Home / Full timeline / William “Bill” Lucas, a former professional baseball player, is named Director of Player Personnel by the Atlanta Braves club. It is the highest position ever held by a Black American in professional baseball.
William “Bill” Lucas, a former professional baseball player, is named Director of Player Personnel by the Atlanta Braves club. It is the highest position ever held by a Black American in professional baseball.
1976 (Sep 19)
William "Bill” Lucas, a former baseball player for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves of the National Baseball League, was named director of player personnel by the Atlanta Braves club. The position is the highest ever held by a Black American in professional baseball. After leaving the playing field in 1964, Lucas joined the Braves' executive staff in sales and promotions. The following year he worked in public relations, and then, in 1962, was named assistant farm director and director of player development. Of his new appointment, Lucas said that it held no special meaning. Wayne Embry, also an Black American, held a similar position for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association. Another prominent Black baseball figure, Hank Aaron, also formerly of the Atlanta Braves, led a campaign to get more Blacks into "front office” jobs in baseball and other professional sports.
References:
- • Hornsby, Alton. Chronology of African-American History: Significant Events and People from 1619 to the Present. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995.