Herb Simpson was born in Hahnville, Louisiana on August 29th, 1920. He had two older brothers and two younger sisters. Dad was a farmer - sugar cane and rice - he was also a baseball player. Herb believes his dad was far better than he would ever become. Herb had been told by many that if they could have white washed his daddy, he'd have been a pitcher marked in history. After farming, Dad would get work in the shipyard as a dockhand. Herb remembers seeing his dad in uniform a few times and really liked what he saw. He would catch with dad in the street and pitch, catch and hit. Dad poured hours of coaching into his young boy.
Herb attended John W. Hoffman Jr. High School and Ray Donald High School. While in high school, he played semi-pro baseball with the Algiers Giants, coached by Wesley Barret, owned by Chester Riffey and Harvey Everson. They began their team travels in a back of a truck before they could eventually get a team bus.
Throughout Herbs career he played baseball for the following teams:
Seattle Steelheads - Cincinnati Crescents - Harlem Globetrotters - Chicago American Giants, 1951 - Spokan Indians 1952 - Albuquerque 52-54, coached by Cookie Lavagetia - Oakland Oaks AAA in 1954 (team had 4 first basemen - including Billy Martin and Piper Davis.
In 1946 Herb played in the Pacific Coast League for the Seattle Steelheads and later that year joined a group of players to make a Hawaiian All-Star team. In 1942 through 1945 he played ball with his military attachment in England (2 years) and Germany (6 months), and then returned in February of 1946.
Mom was always looking after Herb, quick to tell him what he needed to do or when he needed to be home. After three years and six months, in the service, he recalls being home with his mom and dad. The fellows came by to pick up Herb and go out. Mom chimed in to be home by 12 o'clock. Dad stood up and said Uncle Sam called and demanded our boy. We sent him a man. He served his country I believe he can stay out later than that. Mom said to be in by 1:00. They all laughed, but Herb respected Mom's wishes.
Herb acquired the nickname "briefcase" while playing with an outfielder - pitcher by the name of Harry "Suitcase" Simpson. Harry was a 6'1", 175 lbs left-hander. Because they shared the same last name, Herb, all of 5'81/2" tall, would take on the name "briefcase".
In Brooklyn, Herb recalled a game in which the opposition walked his friend, number four batter Lucas, to face him. Herb stepped into the box and hammered a triple - he chased Lucas around the bases, forcing him to score. Lucas stated that he would prefer to bat behind Herb to avoid this kind of situation.
Herb played against the legendary "Cool Papa" Bell Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. Playing for the Globe Trotters, Herb stepped up to the plate to face Paige. Paige would ask Herb what he wanted. Herb replied "fastball". Satchel proceeded to fire three pitches by a dumbfounded Simpson. He would later that season get an opportunity to save face hitting two singles. What a relief that was!
Herb remembers getting $2.00 a day for meal money - $200 to $300 a month to play if you were lucky. Multiple games in a day were not uncommon. Start the day with breakfast and go straight to play - travel 50-60 miles, eating on the bus, to play an afternoon game and sometimes travel another 50-60 miles to play an 8:00 PM game. He loved every minute of it.
Herb played some great ball with Albuquerque in the West Texas New Mexico League. He was the only Black player on the team and enjoyed very much playing with this organization. Aware that Herb was planning to marry, the team owners insisted he be married at home plate on the team's home field. It would be a memorable wedding day for Herb and his wife. When Herb left the Albuquerque League there would be 30 - 40 black players.
In Amarillo it was most of this time quite confusing to be black, especially being associated with an all-white team of ball players. For instance, Herb explained in the daytime if they went to a restaurant to eat, he had to enter the rear of the restaurant where in the kitchen would be a tale set for him. He would eat and join his teammates outside when the meal was completed. Occasionally, however, after an evening game, three teammates would enter in front of Herb and three behind him through the front door and to seating where they would all be served.
At the stadium, one belligerent fan called Herb everything but a child of God. His voice rang out over the cheers. They ignored this man for eight innings until two of Herbs teammates would ask the man to meet them at the end of the grandstand, as they wanted to speak with him. After a brief word and a few punches, this man raced from the corner to return to his seat "You could have heard a pin drop", recalled Herb. Needless to say, this man's day of creating havoc and mischief were seen no more. Herb was well known in town. He couldn't walk down the street without being greeted by fans.
After baseball, Herb worked with the School Board for 20 years and the state of Louisiana for another ten years. With his baseball playing days well behind him and a thirty-year working career on top of that, Herb decided to retire.
Herb today sees children 9 and 10 years old running the streets late into the evening. He is most disturbed by this. He hopes that the curfew recently imposed will persuade kids to stay off the streets and out of trouble.
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