Sports: Ezell King, 1952, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: June 5, 1952 Winn Parish Enterprise Winnfield Negro Signs With Big League Team Ezell King, former Winn Training School sports star, and for four years a standout at Grambling College, has signed a bonus contract with the Pittsburg Pirates of the National League. A report from New Orleans, where he signed, stated that exact figures of the bonus was not made public, but was believed to be less than $ 5,000. Ezell will be farmed to the Class C Hutchinson, Kansas Elks, where he will alternate as outfielder and first baseman. Ezell, son of Clifton and Gurvis King of McDonald subdivision, Winnfield, was a three-letter man at Winn Training School, where he starred in football, basketball, and baseball, under the tutorship of Clyde Wilson, then head coach. Wilson taught agriculture and coached all sports until Gussie Williams was hired as coach, and now Wilson serves as assistant. The New Orleans report stated: "The modest, quiet spoken 197-pound outfielder was signed by Joe L. Brown, president, general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans for the parent Pirate outfit. "King, who has antelope speed in his size 12 boots...has been the most acclaimed college player in Louisiana in recent years. King is a power hitter with general natural talent. Around Grambling, he is considered civic property and treated as such by proud townsfolk. "Equally adept afield and at bat, the six foot, six inch, Winnfield star cuffed the horsehide for an impossible .337 average during his four year college career. During the period he hit 54 home runs. "The Pirates signed him on the recommendation of veteran scout Ellis Johnson. Johnson watched the big fellow bring blushes of chagrin to opposing pitchers and coaches in five of his last seven college games. "He feels that King has what it takes-ability, size, power, speed, stamina, and competitive urge-to make the major league ball." "King will report to Manager Wes Griffin of the Hutchinsen club Saturday. "He will play the same position that Tony Bartirome, Pittsburgh Pirate first baseman, played last summer while cavorting with the Elks. "As brilliant on the basketball court as on the baseball field, the tall stringbean scored 629 points last season to set a scoring record while leading the Tigers to 23 victories in 31 cage games. "He plans to play basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters during the winter months."