Sports
Bruce Petway
1885–1941 · baseball catcher and manager
Strong-armed Negro-league catcher who played for and managed the Detroit Stars from 1919 to 1925 and scouted Turkey Stearnes for them.
- Born
Nashville, Tennessee- Died
Chicago, Illinois
aged 55- Birth name
- Bruce Franklin Petway
- Detroit years
- 1919–1925
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Bruce Petway gave up medical studies for baseball and became famous for his throwing arm; he is said to have been one of the first catchers to throw to second base from a crouch. After a decade with the Leland Giants, Philadelphia Giants and Chicago American Giants, he moved to the new Detroit Stars in 1919, catching alongside Pete Hill and pitcher Bill Holland at Mack Park. He stayed in Detroit through 1925, and in the 1920s he also served as the club's playing manager. On a trip south he scouted a young Nashville hitter, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes, who finished high school first and then joined the Stars in 1923 to become the franchise's greatest player. Petway's years in Detroit linked the pioneering Chicago teams of Rube Foster with the Stars' strongest era.
Highlights
- Catcher for the Detroit Stars 1919–1925
- Managed the Stars as player-manager in the 1920s
- Scouted Hall of Famer Turkey Stearnes for Detroit
- Known as one of the first catchers to throw from the squat
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1919–1925
Mack Park (site)
Demolished
The Detroit Stars' home ballpark throughout Petway's years with the club.