Turkey Stearnes 

Born: May 8, 1901 in Nashville, Tenn. 
Died: Sept. 4, 1979 in Detroit, Mich. 
At a Glance: Negro League player inducted into Hall of Fame in 2000

The year 2000 marked a long journey to the hallowed Hall of Fame for a player most described as a quiet man. 

Turkey Stearnes was born in 1901 and grew up playing baseball in lots across Nashville, Tenn. In 1923, he joined the Detroit Stars of the Negro National League.  Stearnes played for Detroit for nine years and records show that he lead the Negro National League in home runs for at least six years (statistics are not complete). According to available statistics, Stearnes is known to have hit at least 140 home runs in 585 games. 

He won the affection and praise of other Negro League players: 

"There's no ballplayer I know that hit more home runs than Turkey Stearnes. And he was one of the best all-around ballplayers. Everybody knows he was a great outfield. He could field, throw, run, hit." -- Cool Papa Bell 

"Turkey Stearnes was one of the greatest hitters we ever had. He was as good as Josh Gibson. He was as good as anybody ever played ball." -- Satchel Paige

The Detroit Stars folded in 1931 and Stearnes joined the Chicago American Giants in 1932. In 1933, he was the starting centerfielder for the first East-West all-star game that was played at Comiskey Park. 

Over the next few years, Stearnes played for several Negro League teams including the Kansas City Monarchs. He retired in 1945 as one of the top-three all-time home run hitters in the Negro Leagues -- joining Mule Suttles and Josh Gibson.

When the baseball seasons were over, Stearnes worked at the Ford Rouge foundry in Detroit.  That factory was owned by Walter Briggs, owner of the Detroit Tigers.  When asked who he thought he played the most like, Stearnes would tell people, Al Kaline. 

Stearnes died on Sept. 4, 1979, at the age of 78. 

Sources: Baseball Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball