Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
Before Greenville native Lorenzo Cain made Madison County proud with his World Series win with the Kansas City Royals in 2015, Archie Ware put Greenville on the map with his baseball prowess while playing in the Negro American League.
Born in 1918, little is known about Ware’s childhood in Greenville. By 1942, Ware’s name and skills were more commonly known in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he played for the Cincinnati Buckeyes, who later became the Cleveland Buckeyes. Ware played professional baseball before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, allowing black athletes to play in the Major Leagues. His hottest streak came from 1946 through 1948, where his slugging average was .407, .474 and .435, respectively.
Ware’s true impact on the sport will never be fully known because accurate statistics on him didn’t begin until he was in his 30s. His younger days paint a more brilliant portrait of an all-star first baseman, having played in two Negro World Series with the Cleveland Buckeyes, the first in 1945, winning against the Washington Homestead Grays. The Buckeyes lost to the New York Cubans in 1947.
Thanks to Jackie Robinson, Ware finished his career playing in the Major Leagues, but only on minor league teams. He completed his career in 1952, playing with the Lewiston Broncs. Ware died in Los Angeles, Calif. in 1990, at the age of 72.