Pop Lloyd
| Birthdate | 4/25/1884 |
| Death Date | 3/19/1965 |
| Debut Year | 1906 |
| Year of Induction | 1977 |
| Teams | Negro Leagues |
| Position | Shortstop |
John Henry “Pop” Lloyd was the best shortstop of his era as well as a top run producer. After his playing career he became a successful manager.
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John Henry "Pop" Lloyd was inducted into the Hall in 1977 along with Martin Dihigo
John Henry "Pop" Lloyd was inducted into the Hall in 1977 along with Martin Dihigo
A scientific hitter, Pop Lloyd hit over .400 several times over the course of his 27-year career as a player in the Negro Leagues. In the field he was widely regarded as the best shortstop in the history of the Black Baseball.
Baseball Reference shows his statistics in the National Negro League, Eastern Colored League, and American Negro League. In 8 seasons Lloyd hit .349 with a .400 on-base percentage. His OPS+ was 131.
In all, shortstop Lloyd played a quarter-century of professional baseball. The conditions of black baseball during his time paled in comparison to the big leagues.
According to the Hall of Fame’s website, Lloyd once played catcher without a mask because his team could not afford one. The Hall of Famer improvised, donning a wire wastepaper basket to protect his face.
Lloyd was recognized for his greatness in 1977 when he was inducted into the Hall with Martin DiHigo.
Before then, the only Cooperstown men with Negro League ties were Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Monte Irvin, Cool Papa Bell, Judy Johnson, and Oscar Charleston.
