Liberty Sports

 Nathaniel Semple grew up in Liberty and earned his undergraduate degree at William Jewell College before attending medical school at Washington University in St. Louis and doing post-graduate studies in Germany and Paris. He played singles and doubles tennis at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics.

 

Otto “Jaybird” Ray—a former Negro Leagues ballplayer who lived in Liberty, Missouri until he passed away in 1976.

Ray was born in Lexington, Missouri (1893) and played in the Negro leagues at a time when Black athletes were barred from Major League Baseball. A tough, versatile catcher/outfielder, he played for teams including the Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago Giants, St. Louis Stars—and he even managed the Cleveland Browns in 1924.

Come experience this history in person: See the newly dedicated Otto “Jay Bird” Ray Black Baseball Room (named for Clay County’s only Negro Leagues ballplayer), plus additional exhibit rooms, as well as the Clay County African-American Legacy Art Gallery at the Garrison School Cultural Center and Museum. 502 N. Water Street, Liberty, MO.

 

https://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/player.php?playerID=ray--01ott

 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1611400330143726

 

https://www.wjcfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/1980-Mid-America-Nazarene-Game-Program.pdf (First WJC football game 1888)

 

 

K.U. Basketball trivia for the day: The first intercollegiate basketball game in the state of Missouri was played at William Jewell College in 1899 against the University of Kansas, coached by James Naismith the inventor of basketball. The two coaches were good friends.

Jewell lost

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Lee_(American_football_coach)

 

Ron Hall

 

Scott Carroll 

 

Bill "Pee Wee" Summers

 

1968 William Jewell Baseball National Champions

 

Larry Holley

 

Liberty Wall of Honor (Last updated 2015) 

 

The Dueling Pistols......... 

https://bvmsports.com/2022/07/25/reliving-the-dueling-pistols-game-rivalry-between-liberty-and-excelsior-springs-football/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSDy_1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeniaHe-l0ZqRhZOOmrtzfjsUnAWw7k8dkH4xN_mEXTeOxc72LSlNmVW9U1Zw_aem_HxqLQF8SpYk2ImZQ7xkjcw