Born on January 17, 1889, in Fort Worth, Texas, Santop was one of the earliest superstars of Negro League baseball and its first legitimate home run slugger, often known as “Big Bertha”. A towering figure at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Santop played primarily as a catcher but also filled first base, third base, and outfield positions with remarkable skill and presence from 1909 through 1926. Renowned for both his power and high batting averages—often hitting above .300 in the dead-ball era—Santop dazzled fans with tape-measure home runs and showmanship. He played for many teams including the Fort Worth Wonders, Philadelphia Giants, New York Lincoln Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, Chicago American Giants, and Hilldale Daisies, and caught for Negro League pitching legends like Smokey Joe Williams. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War I and passed away on January 6, 1942. Santop was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 and is remembered as one of black baseball’s great sluggers and enduring legends.
