Ulysses Redd was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 13, 1914. He spent a great deal of his childhood years under the care and supervision his grandmother and his grandfather (whom he referred to as "Papa"). He had tremendous respect for his grandpa. "Sometimes you could get away with a lot, but when he caught you, and he always did, you would pay for every bit of it!" Grandma was a wonderful woman that loved to cook. The entire neighborhood loved that about her. Redd never had the chance to get to know his father personally. He would later learn that his dad was killed when he was just a baby. His mom later remarried and gave Redd two younger brothers and a step-dad.
Redd attended local public schools from elementary through high school. Baseball was the subject that seemed to always be on his mind. His afternoons were spent throwing a tennis ball onto the roof of his home and racing from side to side to catch it when it rolled off. His neighborhood friends, black and white, were usually right there with him. They were all very close. "We did not know what segregation was," recalled Redd speaking of his childhood friends in Baton Rouge. Black and White mixed amongst each other, played together, sometimes fought each other, but we were never divided by hatred.
Redd's step-dad was not very big on sports. He enjoyed outdoor adventure and duck hunting. He wanted to share this joy with his step-son. One day, young Ulysses went to the woods with his step-dad to hunt. A weather front rolled in and the temperatures began to drop sharply. They got turned around, totally disoriented - they were just plain lost. After spending hours upon hours in the declining weather, Redd began to feel like he was on the verge of freezing to death. They would eventually find their way to safety. By the time they returned home that evening it was already clear in Redd's mind that his hunting days were over.
After Ulysses graduated high school, he attended one semester of college and then played baseball with a local team called the Black Pelicans. His friend and manager of the Shreveport team, Mr. Welch, tried so hard to persuade him into joining his team there. Ulysses was soon convinced and moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. His activity on the baseball diamond was much more publicized there, and the chances of being recognized were far greater. After three years, a scout from the Negro Leagues Birmingham Black Barons came to the Shreveport team looking for Redd. Mr. Welch again encouraged Redd to jump at this opportunity. So he signed with the Black Barons and soon left Shreveport to join his new team in spring training.
Jelly Taylor was the manager of the Birmingham team at that time. He injected Redd into the spring training program with veteran Black Barons Lyman Bostock, Tommy "Toots" Sampson, Dan Bankhead, Paul Harvey, and Lorenzo "Piper" Davis to name a few. Paul Harvey would end up being Redd's roommate. At the end of spring training in Jackson, Mississippi, they came home to Birmingham to open the 1940 season against the Kansas City Monarchs. Ulysses was not certain where he would fit into the line up until he was summoned to take his knocks (batting practice) before the game started. He would take a glance at the starting line-up on his way to the dugout to find he was starting at shortstop, batting 6th, and he was excited. They did well that Sunday splitting the double header. Redd had a great season.
By the end of 1940, Ulysses was gearing up for a career in the Negro Leagues. And then in 1941, Redd's plans were dealt what seemed to be a minor draw back. He was drafted in the United States Armed Forces and assigned to the 7th Air Force in Florida and thought that he would serve a short duty tour and return to play more Negro Leagues Baseball. So, he played for the post team to keep his baseball skills sharp. But fate would not have it this way. On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Redd was immediately reassigned to serve in the South Pacific assigned to the 1894th Engineer Aviation Battalion, in Okinawa and Saipan. He remained here through the Nuclear Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. His tour was extended to cover a 4-1/2 year period, at which time they would encourage him to re-enlist. But Redd would choose return home to Baton Rouge and with direction from his old coach Mr. Welch, pick up his bat and glove and make his way back to the fields of the Negro Leagues.
Upon returning to the States, Redd received a letter, inviting him to play in Cincinnati for a start-up team called the Crescents. He recognized the names of other players that already filled the team roster and decided to join the Crescents for the winter of 1946. This Cincinnati Crescent organization would soon become the Seattle Steelheads, and Redd continued with them briefly. In 1947 and 1948, Redd would travel north to find a spot on a team in the Canadian Baseball Organization as so many of the other Negro League players did at that time. Many of his teammates chose do the same, finding better pay and a warm reception. During this time, he returned in the fall to join the Harlem Globetrotters baseball team, barnstorming the countryside. After two years, their Canadian team was reclassified, funding was decreased, and the owner begged them to stay, but Redd saw it in his best interest to come back to the United States where he found a home with the Chicago American Giants. This is where he would ultimately end his baseball career. He would once again work with the Barnstorming Harlem Globetrotters, not playing for them, but driving the bus for them. Redd would eventually be employed by the United States Postal Service, where he served as a letter carrier for 25 1/2 years. He retired in 1982 with over 30 years of government service.
Redd spends most of his days with "Myrt", his wife of more then 48 years and Jake, his family dog. When it's possible, he enjoys a playing a round of golf or two.
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