1987 Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: MULTIPLE SPORTS
Parents: Maggie & Robert
Wife: Elnor
Sons: Micael, Timothy, Robert
A mild mannered sensitive and quiet man, Robert Pea’s outstanding sports career covered over ten years in Flint. A versatile athlete in softball, baseball, football and track, Pea was a five letter winner at Northern High School in the years 1937-39.
As an outstanding pitcher with the Yellow Dogs, he won the reputation as one the best in Flint sports circles. In 1936 he pitched his team to the Flint Class A Championship in a year that saw them lose only two games;19 won and 1 lost in league games. In two consecutive years (1937-38) he set a record by pitching two no-hitters. In 1936 Pea won the most games pitching in the I.M.A. league. His pitching included many no-hitters and one and two hitters throughout his career.
As part of a Black team, Pea pitched the first game representing Flint in the Michigan Majors Softball Tournament, and hit Flint’s first home run in that 1939 Tournament.
In 1940 Pea pitched for the Yellow Dogs State Champions and was a Flint City League All-Star pitcher in 1946.
As a baseball player at Northern High School in 1938-39 he was one of the leading hitters. In a game against Central at Athletic Park. Pea hit the longest home run by a Flint high school player. In 1939 Northern won a record 12 consecutive games with Pea being the leading hitter on the team. They won the City and Saginaw Valley Championships two years straight.
Robert signed with the professional baseball team, the Philadelphia House of David, in the Negro National League.
He was on the City, Saginaw Valley and State Championship football team at Northern High School in 1938.
One of Pea’s greatest thrills was running the 100 yard dash against Jessie Owens.
Of his sports accomplishments, Pea says “It wasn’t easy, but it really was fun!”
