Dr. John B. Martin
Career: 1929-1950
Position: officer
Teams: Memphis Red Sox, Chicago American Giants
A member of the prominent Martin family, well known because of their social and sporting endeavors, this dentist was a co-owner and a club officer for the Memphis Red Sox and the Chicago American Giants. He also operated a drugstore and a funeral home and had investments in real estate. In Memphis he built his own ballpark for the team, owned a hotel next to the park, and operated the concession stands, where he served chitterlings in addition to the standard ballpark cuisine. During his association with the Red Sox and the American Giants he also served as the president of three different leagues: the Negro Southern League, the Negro American League, and the Negro Dixie League.
Source: James A. Riley, The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues, New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc., 1994.