Kentucky, playing in Puerto Rico in 1935 and racial relations in the Caribbean. He discusses Orlando Cepeda and his father, teams that he played for in Cuba, his nicknames, and the media coverage of the Newark Eagles. His daughter, Delores Dandridge, discusses living conditions in Mexico and Cuba. Ray Dandridge also talks about the Pasquel brothers, Mickey Owen, the playing conditions in Mexico, an exhibition that Babe Ruth did in Mexico, and player reactions to Jackie Robinson's signing.

Interview Keyword

Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler Baseball Baseball Commissioner Detroit Stars Mexican League New York Cubans Newark Dodgers Newark Eagles

Interview LC Subject

Baseball--United States Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991 Dandridge, Delores Dandridge, Delores--Interviews Dandridge, Ray Dandridge, Ray--Interviews Negro leagues African Americans

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.