Now, I have never been to a wrestling event, but from what hear is that it is an over-produced soap opera featuring 300 pound men in tights hitting each other. Not my scene. Give me a green field, a hot dog and the sweet scent of pine tar and I’m all set. But one major leaguer decided to trade that all in to promote the aforementioned soap opera (and other things) for a living.
Sled Allen, born Fletcher Manson Allen on August 23, 1886 in West Plains, Missouri was a player and manager with multiple minor league teams over nine seasons. Allen’s career highlight was playing one season with the St. Louis Browns in 1910. In that time, Allen batted a dismal .130 with one run batted in.
Allen later found himself trading in his baseball mit for boxing gloves. He moved to Lubbock, Texas in the 1940s and converted an old church into a nightclub. From there, he promoted many amateur boxing and wrestling matches, and even hosted concerts and dances. Allen later moved into an old building in Lubbock, renovated it, and re-opened it as the “Sled Allen Jamboree Hall”. At the hall, Allen promoted events aimed at progressing racial integration, the most notable being the “Cosmopolitan Dance” in the 1950s. At that dace, Hispanics, African-Americans and Caucasians danced the night away to live performances from Ray Charles and Little Richard.
During many events, Allen would have his son Terry Allen, who is now a country music singer, work the events, selling soda and pop corn to the crowd of spectators. Terry’s mother, Pauline, a pianist who also worked Allen’s events, was 40 when Terry was born and Sled was 60. Allen died on October 16, 1959 at the age of 72, leaving behind a small but important legacy in the town of Lubbock in both the music world and the civil right movement.
During many events, Allen would have his son Terry Allen, who is now a country music singer, work the events, selling soda and pop corn to the crowd of spectators. Terry’s mother, Pauline, a pianist who also worked Allen’s events, was 40 when Terry was born and Sled was 60. Allen died on October 16, 1959 at the age of 72, leaving behind a small but important legacy in the town of Lubbock in both the music world and the civil right movement.
Bibliography:
"Sled Allen Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC.
"Sled Allen Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC.
"Heading Home: Players Post Baseball Careers". The Dead Ball Era. The Dead Ball Era.
Carr, Joe (1997). Prairie Nights to Neon Lights: The Story of Country Music in West Texas. Texas Tech University Press. pp. 234. ISBN 0896723658.
Himes, Geoffrey. "Buddy Holly: Changing Game". Texas Music. Texas Music Magazine.
Faires, Robert. "Tale of a Tale Spinner". The Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle Corp.
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