Youngstown native and North High School graduate W. James Cobbin will turn 90 this year.

He's also a former Negro League Baseball star, having played for both the Indianapolis Clowns and New York Black Yankees from 1956-1958.

Earlier this week, Major League Baseball Officials announced that Negro League Statistics would be incorporated into MLB records.  It's recognition that had eluded Cobbin and other greats for more than 60 years.

"It's been a long time coming--they knew the talent that the Negro League had, in fact so many of them were cherishing this moment.", said Cobbin.

Growing up in Youngstown, Cobbin was a Cleveland Indians fan--idolizing two of the best players on that squad Satchel Paige and Larry Doby, a pair of the Negro League's finest, and first black players to win a World Series, also the last World Series win for the franchise.

That same year, Paige won rookie of the year at 42 years old.

"Old man, won rookie of the year in 1948.", added Cobbin, alluding to the talent in the Negro League and how the star pitcher was well past his prime when he won the award.

In high school, Cobbin earned letters in four varsity sports, as well as the band, but baseball was his passion. He played against other Negro League teams from the time he was a teenager and at 18 years old he'd have interest from several Major League Baseball teams.

However, Cobbin attended Allen College in South Carolina for two years before returning to the diamond in the mid-1950s. That's when he was invited to Pirates spring training, and sent to Brunswick, Georgia to play in the farm system. He was met with a curveball.

"Now I get in there and I can't even stay in the hotel. Blacks and whites could not stay in the same hotel together. We couldn't eat in the same restaurant.", said Cobbins who said he and a teammate would have to eat on the bus, while other teammates dined in. 

"They had a decent room, and they had a shower. We stayed with Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams had to heat water on his wood-burner stove and pour it into these Zinc tubs and that's how we took our bath and showers during spring training.", he added.

Despite those circumstances, Cobbin and his teammate played at the top of their game and eventually were approached by the owner of the Indianapolis Clowns and New York Black Yankees.

 

 

"He signed us up for the Negro Leagues while we were in Pittsburgh.", Cobbins recalled, pointing to a contract that paid $165 per month.

Cobbin played from 1956 to 1958 before being drafted into the Army. He would go onto play baseball overseas and win a USAREUR title in Germany. 

He resides on the North Side of Youngstown, where he grew up and has been a successful entrepreneur for years. Cobbins will travel to Birmingham, Alabama on June 20th for the MLB matchup between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field, one of the last two remaining Negro League ballparks.