Valmy Thomas (Baseball)
Valmy was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to Virgin Islands
Parents, Valdermar and Clemencia Martin Thomas, on October 21, 1929. Valmy
is the first Virgin Islanders to play major league baseball; its President,
Horace Stoneham, signed him onto the New York Giants team.
Driven by an intense love for baseball that began “the year
before he was born,” he participated in high school games, but got his first
big break during his military training while stationed in Puerto Rico. He
found enough time to participate I the Santurce amateur baseball circuit and
played in Columbia, Mexico, Santo Domingo, South America and Canada. He
played with the Santurce Crabbers for thirteen years before moving on to
major league baseball. Prior to playing with the New York Giants he played
with the Pillsbury Pirates.
His remarkable performance earned him not only local but also regional and
international commendations. He was voted rookie of the Puerto Rico winter
baseball league. Following his stint with the Giants, he was invited to
teach baseball in Sudan, Africa, but declined the offer and subsequently
returned to the Virgin Islands. He is the president of the Horse Racing
Association, a member of the international baseball league and founder of
the Little League series. He resides in St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
Julian Alexis “The Hawk” Jackson (Boxing)
Julian was born September 12, 1960, on St. Thomas, Virgin
Islands to John and Rosa Jackson. Julian began his boxing career at age 14
under the leadership of the late Wilhelm “Willie” George. He held the WBA
Continental Americas Title in 1984-1986 and moved on to win the WBA Junior
Middleweight Title in Las Vegas on November 21, 1987. He gave up that title
and moved up in weight after beating Terry Norris in the 2nd
round of by a knockout. He held that belt from 1990-1992 and again in 1995.
During his time as four-time champion, he held a "no-lost”
record from 1981-1986. Julian had 13 1st round knockouts, and
only 3 of his frights have gone the distance in his career. In 1992 Julian
had the highest percentage knockout record because of his punching power.
His 93.1% punching power was even greater than Nigel Benn, Marvin Hagler and
Stanley Ketchel. He was known as the hardest hitting fighter the prize ring
has ever seen. Julian held a record of 55 wins, 6 loses and 49 knockouts.
During Julian’s career, the
Government of the Virgin Islands chose him as the Diamond Jubilee Ambassador
in 1992. He represented the Virgin Islands in fights in many parts of the
world, such as Spain, Mexico, California, New York, Equador and Florida. The
Hawk fought on cards with Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez and Larry Holmes.
In 1992 Julian was chosen as the centerfold of the Sports Illustrated
Magazine. He has made special appearances at schools, churches and sports
conventions. He was nominated for the Boxing Hall of Fame one-year after his
retirement. He is the proud father of six children and resides in St.
Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Alfonso “Piggy” Gerard
(Baseball)
Alfonso Gerard was born in Christiansted, St. Croix, on July 26,
1916. Young Alfonso received instruction in baseball from a young Irish
Catholic priest named Meehan, who was affiliated with Holy Cross. Gerard was
mainly a pitcher on St. Croix growing up. He admired Dizzy Dean and
especially Carl Hubbell, a fellow lefty.
As a young adult, Piggy played ball with the local branch of the
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This semi-military organization, which
came to the Virgin Islands in 1935, was enacted with Federal funds during
the New Deal. Members lived in camp for two years, learned a trade and
earned salary of $12-$45 a month. The CCC made new roads, planted trees, and
maintained parks and so forth.
In 1938, when he was 21 year old, Piggy moved to Puerto Rico,
where he adoped the Spanish spelling of his given name. Piggy graduated to
the top local level, AA, where he became the star player/manager for the San
Juan Pirates. He broke into professional winter league baseball with
Santurce in 1944. He was co-winner of the Rookie of the Year award with Luis
“Canena” Marquez, one of the all-time idols in Puerto Rico. He batted .348
in 141 at bats and led the league with 12 stolen bases. He came to notice
not only for his ability but also for his even temperament and clean-living
habits (he neither drank or smoke). Alfonso “Piggy” Gerard resides in St.
Croix, Virgin Islands.
Alvin
McBean (Baseball)
The third of ten children, Alvin O’Neal McBean was born in
Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands in 1938. Growing up, he played baseball
every day, like the kids in Santo Domingo, in front of a house or in a
little lot. There was no little league back then. Al first played organized
hardball in high school, but it was with the local catholic school, because
Charlotte Amalie High no long had a team.
He also played with assorted local clubs, including the Texaco
Stars (with Elrod Hendricks as Catcher), the Braves and the Baboons. He did
not do much pitching back then rather he played all positions. His
100-dollar bonus long since spent. Al first went to Puerto Rico in the
winter of 1958-59, winning rookie of the yea honors with Ponce. Al was one
of the first Virgin islanders to enter professional baseball.
His exceptional career began through a mere coincidence when at
age 19, he was newspaper photographer assigned to cover Pirates tryout camp
in the Virgin Islands. The scout leader involved McBean to “make a few
throws.” Impressed with his performance, Howe Haak signed him to training
camp. McBean subsequently spent eight years serving as starting pitcher or
reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates. When the Pirates called him up in July
196l, he made two starts in 27 appearances. The next year, he posted career
highs in starts (29) and wins (15), second on the staff in both categories.
In 1968, as a result of the extension draft, he was reassigned
to the San Diego Padres. By 1969 he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodges and
in 1970 back to the Pirates for one month. He ended his career with the
Philadelphia Phillies AAA affiliate in Eugene, Oregon. His most memorable
performance was on July 28th. In a 7-1 victory, McBean hit a
grand slam, and in the ninth, he threw at least half-dozen bloopers pitches
and earned his complete game when Orlando Cepeda bounced a blooper to
shortstop Jose Pagon for the final out. He resides in St. Thomas and is
involved in many community activities including the Little League and has a
stadium named after him.
Glen
“Kimble” Williams (Basketball)
Glen ranks eighth on the Syracuse University all-time scoring
list with 1,727 career points. Williams played from 1974-1977. His greatest
year was undoubtedly the 1976-77 season when as captain of the Redmen he
scored 666 points passing Bob Zawaluk’s 26-year old record for pints in a
season. The Virgin Islands resident had a 21.5 game average and also handed
out over 100 assists for the year. His magical performance at the Joe
Lapchick Tournament saw him score 37 points against Fairfield in the
Championship Game, just one point shy of the Alumni Hall record at the time.
Throughout his four years at SU, Glen maintained a
sharpshooter’s touch, never going under .500 from the field. Coach Carnesecca often referred to his as the “complete player”, handing him the
toughest defensive assignments to add to his huge offensive role. Williams
currently ranks fought on the career field goals made list with 712, and
field goals made in a single season list with 256.
Holder of 6 MVP Awards from various College Basketball Tournaments. Two-time
All-Tournament Team of the NIT. Was on Two top ten ranked SU Basketball
teams. Selected to play on four Senior All-Star teams.
Following graduating, the
Milwaukee Bucks drafted him 27th overall, and he played
professional basketball in both the Eastern League and the Western
Association for two seasons. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons and played
for one year, sent to the WBA Champions Tucson Gunners. He also played
basketball in Italy, Spain Argentine, and Qatar (Middle East). Glen resides
in New York where he conducts basketball camps for young people.
Emile
Griffith (Boxing)
Born February 3, 1938 in St.
Thomas, Virgin Islands, Griffith moved to New York City at the young ago of
14. After winning the New York Golden Gloves titles in 1957-58 and the
Eastern Regional and Inner-City Golden Gloves in 1958, his career
long-handlers, Howie Albert and Gil Clancy turned him pro at the age of 20.
Griffith was the consummate boxer who combined speed, aggressiveness,
determination and occasional power with superb defensive prowess and
incredible stamina. A welterweight with the shoulders of a light
heavyweight, Griffith moved around the ring with all the grace of a gazelle.
Well disciplined by Clancy in all facets of boxing fundamentals, Griffith
had the uncanny ability to maneuver his opponent into a “cornering” position
where he would employ hooks to the body and head followed by a formidable
right hand. Always, a likeable fan favorite and well respected by the press,
Griffith would often break the ice with reporters by chanting “phrases of
the day” with his melodic island voice, followed by an ear-to-ear smile.
It was doing the 1060 licensing period that Griffith would earn
his spot as the number one challenger by beating Luis Rodriquez. He would go
on to win the World Welterweight Championship for the first time on April 1,
1961 by knocking out Benny “Kid” Paret in the 13th round in
Miami. He successfully defended against Gasper Ortega in Los Angeles before
losing to Paret at MSG on September 30, 1961.
Griffith, the 60’s man who restored interest and validity in the
welterweight division, lifted New York boxing out of the mob-dominated 50’s
and put the spotlight on Madison Square Garden as much, if not more, than
any boxer in history. He now resides in New Jersey with his adopted son,
Luis.
Horace Clarke (Baseball)
Horace, the youngest of six children, was born in Frederiksted
in 1940. Horace joined the Braves, a local team in the St. Croix Baseball
League. He played for five years. He signed his first pro contract at the
age of 17. Yankees scout “Jose Pepe” Seda, discovered him.
Horace began his winter ball career in the winter of 1959-60
with the San Juan Senadores. During the 1962-63 season the Ponce Leones
traded for the infielder. Clarke was a regular with Ponce for five years,
batting .281 overall and leading the league in triples and runs scored as
the All-Star second baseman in 1965-66. He was an All-Star again the next
winter..at shortstop. The Yankees asked him to stop playing winter ball
after the 1967-68 season for fear of injury or overwork.
Horace progressed steadily in the minors, batting .300 for Double-A Amarillo
in 1962 and .299 for Triple-A Richmond in 1964. He broke in with the Yankees
in May 1965 serving as the utility infielder. He was a durable fixture for
seven years, averaging 151 games. His fielding was a its best the first two
seasons, but his strongest offensive year came in ’69 when he hit a
career-high .285 with an on-base percentage of .340 and 33 steals.
In 1970 Horace broke up three possible no-hitters in the ninth
inning, foiling Joe Niekro, Sony Siebert, and Jim Rooker. In 1974 Clarke was
dealt to San Diego in May for $25,000 in cash. He appeared in more
major-league games than any other V.I. player. Horace now resides in St.
Croix.
