A Marker in White Park
A modest stone marker now stands in White Park, its bronze plaque catching the morning light as the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire unveiled a tribute to William Penn Thompson, a figure whose name has become synonymous with the hidden chapters of American baseball.
From Virginia to New Hampshire
Thompson, who was born in Virginia before the turn of the 20th century, carved out a reputation in the Negro Leagues, turning out for the Cuban Colored Giants and the Philadelphia Colored Giants with a style that blended power and finesse.
A Legacy in the Sunset League
He settled in Concord around 1891, joining the Concord Sunset League where, despite the color line that kept Black athletes out of the major leagues, he emerged as a local legend, leading the league in batting averages and drawing crowds with his flamboyant white suit and top hat during opening parades.
Remembering Conky
Robert “Conky” O’Connell, now 97, still vividly remembers the day Thompson asked a teenage Conky to pitch batting practice, a moment that highlighted both the player’s generosity and his towering skill on the field.
“His talent was undeniable,” JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, said at the ceremony, emphasizing that Thompson’s story is a vital thread in the fabric of Black baseball history in the United States.
Mayor Byron Champlin echoed the sentiment, noting the park’s dedication by Armenia White in memory of her husband and expressing hope that future markers will continue to surface the contributions of Black pioneers across Concord.
The unveiling not only commemorates a singular athlete but also serves as a reminder of the broader narrative of segregation and resilience that shaped the sport, inviting new generations to explore a past that still reverberates in today’s fields.