His name was Norman but people called him Turkey because of the way he ran. Spending his entire career in the Negro Leagues kept him out of newspapers, but he was one of the great all-around players in the history of baseball. Career batting average .344, his 176 home runs most in Negro League history, batted over .400 three times. Turkey Stearnes should be talked about in the same sentences as DiMaggio, Williams, Cobb, and every other great that played this game. I have painted all 261 players in the Hall of Fame, including every Negro League legend. This guy was one of my favorites to play with.
Norman "Turkey" Stearns
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