On December 13, 2025, Roy Partlow is one of 13 inducted into the Puerto Rico (PR) Pro Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF). Born in Washington, Georgia, 95 miles east of Atlanta, 40 miles southeast of Athens, on June 18, 1912, he passed away at 74 on April 19, 1987, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He qualified for 2025 induction with five PR seasons—two more than the minimum of three required for imports, for Stateside or Cuban ballplayers. Five of 13 inductees were imports (Luke Easter, Billy Byrd, Fernando Díaz Pedroso, Partlow, and Roger Freed). Ernie Harwell—“Voice of the [Detroit] Tigers,” was from Washington, Georgia. Ditto for Fred Thomas, a 30+ year bass guitarist with James Brown and collaborator on some #1 hit songs.

Partlow, LHP/OF, played at 6’0” and 180 pounds. He is the only PRWL pitcher to lead the loop in BA: .443 BA in 1940-41. Bob Thurman is the only other OF/P with a .400+ BA season: .411 in 1947-48. Table I reflects a 1938-39 to 1948-49 PRWL “Dream Line-up” with outstanding single-season BA/SLG by position, for the loop’s first 11 campaigns, plus 13 honorable mention (HM) reserves. Partlow was the first American import to earn a PRWL batting crown. His .443 BA is the third-highest in Table I, trailing Joshua Gibson’s .480 and Perucho Cepeda’s .465.

Table I: Mythical 1938-39 to 1948-49 PRWL Line-Up/13 Subs (Single-Season BA) 118+ AB

AG: Aguadilla; CAG: Caguas, GMA: Guayama; MAY: Mayagüez; PON: Ponce; SAN: Santurce; SJ: San Juan. Sources: beisbol101.com, José Crescioni Benítez, and Tom Van Hyning.

A SJ Folk Hero After Defeating Guayama’s Satchel Paige, December 23, 1939

Partlow had a 7-4 W-L mark for the 1939-40 Santa Clara (Cuba) Leopards when SJ Senators official Pedro Vásquez traveled to Havana in mid-December 1939 to sign him. It was accomplished, and the duo returned to PR. Partlow was highly coveted since he pitched for the East Team in the 1939 Negro Leagues’ All-Star Game as one of three Homestead Grays, with Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard.

The lefty barely had time to unpack when he drove to Ponce on December 17, 1939, to join SJ, who were playing Guayama on a neutral field because of problems with the Brujos home (Ina Calimano) stadium.  This Partlow-Paige matchup ended in a 5-5 draw when darkness set in. The game was made up six days later at Escobar Stadium, with Partlow prevailing, 5-1, over Paige. After Partlow’s two-hit win, it was bedlam, with excited fans carrying Partlow and catcher Clarence Palm on their shoulders.

Each PRWL team was allowed three imports. Gene Benson, SJ CF, bonded with Clarence Palm, more so than with Partlow, called “Silent Roy.” “Clarence was one of the most comical men around,” grinned Benson. “He and I were great buddies. We would walk into the city (SJ) together, check what was playing at the different theaters. He would look up and see Hoy, so he said to me, ‘Ben, you know, Hoy must be a heck of a picture. It’s playing all over town.’ But it was the coming attractions of today, it meant ‘today.’”

Partlow’s 11-4 mark and 1.49 ERA delighted SJ fans. However, Guayama’s Satchel Paige (19-3 and 1.93 ERA) had the last laugh after the Witches (Brujos) swept SJ, four games to none, in the finals. Paige went 2-0 to Partlow’s 0-2. (Partlow had replaced Raymond Brown—7-0—in SJ’s rotation.) Partlow’s .366 BA topped all pitchers. Table II includes the top 1939-40 PRWL hurlers and key pitching stats (wins, SO, ERA).

Table II: Most Wins, SO, and Lowest ERAs, 1939-40 PRWL Season

AG: Aguadilla, GMA: Guayama; MAY: Mayagüez; PON: Ponce; SAN: Santurce; SJ: San Juan. Source: José Crescioni Benítez.

Partlow’s five-season PRWL hitting/pitching stats are in Tables III and IV.

Table III: Partlow’s PRWL Hitting Stats, 1939-1941 and 1944-47

1946-47 D/T not available. Source: https://beisbol101.com/jugador/roy-partlow/

Table IV: Partlow’s PRWL Pitching Stats, 1939-1941 and 1944-47

Source: https://beisbol101.com/jugador/roy-partlow/

Some Other Partlow Accomplishments

• Pitched for 1940 Centauros of Maracaibo; won their final game, 9-1, July 15, with Josh Gibson catching;
• 1943 Negro World Series Champion with Homestead Grays;
• 1946 Montreal Royals teammate of Jackie Robinson; Partlow was 2-0, 5.59 ERA; demoted to Class C Trois Rivieres (Three Rivers); 10-1 W-L helped them win CAML (Canadian-American League) title; Partlow replaced John Wright on Montreal roster; both starred for Three Rivers;
• 5-0 record for 1951 Escogido Lions, Dominican Republic Summer League; his manager was Luis St. Claire, aka Pepe Lucas; Willard Brown was his teammate.

   Thanks to Gene Benson and Miguel Dupouy Gómez. Jorge Colón Delgado did the editing and photo placements.