Biography

Floyd "Jelly Roll" Gardner was a speedy and scrappy outfielder in the Negro Leagues, born September 27, 1895, in Russellville, Arkansas, who earned his famous nickname due to his short, round, jovial build and became a star leadoff hitter known for exceptional base-running, sharp contact hitting, and strong defensive play with a deadly arm. He joined the Chicago American Giants in 1920 under Rube Foster, contributing immediately as a key player in their early success, including helping secure multiple pennants in the Negro National League during the 1920s with his consistent performance and ability to get on base and create pressure on defenses. In 1922 specifically, Gardner was an integral part of the Chicago American Giants' lineup, batting effectively as a left-handed contact hitter who prioritized getting on base and stealing, though exact seasonal stats from that year are incomplete in records due to the era's documentation challenges. Despite occasional holdouts, temperamental incidents, and jumps to other teams like the New York Lincoln Giants and Homestead Grays, Gardner's long tenure primarily with the American Giants (spanning much of 1920-1930 and into 1933) solidified his reputation as one of the era's top outfielders and run-producers, retiring after a career that highlighted his resilience in segregated baseball before his death in Chicago in 1977.

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