1998 Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: BASEBALL
Parents: Alex and Emmie Turner
Wife: Rosemary
Daughter: Lisa
Son: Roman
Stan was born and raised in Flint and attended Roosevelt Elementary, Emerson Jr. High and graduated from Flint Northern High in 1951.
As a child Stan participated in all sports. Baseball, however, became his best sport and he played on several little league and city league championship teams. His first encounter with organized baseball was at Flint Northern High were he played third base and short stop under Coach Burt Smith. He played three years of varsity baseball at Northern and played American Legion ball during the summer. He played on a team that was Runner-up State Champions in Escanaba, Michigan.
After graduating from high school, Stan was approached by several major league scouts. He accepted a four-year scholarship from MSC (now MSU), and made the varsity baseball team his freshman year. Stan was also the first black to play on a MSC baseball team.
Stan remembers when the MSC baseball team traveled to North Carolina and he could not eat with the team. He had to eat in the restaurant kitchen or someone would bring his food while he stayed on the bus. He also remembers staying with a black family in town while his other team mates stayed on campus. Stan was the first black to play on Duke’s campus.
Stan left MSC to sign a professional contract with the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland sent him to Keokuk, Iowa, Class B league. Indian Scout Nap Ross of Detroit who signed Stan called him one of the finest prospects he had ever seen. He played with team mates such as Roger Maris and Gaylord Perry and played against, Luis Aparicio, Earl Battey and Harman Killabrew, just to name a few.
Stan was able to play a half season before he was drafted into the United States Army. After his discharge from service, Cleveland sent him to Reading, Pennsylvania of the Eastern League, and then the South American League. While playing baseball, Stan became friends with Willie Mays. In the 1957 baseball season, he payed in the Class A League in Pennsylvania and hit over 300 to lead the league in home runs. After leaving professional baseball, Stan returned to Flint and played Flint City Class A Baseball with the Flint Giants under Travis Tidwell. The city league consisted of players such as Fredie Williams, Bob Crane, Don Nelson, Jimmie Taylor, Jim Luckado, Bob Leach, Dick Leach and Edward Smith
Stan always had family support in all his athletic endeavors, especially from his brother Nat. His father and mother were always there for Stan and supported him in every way but due to their religion, they never saw Stan play any sport.
Stan is a retired medical doctor and resides in the Flint area.
Congratulations, Stan Turner, you have made your mark in Flint history.
