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Trojans in the Majors

Wilmer Fields
Al Bumbry

Wilmer Fields, who pitched and played third base for the Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues, died on June 4, 2004, after an extended illness.

Fields played for the Grays from 1939 to 1950. According to partial statistics, won 13 games for the Homestead Grays in 1941 and 15 games in 1942.

According to nlpba.com, Fields won the batting title in 1951-52 in the Venezuelan league.

Fields, along with Hall of Fame catcher Josh Gibson, formed one of the most successful batteries in the Negro Leagues. 

In his 11 seasons, Fields was a member of eight championship teams.

Following his baseball career, he worked as a counselor. Fields was the president of the Negro League Baseball Players Association.

He also wrote an autobiography of his baseball career.

Al Bumbry was born on Monday, April 21, 1947, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Bumbry was 25 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 5, 1972, with the Baltimore Orioles.

The speedy Bumbry stole 254 bases during his career and set the Orioles' record with 252 lifetime.

With 1403 Oriole hits, he left among the Birds' top five all-time.

In 1973, he was the AL Rookie of the Year as he batted .337, and in 1980 became the first Oriole to get 200 hits in a season.

Bumbry played in two world series (1979 and 1983).

Bumbry tied the Major League Record with three triples against Milwaukee on September 22, 1973.

The good defensive outfielder won a Bronze Star in Vietnam.

In 1987 Bumbry was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame.