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William "Dizzy" Dismukes (March 15, 1890 – June 30, 1961) was an Americans pitcher and manager in Negro league baseball and during the pre-Negro league years. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, where his father Isaac Lee Dismukes was a deacon in a Baptist church, and his mother Sallie taught Sunday School. Emory O. Jackson, "William (Dizzy) Dismukes One of Few Idols of Diamond." Montgomery, Alabama Tribune, July 28, 1961, p. 6. He knew from the time he was a youth that baseball was his first love, and he dropped out of school to follow his dream of becoming a baseball player. "From Slagtown Sandlotter To Scout For New York Yankees," Atlanta Daily World, August 9, 1961, p. 4.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, he began his baseball career at age 17."Dizzy Started Back in 1908." Pittsburgh Courier, August 5, 1961, p. 37.
Among his achievements as a pitcher, he defeated the then-major league champion Pittsburgh Pirates 2–1,Lewis Dial, "The Sports Dial." New York Age, July 22, 1933, p. 6. in an exhibition game in 1911.Al Moses. "Beating the Gun." Kansas City (KS) Plaindealer, June 29, 1951, p. 4.
While a player, he periodically wrote about baseball for such black newspapers as the Pittsburgh Courier, beginning in the 1920s."Notes on East-West World Series as Picked Up By 'Dizzy' Dismukes." Pittsburgh Courier, October 25, 1924, p.6.
Among the teams he played for were the Brooklyn (NY) Royal Giants,Ryan Whirty. "Remembering the Royals." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 17, 2014.[1] Indianapolis ABCs and the St. Louis Stars."Dizzy Dismukes, ABC Pitcher, Dies." Indianapolis Recorder, June 29, 1961, p. 11.
During his managing years, Dismukes became known for his wonderful memory during his playing and managing, and became known as a strategist. He is credited with teaching Webster McDonald and Carl Mays the tricks of submarine-style pitching.
He spent a number of years with the Kansas City Monarchs, in such roles as traveling secretary and business manager.William A. Young. J.L. Wilkinson and the Kansas City Monarchs. McFarland Publishing, 2016, p. 125. Later in his career, after major league baseball was integrated, he was a scout for the Chicago Cubs and then the New York Yankees."East-West Classic on July 28." Kansas City (KS) Plaindealer, July 19, 1957, p. 6.
He joined the Yankees as a scout in 1953, having resigned his position as secretary of the Kansas City Monarchs.Wendell Smith. "Dismukes Keeps Busy as a Yankee Scout." Pittsburgh Courier, September 4, 1954, p. 22.
He died in 1961, at age 71, at the home of his sister in Campbell, Ohio; the cause of death was hardening of the arteries."Dizzy Dismukes, ABC Pitcher, Dies." Indianapolis Recorder, June 29, 1961, p. 11.
At age 62, Dismukes received votes listing him on the 1952 Pittsburgh Courier player-voted poll of the Negro leagues' best players ever. "1952 Pittsburgh Courier Poll of Greatest Black Players"
and [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dismuk000diz Baseball-Reference Black Baseball stats] and [https://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/player.php?playerID=dismu01diz Seamheads]
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