George Scales

For the football goalkeeper, see George Scales (footballer).

George Louis Scales (August 16, 1900 - April 15, 1976),^[2] nicknamed "Tubby", was an American second baseman and manager in Negro league baseball, most notably with the New York Lincoln Giants and Baltimore Elite Giants. Born in Talladega, Alabama,^[2] he batted .320 over a 25-year career during which he played several positions. He also managed for twelve seasons in the Puerto Rican Winter League, winning six pennants,^[2] and led the Caribbean World Series champions in 1951.

George Scales
Second baseman / Manager
Born: (1900-08-16)August 16, 1900 Talladega, Alabama, U.S.
Died: April 15, 1976(1976-04-15) (aged 75) Compton, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Negro leagues debut
1921, for the St. Louis Giants
Last Negro leagues appearance
1946, for the Baltimore Elite Giants
Negro leagues[a] statistics
Batting average	.320
Home runs	64
Runs scored	499
Managerial record	81–106–10
Winning percentage	.433
Teams
As Player St. Louis Giants (1921–1923) Lincoln Giants (1923–1929) Newark Stars (1926) Homestead Grays (1929–1931, 1935) New York Black Yankees (1932–1934, 1936, 1939, 1945) Baltimore Elite Giants (1938–1944, 1946) As Manager New York Black Yankees (1932–1934, 1939, 1945) Baltimore Elite Giants (1938, 1943, 1947)
Career highlights and awards
Negro National League pennant (1939)

Career

Buck Leonard claimed that George Scales was the best curveball hitter he ever saw.^[3]

At age 52, Scales received votes listing him on the 1952 Pittsburgh Courier player-voted poll of the Negro leagues' best players ever.^[4]

After retiring from baseball in 1958, he became a stockbroker.^[5] He died at age 75 in Compton, California.^[2]

Scales was among 39 final candidates considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2006 by the Committee on African-American Baseball, however he was not among the 17 elected.^[6][7]

On November 5, 2021, he was selected to the final ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Early Days Committee for consideration in the Class of 2022. He received four of the necessary twelve votes.^[8]

Notes

1. On December 16, 2020, Major League Baseball declared certain Negro leagues, from the span of 1920–1948, to be "major" leagues.^[1] Scales' statistics reflect his time in the Negro leagues from 1921–1929, 1935–1936, and from 1938 until the end of his career.