 Samuel Bruce Vick was born on April 12 , 1895 in Batesville , Mississippi , to Hugh , a farmer , and Lillie . After attending <unk> College in Jackson , Mississippi , he signed a minor league baseball contract with the Memphis Chickasaws of the Southern Association ( SA ) . He played one season in Memphis , playing in 126 games , and had a .322 batting average along with 24 doubles and 12 triples . When the SA season was completed , he signed a contract with the New York Yankees of the American League ( AL ) . 
