{{Short description|American sports executive}} {{Infobox person |name = Syd Pollock |image = Syd Pollock - Indianapolis Clowns 1976.jpg |image_size = |caption = |birth_name = Sydney S. Pollock |birth_date = {{birth date|1901|3|20}} |birth_place = North Tarrytown, New York, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|1968|11|22|1901|3|20|mf=y}} |death_place = Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |spouse = |children = }} '''Sydney S. Pollock''' (March 20, 1901 - November 22, 1968) was an American sports executive in Negro league baseball. Pollock worked as a booking agent for several clubs starting in the late 1910s before becoming an executive with the Havana Red Sox/Cuban House of David/Pollock's Cuban Stars from 1927 to 1933. Pollock served as the booker, general manager and eventual primary owner of the Ethiopian/Indianapolis Clowns from 1936 to 1965. He signed Hank Aaron to his first professional contract in 1952. In 1952 and 1953, he signed three female players, the only women to play in the Negro leagues full-time.
==Baseball career== Pollock, who was Jewish,<ref name="carrol">{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/black-baseballs-funmakers-taking-the-miami-ethiopian-clowns-seriously/ |title=Black Baseball's "Funmakers": Taking the Miami Ethiopian Clowns Seriously |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date= |website=sabr.org |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=February 8, 2022|quote=}}</ref> was born in North Tarrytown, New York, in 1901, the son of Edward and Sarah Pollock.<ref>"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2483-FLH : 10 February 2018), Edward in entry for Sydney Pollock and Anna Villa Carroll, 25 Oct 1923; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,653,956.</ref> He began booking opponents for semi-professional white, Black, Cuban and women's baseball clubs as early as 1917.<ref name="Positions Wanted">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94503068/positions-wanted/|title=Positions Wanted|page=11|work=The Standard Union|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 14, 1917|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Trojan Athletic Club of North Tarrytown vs. Mutal Welfare League of Sing Sing">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93737887/trojan-athletic-club-of-north-tarrytown/|title=Trojan Athletic Club of North Tarrytown vs. Mutal Welfare League of Sing Sing|page=22|work=New York Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 25, 1919 |access-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref> By 1924, his Syd Pollock Agency of North Tarrytown represented more than a half dozen clubs, including the New York Bloomer Girls team,<ref name="Syd Pollock Agency of North Tarrytown">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93738358/syd-pollock-agency-of-north-tarrytown/|title=Syd Pollock Agency of North Tarrytown|page=22|work=The Standard Union|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 27, 1923 |access-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref> Chappie Johnson's All-Stars,<ref name="Bloomer Girls Baseball Team Craves Action">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94188798/bloomer-girls-baseball-team-craves/|title=Bloomer Girls Baseball Team Craves Action|page=13|work=Republican Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 12, 1924|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> and the Royal Blue Giants of New York.<ref name="Royal Blue Giants Continue To Win">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94188517/the-standard-union/|title=Royal Blue Giants Continue To Win|page=8|work=The Standard Union|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 28, 1924|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> By 1927, he was scheduling games for the traveling Havana Red Sox<ref name="Havana baseball team">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94190593/havana-baseball-team/|title=Havana baseball team|page=13|work=The Standard Union|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 28, 1927|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Want a Berth?">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94190805/want-a-berth/|title=Want a "Berth"?|page=17|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 28, 1927|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> In 1930, while still operating the Havana Red Sox,<ref name="Havanians Set New Win Mark">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94193656/havanians-set-new-win-mark/|title=Havanians Set New Win Mark|page=2|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 19, 1930|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> he booked games for the Florida Cuban Giants.<ref name="Fla. Cubans Busy">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94193556/fla-cubans-busy/|title=Fla. Cubans Busy|page=17|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 26, 1930|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref>
In 1931, the Havana Red Sox changed their name to the Cuban House of David,<ref name="Cuban House of David Team Invades U.S.">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94192970/1929-havana-red-sox-baseball-club-of/|title=Cuban House of David Team Invades U.S.|page=7|work=The Birmingham Reporter |via=Newspapers.com|date=January 17, 1931|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> and were the only Cuban team permitted to enter the country that spring by the United States Immigration Department.<ref name="House of David Team of Cuba At The Fair">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94196223/house-of-david-team-of-cuba-at-the-fair/|title=House of David Team of Cuba At The Fair|page=1|work=Bloomfield Monitor|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 20, 1931|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> In a nod to the House of David clubs, some players sported various styles of beards,<ref name="House of David To Play Crevelt At White Way">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94195054/house-of-david-to-play-crevelt-at-white/|title=House of David To Play Crevelt At White Way|page=5|work=Jefferson City Post-Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 5, 1931|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> with Pollock the player with the longest and heaviest beard by March 15 a prize.<ref name="Sports Shots - January 24, 1931">{{cite web|author1=W. Rollo Wilson| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94195487/sports-shots-that-we-call/|title=Sports Shots - January 24, 1931|page=15|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 7, 1931|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> Before the season began, Pollock wrote to the ''Pittsburgh Courier'' that he had spent at least $5,200 on the club in hopes of building a powerhouse team.<ref name="Sports Shots - March 7, 1931">{{cite web|author1=W. Rollo Wilson| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94194387/sports-shots/|title=Sports Shots - March 7, 1931|page=14|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 7, 1931|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> In March 1932, the club joined the East–West League in March 1932 as Pollock's Cuban Stars.<ref name="Newark Joins East-West League">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94197606/newark-joins-east-west-league/|title=Newark Joins East-West League|page=15|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 5, 1932|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Cuban Players In Local Game">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94197393/cuban-players-in-local-game/|title=Cuban Players In Local Game|page=6|work=Sandusky Register|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 10, 1932|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> After the league disbanded, the Cuban Stars returned as an independent club.<ref name="Fans to See Night Baseball">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8160738/harrisburg-telegraph/|title=Fans to See Night Baseball|page=13|work=Harrisburg Telegraph|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 13, 1933|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
Pollock's booking agency scheduled games for the Zulu Cannibal Giants in 1935, a club that featured shirtless players who wore only grass skirts.<ref name="Saying of the Spectator">{{cite web|author1=Samuel B. Cohen| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94434526/saying-of-the-spectator/|title=Saying of the Spectator|page=15|work=The Journal (Meriden, Connecticut)|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 20, 1935|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
By 1936, he was the booking agent for the barnstorming Miami Giants, who were renamed the Ethiopian Clowns, with Pollock having forged a partnership with owner Hunter Campbell after loading him money.<ref name="Stone lives dream">{{cite web|author1=Maury Allen| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94498710/stone-lives-dream/|title=Stone lives dream|page=15|work=The Daily Item|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 8, 1992|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref> He would have an ownership stake in the Clowns by 1937.<ref name="carrol"/>
In 1941, Pollock also handled games for a cross-continental tour of the Havana Cuban Giants, a revival of his Cuban Stars.<ref name="Cuban Giants Play Elks Tonight in Exhibition Game at Horlick's">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94435485/cuban-giants-play-elks-tonight-in/|title=Cuban Giants Play Elks Tonight in Exhibition Game at Horlick's|page=16|work=Racine Journal Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 20, 1941|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
By 1942, Pollock was the Clowns' general manager as the team joined the Negro Major League as the Cincinnati Clowns, before the league collapsed after one season.<ref name="Clown Team Slated To Be Home Club">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94499014/clown-team-slated-to-be-home-club/|title=Clown Team Slated To Be Home Club|page=34|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 1, 1942|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Smitty's Sports Spurts - May 30, 1942">{{cite web|author1=Wendell Smith| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94436009/smittys-sports-spurts/|title=Smitty's Sports Spurts - May 30, 1942|page=16|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 30, 1942|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref><ref name="New Baseball League Scheduled to Start in May; Teams Train In South">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94436116/new-baseball-league-scheduled-to-start/|title=New Baseball League Scheduled to Start in May; Teams Train In South|page=16|work=Detroit Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 28, 1942|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> Owner Campbell died in Miami in December 1942, and while ownership remained in the Campbell family, Pollock continued to run the baseball operations.<ref name="Spotlighting Sports">{{cite web|author1=Wendell Smith| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94500993/spotlighting-sports/|title=Spotlighting Sports|page=41|work=Miami Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 11, 1943|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref> The team, which at various points would be referred to as the Ethiopian, Cincinnati and Miami Clowns, joined the Negro American League for the 1943 season.<ref name="Smitty's Sports-Spurts January 23, 1943">{{cite web|author1=Wendell Smith| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94436540/smittys-sports-spurts-feb-7-2022/|title=Smitty's Sports-Spurts January 23, 1943|page=16|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 23, 1943|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> Before the 1944 season, the Clowns were transferred to Indianapolis from Cincinnati after club and league owners decided attendance in Cincinnati was below expectations.<ref name="Here Is Your Baseball Dish of Negro American League">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45670009/birmingham-weekly-review1944-3-18p7/|title=Here Is Your Baseball Dish of Negro American League|page=7|work=The Weekly Review (Birmingham)|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 18, 1944|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
Pollock signed Hank Aaron for the Clowns to his first professional contract for a reported $250 a month for the 1952 season and a new suit.<ref name="Hank Aaron, Former Indianapolis Clown; Signed for Suit of Clothes">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94501826/hank-aaron-former-indianapolis-clown/|title=Hank Aaron, Former Indianapolis Clown; Signed for Suit of Clothes|page=15|work=The Burlington Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 14, 1958|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Riley">{{Cite book |last=Riley |first=James A. |title=The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicalency00rile |url-access=registration |place=New York |publisher=Carroll & Graf |year=1994 |isbn=0-7867-0959-6 }}</ref> Aaron was sold to the Milwaukee Braves later that year.<ref name="Clowns on Win Trail">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94504367/clowns-on-win-trail/|title=Clowns on Win Trail|page=16|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 30, 1952|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref> In 1953, Pollock signed Toni Stone for the Clowns, the first female player in the previously all-male Negro leagues.<ref name="Stone lives dream"/> After Stone was signed by the Kansas City Monarchs for the 1954, Pollock signed two more women, Connie Morgan and Mamie Johnson.<ref name="carrol"/> He later served as a scout for the Milwaukee Braves.<ref name="Syd Pollock, 67, Baseball Figure">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78231626/syd-pollock-67-baseball-figure/|title=Syd Pollock, 67, Baseball Figure|page=11|work=Miami Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=1968-11-23 |access-date=2021-05-24}}</ref>
Pollock retired after the 1964 season, and sold his controlling interest to Ed Hamann in January 1965.<ref name="carrol"/> He died on November 22, 1968, and was survived by his wife, Villa, five children, and 17 grandchildren.<ref name="Syd Pollock, 67, Baseball Figure"/>
==Criticism== Pollock received criticism from some fellow baseball executives and members of the media for the Clowns' presentation and on-the-field actions.<ref name="Smitty's Sports Spurts - July 1, 1944">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3879482/pittsburgh-courier1944-7-1p12/|title=Smitty's Sports Spurts - July 1, 1944|page=12|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 1, 1944|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> Among the most vocal was ''Pittsburgh Courier'' sportswriter Wendell Smith. In 1943, Smith criticized Pollock for marketing the Clowns as representatives of multiple locations, causing confusion among fans and the press.<ref name="Facts About Sports">{{cite web|author1=Cumberland Posey| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94467312/facts-about-sports/|title=Facts About Sports|page=7|work=The Weekly Review (Birmingham)|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 15, 1944|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> Smith also levied criticism in 1942 and 1943 against the slapstick comedy routines the team performed, the use of the Clown monikers, coupled with the painting of players' faces, and accused Pollock of profiting off racist stereotypes of indigenous Africans.<ref name="Smitty's Sports Spurts - May 30, 1942"/><ref name="Smitty's Sports Spurts - July 15, 1944">{{cite web|author1=Wendell Smith| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94469189/smittys-sports-spurts-july-15-1944/|title=Smitty's Sports Spurts - July 15, 1944|page=12|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 15, 1944|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> That same year, Homestead Grays owner Cumberland Posey said that while he liked Pollock personally, he criticized his use of "Ethiopia" in the team's name, accusing him of capitalizing on the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, an event closely followed in Black newspapers.<ref name="carrol"/> Pollock defended himself in 1942 from claims of negatively portraying Blacks by confirming that he was only the club's general manager, and that Hunter Campbell, a Black man, was the primary owner.<ref name="Smitty's Sports Spurts - May 30, 1942"/> On June 25, 1944, the Clowns walked off the field in the seventh inning of the second game of a double-header against the Memphis Red Sox following a disputed call from an umpire.<ref name="Clowns Quit Game; Walk Off Field">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31827601/1944-mrs-clowns-moss-pitching/|title=Clowns Quit Game; Walk Off Field|page=12|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 1, 1944|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> League president J. B. Martin fined the club $250 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|250|1944}}}} in current dollar terms) and fined Clowns' manager Hoss Walker $50. Smith argued that the Clowns should be permanently suspended from the league. Smith wrote on July 15: <blockquote> "Pollock and his mob have done little of significance to uplift the prestige of Negro baseball. They have quit in the middle of games, failed to appear for scheduled games, burlesqued Negro baseball and have been the greatest and most consistent advocates of "Uncle Tom" performances on the diamonds."<ref name="Smitty's Sports Spurts - July 15, 1944"/></blockquote>
In March 1945, Smith wrote in ''Courier'' that the Clowns had been banned from playing at Briggs Stadium in Detroit and that Jack Marshall, an infielder for the club in 1944, had refused to play for the club "because of monkey-shines Owner Syd Pollock requires of his players."<ref name="Clowns Barred from Detroit Park">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94497876/clowns-barred-from-detroit-park/|title=Clowns Barred from Detroit Park|page=12|work=Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 31, 1945|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|9}}
==External links== *[https://nlbemuseum.com/nlbemuseum/history/players/pollock.html Negro Leagues Baseball Museum biography]
{{Indianapolis Clowns}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pollock, Syd}} Category:1901 births Category:1968 deaths Category:People from Tarrytown, New York Category:Negro league baseball executives Category:Milwaukee Braves scouts Category:Jewish American baseball people Category:Jewish American sports executives and administrators Category:Jews from New York (state) Category:20th-century American Jews