Verdell Jackson Mathis (1913 - 1998)

Born 18 Nov 1913 in Crawfordsville, Crittenden, Arkansas, United States

Husband of Helen (Dunn) Mathis — married 3 Jun 1936 in Crittenden, Arkansas, United States

Died 30 Oct 1998 at age 84 in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jimmy Honey [send private message] and US Black Heritage Project WikiTree [send private message]

Verdell Mathis is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage

Biography

Verdell Mathis is Notable.

Verdell Jackson Mathis was a baseball infielder and pitcher in the Negro leagues. He played from 1940 to 1948 for the Memphis Red Sox.^[1]

Verdell Jackson Mathis was born on November 18, 1913 in Crawfordsville, Crittenden County, Arkansas.^[2] His father was Jackson V. Mathis, and his mother Sarah (Goodman) Jackson.^[3]

In 1920, he lived in Jackson Township, Crittenden County, Arkansas.^[4] Sometime before 1930, he moved to Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.^[5]

He married Helen Dunn on June 3, 1936 in Crittenden County, Arkansas.^[6] After his marriage, he worked as a laborer and lived in Memphis.^[7] During this time he played semi-pro baseball. His former high school coach recruited him to play on a barnstorming tour. He traveled through several Midwestern states, which allowed him to hone in his skills.^[8]

He then signed with the Memphis Red Sox in the Negro leagues as an infielder and pitcher. He later left the Red Sox to play in the Mexican League teams for higher pay. He played for the Alijadores de Tampico (Tampico Longshoremen). He later returned to Memphis and began playing for the Red Sox. He continued to play in the Negor league until an arm injury forced him to retire in 1948.^[8] In 1950, he lived in Memphis and owned his own business.^[9]

In 1997, he was inducted into the Milwaukee Brewer's Negro League Wall of Fame at County Stadium. He was considered for induction to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues, but was not selected. Although he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Memphis Sport Experience and Hall of Fame in 2019.

He died of pneumonia on October 30, 1998 in Memphis, Tennessee.^[8][10] He was buried at Memphis Memory Gardens in the same city.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia Contributors, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 10 May 2022. "Verdell Jackson Mathis." Accessed 6 Jun 2023.
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947: National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards For Tennessee, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 188 Ancestry Record 2238 #201892056
3. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007: Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. Ancestry Record 60901 #45221289
4. ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Jackson, Crittenden, Arkansas; Roll: T625_60; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 58 Ancestry Record 6061 #65127565
5. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census: Year: 1930; Census Place: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0036; FHL microfilm: 2342008 Ancestry Record 6224 #66374966
6. ↑ Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1972: Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Marriage Certificates; Year: 1936; Film: #3 Ancestry Record 61775 #548705
7. ↑ 1940 United States Federal Census: Year: 1940; Census Place: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Roll: m-t0627-03961; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 98-60 Ancestry Record 2442 #38122664
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Bush, Frederick C., Society for American Baseball Research, (n.d.). "Verdell Mathis." Accessed 6 Jun 2020.
9. ↑ 1950 United States Federal Census: United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Roll: 1457; Sheet Number: 92; Enumeration District: 98-275 Ancestry Record 62308 #106216144
10. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014: Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File Ancestry Record 3693 #39688697
11. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120531396/verdell-mathis: accessed 06 June 2023), memorial page for Verdell -Lefty- Mathis (18 Nov 1913–30 Oct 1998), Find A Grave: Memorial #120531396, citing Memphis Memory Gardens, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Steven Harrison (contributor 47383945).