John T. Banks Sr. (August 11, 1922 – December 6, 2011) was an American baseball player who pitched and played first base in the

Negro leagues The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be ...

in the 1940s and 1950s. Banks began playing semi-professional baseball while still attending Camden High School. He then played for the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro National League before serving three years in the

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. He rejoined the team in 1947. He joined the

Negro American League The Negro American League was one of the several Negro leagues created during the time organized American baseball was segregated. The league was established in 1937, and disbanded after its 1962 season. Negro American League franchises :''Ann ...

in 1950 and played through 1959 on regional teams and for barnstorming off-season squads. He is also listed as playing with the

Baltimore Elite Giants The Baltimore Elite Giants were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro leagues from to . The team was established by Thomas T. Wilson, in Nashville, Tennessee as the semi-pro Nashville Standard Giants on March 26, 1920. The team w ...

in 1950. Banks died in

Voorhees, New Jersey Voorhees Township is a township in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 29,131, reflecting an increase of 1,005 (+3.6%) from the 28,126 counted in the 2000 census. Voorhees ...

on December 6, 2011, at the age of 89.

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* 1922 births 2011 deaths Baltimore Elite Giants players Philadelphia Stars players African-American baseball players African Americans in World War II United States Army personnel of World War II 21st-century African-American sportspeople African-American United States Army personnel Baseball players from Camden, New Jersey {{US-baseball-pitcher-1920s-stub