‘‘Top’’, as he was known, was a power-hitting lefthander batter and made his mark in the years leading up to the start of the Negro League (1920) as perhaps the best catcher of his day, backstopping some of black baseball’s premier teams. By his third year of pro bal (1912), he was a start with the New York Lincoln Giants, handling top hurlers ‘‘Cannonball’’ Dick Redding and ‘‘Smokey’’ Joe Williams. Went to play Brooklyn Royal Giants and Philly Hilldales.