Introduction
Eddie “Pepper” Novak, circa 1927–1928.
EDDIE “PEPPER” NOVAK was a South Camden catcher who received his nickname from his cheerful personality and incessant chatter on the field. At age 17, he signed with the Jacksonville club of the Florida State League in January 1928, becoming one of the area’s most promising young catchers. He played amateur ball from age 13 through several Camden-area leagues before catching the attention of scouts. In the early 1940s he caught for the Buck Lai Camden All-Stars in a series of exhibition games against Negro National League clubs including the Baltimore Elite Giants and Newark Eagles.
Eddie Novak Signs with Jacksonville
Camden Courier-Post —
17-Year-Old Catcher Joins Florida State League Club; Has Bright Future
Eddie Novak, 17-year-old South Camden boy, who gives promise of developing into a great catcher, will get his first taste of minor league baseball this year.
The husky Novak has signed to play with Jacksonville, of the Florida State League. He will leave in March for the sunny south, there to launch his diamond career.
Eddie caught for Oaklyn and Twelfth Ward in the Camden County League last year. He was also with Farren A. A., of Philadelphia.
Novak began playing baseball at the age of 15 for the Twentieth Century Club. That was three years ago.
During the 1926 season he was with Grenloch, Parkside, first-half champions of the City Twilight League, later switching to South Camden, the second-half runners-up, and Cheselhurst in the Lower Camden County League.
Last year he caught for South Camden and his work attracted the attention of Ben Gilbert, manager of the Oaks in the Camden County League.
Novak’s “pepper,” incessant chatter and remarkable throwing arm gained for him considerable fame all along the circuit, but he quit Oaklyn to go with Twelfth Ward, leading the “Warders” in batting for the second half with a mark of .393.
Although lacking in experience, Eddie gives promise of developing into a star of the first magnitude. It is a rare occasion, indeed, when a base-runner steals on him. He catches with an old mitt from which he has taken practically all of the padding, so that it is not as bulky as a first baseman’s mitt.
Eddie Novak Feted Before Departure
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Boy Honored at Banquet; to Report at Jacksonville March 4
Eddie “Pepper” Novak, one of the most cheerful athletes to adorn the South Jersey sports firmament in many a day, leaves this week for Jacksonville, Florida. There the popular Whitman Park boy gets his first taste of minor league baseball with the Jacksonville club in the Florida state loop.
Novak was the guest of honor Saturday night at a banquet given by the Cheselhurst Athletic Association. He was presented with a catcher’s mitt and a traveling bag by his friends and admirers of that town. More than 200 persons, including many Camdenites, were present.
President Jones and Manager Adams of the Cheselhurst club, were among the speakers at the affair. Others included Chas. Hunt, former star with Johnstown, of the Middle Atlantic League, and Johnny Myers, who caught in the Three-Eye League.
After the banquet a torchlight automobile parade was staged which ended in all the members of the club escorting Novak to his home in Camden.
Eddie started his baseball career at the age of 13 with Viola A. A., champions of the Greater Camden Amateur League.
George Gentleman, one-time Jefferson-Edgemont star, picked Eddie to catch for Grenloch when that club was playing the leading teams in this section.
“Betsy” made good from the start, his wonderful throwing arm and pep going over big with the fans. He joined South Camden in the Staley Twilight League. Last year he “graduated” into the Camden County League, receiving for Oaklyn and Twelfth Ward and he continued to be a sensation.
Harry Hoffman was a team-mate of Novak’s with Twelfth Ward, and was also captain of Farren A. A. of Philadelphia. Hoffman was the youngster at Farren, where Bill Narlesky saw him work. Narlesky recommended Novak to R. T. Fisher, manager of the Jacksonville club, who immediately negotiated with the local boy.
Since then several other clubs have made advances for Novak’s services, but Eddie retained the contract which Jacksonville offered, signed and was notified to report March 4.
Camden All-Stars Tackle Baltimore
Camden Courier-Post —
Elite Giants to Make First Appearance of Season Here Tonight
Buck Lai’s Camden All-Stars, composed of the same players that represent the Collingswood All-Stars, will meet the Baltimore Elite Giants tonight, at Broadway and Everett street. The game is scheduled to start at 6.30 o’clock.
Lai’s outfit is going like a prairie fire and last Monday night chalked up another victory by beating the New York Black Yankees, 7–4.
Jimmy Duffy or Paul Salanka will start against the Baltimore sluggers, with Eddie Novak doing the receiving.
On Monday night, at the Collingswood High School field, the Collingswood All-Stars tangle with Biz Mackey’s Newark Eagles, one of the strongest clubs in the Negro National League.
Camden Stars Bow to Baltimore Foe
Camden Courier-Post —
Curry’s 3-Run Homer in Fourth Inning Turns Back Locals, 5 to 2
A three-run homer by Bob Curry gave the Baltimore Elite Giants, of the National Negro Baseball League, a 5 to 2 victory over the Camden All-Stars before 1000 spectators last night at Broadway and Everett street.
After taking a 2–0 lead with single runs in the second and third innings, the Baltimore tossers clinched the game when Curry slapped a home run over the right field fence with two aboard in the fourth session.
Camden averted a shutout by tabbing a pair of runs in the eighth inning.
Paul Salanka worked on the hill for the locals and gave up six safeties and walked four, while fanning five, while Camden rapped Adams for nine hits. Jim McQuestion with three for four led the attack for Camden, while Blot sparkled for the Giants on the offense with three hits in four trips to the plate.
The Camden–Collingswood All-Stars will again see action on Monday in a double-header, playing a twilight game under the Collingswood banner at the Collingswood High School stadium against the Newark Eagles of the National Negro League and the two clubs will meet under the arc lights on the same evening at Broadway and Everett street.
All-Stars, Newark to Clash Tomorrow
Camden Courier-Post —
Halted by Rain, Teams Agree to New Date for Tilt at Downtown Field
Halted by rain, the Camden All-Stars changed their date with the Newark Eagles until tomorrow night. It will be played under the arc lights at Broadway and Everett, starting at 9.15 o’clock.
The two teams were billed to play a double-header last night, but both games were postponed on account of rain. One game will be played tomorrow. Handled by Buck Lai, the Stars will also play at the downtown park on Thursday. The St. Louis Stars, billed as champions of the Western Negro League, will provide the opposition. Action will open at 6.15 o’clock.
Paul Salanka will more than likely work against the Newark tossers, members of the National Negro League, while Jim Duffy will take the hill against the St. Louis Stars. However, Lai may change his mind and decide to use Duffy in the nocturnal tilt because the veteran hurler is tough to defeat under the lights.
One change in the lineup will find Bill Narlesky, ex-major leaguer, playing second base. Grover “Worm” Wearshing will be moved to the outfield to make room for Narlesky. The rest of the infield consists of Jim McQuestion, third; Phil Logan, short, and Jim McGinnis, first. Wearshing, Bill Graupner and Harry Theurer, along with “Weiner” Wheatley and Buck Lai, Jr., handle the outfield chores. Eddie Novak is the catcher.
All-Stars, Newark Play Under Lights
Camden Courier-Post —
Laimen and Negro Eagles Meet Tonight at Broadway and Everett
The Camden All-Stars will play the Newark Eagles tonight under the floodlights at Broadway and Everett street. The game is scheduled to start at 9.15 o’clock.
Originally the All-Stars were billed to play a double-header with the Eagles Monday night, one game at Collingswood in the twilight and the other at Camden under the arcs. Rain cancelled the program.
Manager Buck Lai announced that his club will play again tomorrow night at the South Camden site with the St. Louis Stars providing the opposition. He said the St. Louis team was champion of the Western Negro League last year. This tussle is a twilight affair slated to start at 6.15.
Jim Duffy looks like the logical starter on the mound tonight for the All-Stars as he is a tough customer under the floodlights.
He will be handled by Eddie Novak. The supporting cast will be comprised of Jim McGinnis, at first; Bill Narlesky, at second; Jim McQuestion, at third; and Phil Logan at short in the infield. In the outfield Grover “Worm” Wearshing, Bill Graupner, and Harry Theurer will perform with Howard “Weiner” Wheatley and Buck Lai, Jr., in reserve.
St. Louis Stars Play Here Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Takes on Western Negro Club at Broadway and Everett
Weather permitting, the Camden All-Stars will play the St. Louis Stars, reputed champions of the Western Negro League, tonight at Broadway and Everett street.
The All-Stars were halted last night by rain in their scheduled night game with the Newark Eagles at the downtown site. It was the second cancellation of the Eagles game, the two teams having been listed to play Monday when rain prevented play.
Tonight’s tussle is a twilight affair, slated to start at 6.15.
Jim Duffy looks like the logical starter on the mound tonight for the All-Stars as he is a tough customer under the floodlights.
He will be handled by Eddie Novak. The supporting cast will be comprised of Jim McGinnis, at first; Bill Narlesky, at second; Jim McQuestion, at third; and Phil Logan at short in the infield. In the outfield Grover “Worm” Wearshing, Bill Graupner, and Harry Theurer will perform with Howard “Weiner” Wheatley and Buck Lai, Jr., in reserve.