Jocko Maxwell

Sherman Leander Maxwell (December 18, 1907 – July 16, 2008) was an American sportscaster and chronicler of the Negro league baseball league. Many veteran journalists of his day, including Sam Lacy of the Baltimore Afro-American, believed that Maxwell was the first African American sports broadcaster in history. It was an assertion that many in the mainstream press also accepted, and Maxwell himself sometimes stated that he had in fact been the first. He was known by the nickname of Jocko. Despite his many accomplishments over a broadcasting career of more than four decades, Maxwell was rarely paid by the radio stations he worked for during his career.

Sherman Leander Maxwell was born on December 18, 1907 in Newark, New Jersey, where he resided for most of his life. His parents, Bessie and William, named him after the Civil War general, William Tecumseh Sherman. His father was a journalist, one of the few black men of his era to rise to an editorial position at a predominantly white newspaper, the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger. He graduated from Central High School in Newark, though he was such a fan of baseball that he intentionally failed high school final exams so he could remain at the school for one more year in order to play for his high school baseball team. He wanted to go to college; but the school of his choice, Panzer College of Physical Education in East Orange (NJ) did not accept black students. He received his nickname of "Jocko" when he was a teenager. He had been passionate about baseball ever since childhood, although he never thought he was good enough to play professionally. One day, Maxwell climbed a tree while watching a baseball game, in an attempt to catch a fly ball; someone yelled, "Hey, look at Jocko!" Jocko The Monkey was the name of a popular performer in 1920s era films and the name stuck.

He later served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II. He served with the Army Special Service Department, a unit that entertained the troops, serving until 1945. Prior to being sent overseas, he married his long-time sweetheart, Mamie Bryant, a social worker, in June 1943. They had two children, a son and a daughter.

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