Walter (Buck) Leonard (1907 -1997) baseball Walter Leonard grew up in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. His Negro League baseball career began with the Brooklyn Royal Giants in 1933. Leonard played first base and was known for his smooth abilities in the field. In 1934 Leonard started his 17 year career for the Homestead Grays where he was named captain of the team. In 1948 he led the Negro League with a .391 batting average and 42 home runs and pitchers feared his batting abilities. Leonard played in 12 All-Star games and won the Negro World Series in 1943 and 1944. Leonard, along with his team, led the Homestead Grays to nine straight league championships (1937-1945). Leonard was known as one of the greatest players in the League, where he was a home run leader. During the winter off seasons, Leonard continued to play baseball for Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. The Homestead Grays team disbanded and Leonard went on to play baseball in Mexico from 1951-1955. After Leonard retired from baseball in 1955, he returned to Rocky Mount, North Carolina and became an assistant probation officer. In 1972 Leonard was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Mexico Hall of Fame. In 1974 he was inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame. He was named one of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players by The Sporting News magazine in 1999. James (Jim) Bibby (1944-) baseball Jim Bibby from Franklinton, North Carolina, attended college at Fayetteville State University. In 1965 he was supposed to begin his MLB (Major League Baseball) career with the New York Mets as a pitcher. However, in the spring of 1966 he was drafted into the United States Army where he served for two years. Six years later in 1972, Bibby made his major league debut as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals. Soon after his debut, he was traded to the Texas Rangers. On July 30, 1973, he pitched the first no-hitter game for the Texas Ranger's team history. He also played for the Cleveland Indians and in 1978 signed to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, helping them to win the 1979 World Series. He retired from Major League Baseball in 1984. 132 .