James McCurine

Nickname: Big Stick
Died: May 24, 2002

James "Big Stick" McCurine, a star in the Negro Leagues, once turned down an offer to play in the farm team of the Boston Braves.

McCurine began to play with semiprofessional teams at the age of 15 including the Hartford Giants, Brown Bombers and Lincoln Giants. He made it to the Negro Leagues in 1945. After an exhibition between the Lincoln Giants and the Chicago American Giants, he put on a hitting exhibition in which he ball after ball into the stands. Chicago manager Candy Jim Taylor quickly signed him.

He paired with John "Mule" Miles to become one of the top hitting duos in the Negro Leagues. He earned a tryout with the Boston Braves in 1949. Because his shoulder was injured, McCurine was not able to throw the ball in from the outfield and he was offered a spot on the Braves' class C team. He turned down the offer to stay in the Negro Leagues. 

He retired from baseball in 1950 after playing one more season with the Giants.

McCurine died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 81.