George Sweatt

George Alexander "Sharky" Sweatt (December 7, 1893 – July 19, 1983) was an American second baseman in Negro league baseball. He played for the Kansas City Monarchs^[1] and Chicago American Giants from 1922 to 1927.^[3]

Life

During his youth, Sweatt worked in hayfields near his hometown of Humboldt, Kansas, and later at Humboldt's Monarch Cement plant.^[4] He attended Pittsburg State University, and Kansas State University, and lettered four times. He became a teacher at Coffeyville Junior College in Coffeyville, Kansas after graduating.^[5][6] When he was in the off-season with the Monarchs, Sweatt was placed in charge of the playground and athletics at his hometown Cleveland School in Coffeyville, Kansas.^[7]

Sweatt played in the

After retiring from the Negro leagues in 1928, Sweatt worked for the postal service until 1957. In 1983, George A. Sweatt Park was dedicated in his memory in Humboldt. The Johnson-Sweatt Classic baseball tournament began in 1999, a memorial to Sweatt and Walter Johnson, also from Humboldt.^[4]

References