Biz Mackey was a legendary catcher and manager in Negro League baseball, recognized for his exceptional defensive skills. Born James Raleigh Mackey in Eagle Pass, Texas, he earned the nickname “Biz” early in his career, a shortened version of “business” due to his serious and professional demeanor. Mackey began his professional career around 1920, playing for various teams including the Indianapolis ABC’s (1920-1922), Hilldale Daisies (1923-1931), Homestead Grays (1927), Baltimore Black Sox (1928, 1930), Philadelphia Stars (1933-1935), Baltimore Elite Giants (1936-1939) and the Newark Eagles (1939-1941, 1945-1947).
He led the Hilldale Daisies to three consecutive pennants, including a Negro World Series victory in 1925 and the Newark Eagles to a Negro World Series championship in 1946.
He played in postseason exhibitions against major leaguers and even traveled to Japan for baseball tours, where he became the first player to ever hit a home run out of Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine Stadium. Mackey’s all-around skills earned him spots in five East-West All-Star games and two Negro League World Series championships. He also managed and mentored younger players like Roy Campanella, Monte Irvin, Larry Doby, and Don Newcombe. With a lifetime batting average of .327. His career in the game spanned 30 years, and he continued playing and managing until the age of 50.
Mackey was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006, cementing his place as one of the greatest catchers and managers in baseball history. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.
