Negro Leaguer of the Month
August, 2000

Norman "Turkey" Stearnes

HT: 6'-0"; WT: 165 lbs
Batted: Left; Threw: Left
Position: CF

Career: 1923-1942
Teams: Nashville Elite Giants, Memphis Red Sox, Detroit Stars, New York Lincoln Giants, Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago American Giants

Turkey, according to fellow Negro Leaguers, "played a whole lotta centerfield". In other words, he had great range. Turkey, who got his nickname from the way he ran, had great foot speed, and caught everything he got to. Many compared him favorably to Willie Mays.

It was hitting the long ball, though, that Turkey was most noted for. Built slender and muscular, like a left-handed Eric Davis, Stearnes actually is credited with hitting more career homers in Negro League play than Josh Gibson.

Stearnes led the Negro Leagues in homers several times, and once belted 4 in one game in the California winter league. Turkey also hit for a high average, usually in the .350 range.

In the first East-West All-Star game in 1933, Stearnes was the leading vote-getter among outfielders.

Turkey was a quiet man who didn't "run with the other ball players much." He concentrated fully on baseball. He had a few idiosyncrasies, including talking to his bat and not allowing anyone else to use it.

Turkey married the niece of Negro League star Double Duty Radcliffe.

This soft-spoken superstar finally received the recognition he deserved when he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July, 2000.