Atlanta Daily World

Ethiopian Clowns Sign Up Showboat Thomas To Pilot Club During 1941 Season

MIAMI, Fla.- (SNS)-Baseball interest for 1941 is picking up in Florida, and, as usual, the main among colored fans revolves around the nationally famous Miami Ethiopian Clowns Baseball Club, who, for the past several seasons, have been defeating the semi-pro, independent and minor league clubs in the country.

Announcement has just reached the sports department desk, in a statement issued by the Syd Pollock office of North Tarrytown, N.Y., general director of the Ethiopian Clowns' business affairs, to the effect that Dave (Showboat) Thomas, regarded as one of the smartest and most colorful first sackers in baseball today, has definitely signed to pilot the Clowns as playing manager this season.

"Showboat" Thomas, managed the Brooklyn Royal Giants last summer and formerly starred with the New York Black Yankees, as well as with Satchel Paige's All-Star when the latter were the sensations of Venezuela and Puerto Rico, later returning to the states to win the Denver Tournament. He was born in Mobile, Alabama, Mar. 22, 1908. He played his first professional game with the Atlanta Black Crackers in 1926.

In 1927, Thomas joined the Chattanooga Black Lookouts, and the following season found him with the Nashville Elite Giants. Desirous of adventuring further, he went to the Birmingham Black Barons for the 1929-30 seasons then joined the then noted Baltimore Black Sox where he remained until 1933. During his sojourn in Baltimore, "Showboat" played against many major league stars, including Max Bishop, Hack Wilson, Frankie Frisch, Ernie Earnshaw, Babe Ruth and many others. It was in one of these exhibitions against an all-star major league team, that he hit a three-bagger off Earnshaw, with one on base, which triple beat Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics star hurler, 1-0, and gave Thomas' club the victory over the big leaguers.