Sherman “Jocko” Maxwell, the First Black Sportscaster, Dies At 100
(Photo: Amanda Brown/ The Star-Ledger)
Complications from pneumonia
Jocko Maxwelll died this morning in West Chester, a town minutes from where I reside. Wish I could have met him and thanked him personally for what he’s done for all of us. Who knew of Maxwell? We have to write our history or it isn’t going to be written for us. It’s no one’s responsibility but our own.
“He was unique,” said Monte Irvin, 89, a Hall of Fame baseball player who once played for the Negro League’s Newark Eagles. Irvin recalled how Mr. Maxwell did live play-by-play of Eagles games at Ruppert Stadium for a local radio station.
“We all thought that was just a great thing,” Irvin said from his home in Houston, Texas.
Mr. Maxwell’s broadcast career began in 1929, when he read game scores for five minutes every Saturday on the WNJR radio station in Newark. He worked for various stations, all while working full-time as a postal clerk. He retired from radio in 1967.
Mr. Maxwell was also a prolific writer, who would cover Negro League games and submit write-ups to the newspapers, including The Ledger, predecessor of The Star-Ledger, which didn’t cover the games at that time.
“The first thing about Jocko to know is that there would be very few records of the Negro Leagues that are accurate, and there would be almost none, without him,” said Jerry Izenberg, columnist emeritus for The Star-Ledger. “He could sense the meaning of what he was doing. He knew that one day this stuff would be important.”
R.I.P. Mr. Maxwell. Thanks for the path you’ve forged…
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Thank you Mr. Maxwell, I hope what we are trying to accomplish here at TSF carries on what you have started.
“We drink from wells that we did not dig.”
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Thank you to a pioneer. It’s good that here at TSF all who came before your are recognized. Thanks for the info Miz. Mr Maxwell R.I.P.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Wow, thanks for the education Mizzo. This place is school for me, and I love it. RIP Mr. Maxwell.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:32 am
Mizzo-thanks for the knowledge about Mr. Maxwell. Have to admit I knew nothing about him but clearly his work forged a path. RIP and love and peace to his family and friends.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:01 am
Im wondering if Mizzo or anyone else who comments heard about the “shucking and jiving.” comment Justin timberlake made bout Paul Pierce at the ESPYS.
http://fannation.com/blogs/post/219524
it continues to show the divide between worlds…smh
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:55 am
RIP Mr. Maxwell. You were a pioneer and opened a lot of doors for us young folks.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 am
Talking about shucking and Jiving that SOB was doing that when he sold Janet out after he I repeat he ripped her top off.
Screw that A-hole.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:00 am
I’m with you O.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 am
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July 23rd, 2008 at 6:26 am
R.I.P. Mr. Maxwell
I read a tribute the great Jerry Izenberg wrote about him in the Newark Star-Ledger last week. I’m humbled by his accomplishments but ashamed that I never heard of such an extraordinary individual until last week. Hidden history that we WE have to uncover and pass on every chance we get.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:47 am
It is because of Mr. Maxwell that I have a new career in television.
MUCH RESPECT, and I THANK YOU!
August 6th, 2008 at 2:42 am
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March 8th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I make no pretenses; I was not familiar with Mr. Maxwell while he was alive. Nonetheless, with what I have read here in the past few minutes I wish to show my respects for his life and services to us all. Amen