Editor’s Note: Bill Greason, now 101, is the last living player from the Negro Leagues era, a distinction he holds following the death of Ron “Schoolboy” Teasley on Feb. 3. Greason played for the Birmingham Black Barons before later becoming the first Black pitcher for the MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals. Guy Rawlings talked with Rev. Greason a couple years ago while he was pastoring Bethel Baptist Church. Bill Greason has many stories to tell. Here are some of them.
A 101-year-old Birmingham pastor has witnessed and been a factor for change throughout the last century.
Born Sept. 3, 1924, William Henry Greason grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. The third of five children, born to James and Lizi Greason.
“We learned how to help one another when everyone is po’. They know how to help each other,” Greason said.
His mother quickly became his teacher. Growing up in the face of racism, Greason’s parents taught him that you can’t change people.
“They taught us to be who we were, ” Greason said. “‘You’re my son. I want you to grow up to be a man.’ This is the way they taught us. ‘Don’t worry about what’s going on around us. You can’t change people. You can’t change things. Just be the best you can be.’”
The family lived just down the road from Martin Luther King and his son, who would later change America.
A promise to God while serving in the military
Upon graduating high school, Greason enlisted in the military, becoming one of the first Black Marines in U.S history. He was sent to Montford Point, North Carolina, for training, and later to Iwo Jima, Japan.
Greason lost two of his best friends during the war. It led to a promise that changed his life.
“If He saved me, anything He wanted me to do, I would do it,” Greason said.
Decades later, that promise would change his life. Before coming home, Greason would have a front-row seat to history. He was in Japan days after the atomic bomb was dropped.
“You saw one or two of those chimneys and the rest of it was gone,” Greason said. “It was a terrible sight.”
He also saw the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima.
“We heard the trumpet blow. We looked up and the guy had a small flag up on Iwo. After a while, they took it down and raised the larger one,” Greason said.
Integrating baseball
When he returned home, Greason started playing baseball. He would be acquired by Birmingham after dominating the Black Barons. In 1948, he came to Birmingham, where he was teammates with a 17-year-old named Willie Mays. The two built a relationship that continues to this day.
By the early 50s, Greason drew the attention of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Ultimately both teams would pass for different reasons. Greason brushes off his chance at history, saying, “There’s a reason for things. You don’t need to try and probe and open it up.”
Not long after, history called Greason’s name again. First, he integrated professional baseball in the state of Oklahoma with the Oklahoma City Indians. He would face racism while playing in the Texas League.
“Called me all kinds of names,” Greason said. “‘We gonna get you so and so.’ I didn’t say anything. I just smiled and pitched a little harder.”
In 1954 he received the call. The St. Louis Cardinals called him up to the majors. In St. Louis, he became the first Black pitcher in Cardinals history. Success would be fleeting. In 4 games, Greason threw 3 innings giving up 8 runs. To make matters worse, he took a $300 pay cut to play in the majors.
Baseball researchers said Greason never really had a role with St. Louis. Greason himself says it was hard to find anyone to just play catch with.
“The white players were afraid of being stigmatized. ‘You’re a so-and-so lover.. you love Black folks.’ If they played with you or something, they’d put labels on you. If you showed any kindness towards me, then you had something to deal with,” Greason said.
He would be sent back to the minors where he would excel. He eventually integrated the Houston Buffaloes Triple-A team.
Interrupted by Fidel Castro
During the offseasons, Greason would play in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. One memory sticks out in particular. The night Fidel Castro took over Cuba, Greason was playing on the field when Castro and his soldiers interrupted the game.
“They paused, and boom boom boom.. fired those weapons. I just moved further back in the dugout,” Greason said.
Back in the States, Greason was winding down his playing career. Before he did, Greason built relationships with Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Bob Gibson.
His promise comes full circle
He retired in 1959. He and his wife, Willie stayed in Birmingham. Greason took a job working at Pizitz Department Store. One night after work, the promise to God came full circle.
“I missed having an accident,” Greason said. “Seemingly, the Lord said to me, ‘Now is the time.’ The next day I went to the office and said, ‘Mr. Pizitz, I gotta go.’ He said, ‘Bill, what’s wrong with you?’ I said, ‘I gotta go, I got a call.’”
The bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church
By 1963, Bill and Willie were attending 16th Street Baptist Church. Greason was on the way to Tuscaloosa when a bomb went off, killing four little girls.
“We got to probably Bessemer we heard a BOOM!” Greason said. “That bomb went off where we used to congregate after Sunday school on Sunday.”
Greason believes God had his hand on him that day.
Rev. Greason’s legacy
By the late 60s, now-Reverend Greason began his ministry at a church in Bessemer. In 1971, he took over at Bethel Baptist in Berney Points.
Greason considers his agreement with God to be a life-long contract.
“It’s the Lord’s doing. I feel pretty good. My body is not as strong as it used to be. But I don’t have any problems with my body or my mind,” Greason said
In 2012 the Montford Point Marines received the Congressional Gold Medal. Greason calls it an honor. A couple of years later, he stepped back on the mound at Busch Stadium for the first time since 1954. The Cardinals honoring his place in franchise history.
What’s left for Rev. Bill Greason to accomplish? A lot.
He’s written a children’s book called, “Three Uniforms.” It tells the story of his amazing life. The foreword is written by his good friend, Willie Mays. It’s set to be released in the coming years.
This story was originally posted on WVTM in November of 2023. For an interview with Greason from that time, go to WVTM.
