Lloyd, Pop (1884-1964), was one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the Negro leagues. The Negro leagues were professional baseball leagues for black players who were barred from white-controlled major league baseball from the 1890’s until April 15, 1947, when Jackie Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Lloyd batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was a brilliant shortstop as well as an outstanding hitter. Statistics in the Negro leagues were often incomplete and unreliable, but Lloyd has been credited with batting .400 or higher in several seasons. In 1977, Lloyd was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
John Henry Lloyd was probably born in Palatka, Florida, on April 25, 1884. As a teenager, he played on a semiprofessional team in Jacksonville. In 1905, he moved to Georgia to play catcher for the semiprofessional Macon Acmes. He began his professional career in 1906 with the Cuban X-Giants and played in the Negro leagues until 1932. He also played 12 or 13 winter seasons in Cuba between 1908 and 1930. Like many other players in the Negro leagues, Lloyd played for numerous teams. He rarely stayed with a team for more than three years, frequently switching to clubs that offered more money. Other players affectionately gave him the nickname “Pop” because he was a kind, friendly mentor. Lloyd was a player-manager for more than 10 seasons.
Lloyd began his career in the Negro leagues as a second baseman, and moved to shortstop after one season. He played second base again in 1924, then moved to first base in 1925. After retiring from the Negro leagues in 1932, Lloyd settled in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was a player-manager of semiprofessional teams until 1942. Lloyd worked as a custodian for the post office and the school system and became active in Little League baseball in Atlantic City. A community ballpark built in 1949 was named after him. Lloyd died on March 19, 1964.
See also Negro leagues .
