By
Joy Neighbors
Dateline:
Summer 1912 – 1914
Ah
summer – the crack of the bat, the cheers of the crowds – baseball was in full
swing once again. But now that West Baden Springs Hotel owner Lee Sinclair had
his own hotel baseball team, rival hotel owner Tom Taggart decided to introduce
a team from French Lick Springs Hotel – The Plutos.
Named
after the hotel’s mascot – a red devil said to resemble Pluto, ruler of the
underworld – the team was made up of local hotel staff. The Plutos (also known
as the Red Devils) were an early Independent Negro League baseball club that
entertained guests and locals alike. The club began in 1912 and played
countless games against their “rivals” – the West Baden Sprudels with some games played at Pluto Park and others at the Sprudels’s ballfield located
inside the double decker bicycle track at West Baden Springs Hotel.
During
the three years the Plutos existed, the club played 62 games, winning 23,
losing 37 and tying only two times. From 1912 – 1914, the closest the team
placed in the Western Independent Clubs was 6th in 1913. The top hitters and
pitchers for each of the three years were as follows:
 |
| Dicta Johnson |
The
1912, Plutos were managed by H. P. Warmack. The top hitter was James “Big Jim”
Norman and the top pitcher was Louis “Dicta” Johnson, known for his spitball.
In
1913, Sam Gordon took on managerial duties for the team. Henry “Mack” McLaughlin
was the top hitter and James Lynch the top pitcher.
 |
| Sam Gordon |
For
their final year, Gordon continued to manage and Arthur Gilliard was named top
pitcher.
The
most popular team members for the team’s three year duration were:
Todd
Allen – 3rd baseman (1914)
 |
| Mule Armstrong |
George
Isaac “Mule” Armstrong – Catcher (1912)
William
“Bingo” Bingham – Outfielder (1914)
Sam
Crow – Infielder (1914)
Elwood
“Bingo” DeMoss – 2nd baseman (1912 – 1914)
 |
| Dizzy Dismukes |
William
“Dizzy” Dismukes – Pitcher who also played for the WB Sprudels (1913)
Henry
Hannon Jr. – Outfielder – 1913 - 1914
Dan
Kennard – Catcher – (1913 – 1914)
Harry
Moore – Utility player (1913)
When
the Plutos dissolved, team members spread out around the Midwest taking positions on numerous Independent Negro League teams. In 1920, the
Negro National League was formed and professional Black baseball became a force
to reckon with.