A former member of the Harlem Globetrotters, Charlie Justice distinguished himself on the pitching mound in becoming the 47th player elected to the ASA Hall of Fame. Between 1934-1965, Justice won 873 games and lost only 92. In national championship play, Justice compiled an impressive 21-6 won-loss record and earned ASA All-America honors in 1945, 1949 and 1950. In 1945, he also won the national tourney MVP award after leading M&S Orange of Flint, MI to a runner-up spot almost single-handed by striking out 74 batters and allowing 21 hits in 69 innings before losing to the renowned Fort Wayne, IN Zollner Pistons, 1-0. In 1949, he hurled Tip Top Tailors of Toronto, Canada to a national title, winning 3-2 in an 18 inning final. Justice hurled 12 of the innings, allowing five hits and fanning 13 against Clearwater. In 1950, however, the Bombers redeemed themselves and beat Justice and the Tailors in the finals. Charlie finished with a 5-2 record and 40 strikeouts. For the first time in ASA history an Afro-American team played in the national men’s fast pitch tournament in 1939 as Justice led Big Six to a 2-1 record, losing to Briggs 3-0. Justice earlier beat Elizabeth, NJ on a one-hitter, striking out 11. Big Six then beat Washington 3-2 before being eliminated. Justice passed away November 7th 1974 at age 61.
