(Editor’s note: To protect the integrity of this story, some words are used within quotes that some readers will find offensive.)
A former Negro League player who competed against some of the greatest in the annals of baseball history has quite a story to tell.
Carl Long, best known for his play with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues and the Kinston Eagles of the Carolina League, will have a book signing Saturday at Christopher’s Café for his autobiography, “A Game of Faith.”
Diane Taylor, owner of Taylor Made Publishing and co-author of “A Game of Faith,” said she hopes to see many residents from the city out to the book signing.
“This is the first one he’s had in Kinston,” Taylor said. “I think it’s important for the community to support someone who considers Kinston home. Some residents are familiar with him, but this is an opportunity to buy his book, which will also be placed in the Library of Congress.”
The book signing will be held from 9-11 a.m. The event is open to the public and the autobiography can be purchased for $14.99 plus tax.
“Carl has been a great friend of mine for a number of years,” Christopher’s Café owner Christopher Maroules said. “When the book came out, I said he should have the signing here. We felt it would be a place people wouldn’t have problems finding and it would be a very informal event. (Christopher’s) will make no money off of it.”
Long, born in Rock Hill, S.C. on May 9, 1935, made his debut in the Negro Leagues at age 16, playing with the Nashville Stars in 1951. He also spent two years with the Birmingham Black Barons, competing with and against Hall of Fame talent.
“The best hitter I’ve ever played with was Willie Mays,” Long said. “I got to play with all of the greats throughout the years: Hank Aaron, Cool Papa Bell, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella. We would go across the nation, and had it not been for baseball, I’d still be in Rock Hill picking cotton.”
During his tenure in the Negro Leagues, Long had to deal with racism and heckling at almost every destination.
“They called me everything but a child of God, but it made me a better person,” Long said. “The Lord has a way of helping people, which is why I tell people to stick with God. He has truly seen me through some things.”
Long said some of the things he witnessed could scar many others.
“We would be on the bus going to places like Mississippi and see blacks hanging from the limbs of trees,” Long said. “When we got to some ballparks, the sheriff would be out there saying, ‘We want you niggers out of here by sundown.’ We would play our day game and get out.
“There were places we couldn’t even eat from. We also couldn’t stay in the motels or take showers, so we would have to hop in the river to wash.”
Still, the baseball teams he played on showcased their talent, even beating their white counterparts in exhibition matches — sometimes too handily.
“We used to beat them down to the point where our skipper would say during the game ‘don’t get any more runs, because we need to get out of the ballpark safely,’ ” Long said.
In 1954, Long was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and played for their minor league team, the St. Jean Canadians. He played for several other minor league teams, including the Kinston Eagles in 1956.
During his year with the Eagles, Long also found his wife, Ella. After the season, the two were married and recently celebrated their 57th anniversary.
“We got married on Sept. 8, 1956,” Long said. “I didn’t want to go back to the cotton fields. I found true love and wanted to stay here.”
Long dealt with discrimination throughout his season with the Eagles, but played extremely well, hitting .291 with 18 home runs and 111 runs batted in. His RBI mark still stands to this day.
Long particularly remembers one night game in Greensboro where he used racial hatred to his advantage.
“There was a white man in the crowd saying things like, ‘Hit that nigger, hit him upside the head,’ ” Long said. “In that game, I had two home runs, a double and a single. There was a white lady sitting next to him and she said, ‘Quit calling that colored boy names because he’s knocking the ball all over the place.’
“The next day in a day game, the same guy was there and sat in the same seat. He didn’t open his mouth the entire game and I went 0 for 4.”
Long continued to make history in Kinston after retiring from baseball in 1958, becoming the first black deputy sheriff, then the first black detective two years later.
The time in law enforcement brought him closer to the city.
“I helped a lot of people here and talked to them about the law,” Long said. “I’ve solved murder cases and break-ins.’
After 12 years as a detective, Long became the first black commercial bus driver with Trailways in 1972. He worked there until retiring in 1995 and even had some interaction with former President Bill Clinton.
“I took Bill around Kinston in my bus twice,” Long said. “I took him on my route and to Grainger Stadium.”
In July, Long and several other former Negro League players were invited to the White House. President Barack Obama professed his appreciation and admiration for what the players went through and persevered.
“When I went to the White House, I told him, ‘I’m some kind of proud of you for everything you’ve done,’ ” Long said. “He said, ‘I’m some kind of proud of you for everything you’ve done.’ I also told him, ‘I’ve got your back,’ and later on, I received a letter from him and in it, he said ‘I’ve got yours too.’ ”
Long is thankful for the opportunities he’s had throughout the years from playing baseball.
“Baseball is fun,” Long said. “It’s the greatest game in the world. If it wasn’t for that and family, I would’ve never come here.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
Want to get a copy of ‘A Game of Faith?’ Here’s how:
Where: Christopher’s Café, 217 N. Queen St.
When: Saturday, 9-11 a.m.
Cost: The book signing is free and the book can be purchased for $14.99 plus tax
Long’s next appearance: The Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library, Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m.-noon