For history lovers, finding new information is like finding gold.That gold for one Utah historian was discovering information that connected the
That “gold” for one Utah historian was discovering information that connected the world of boxing to the sporting enterprise of the Salt Lake Occidentals .During the early 1900s, notable African Americans wanted to join Utah ’s all-Black baseball team and help grow the sporting business venture.He saw opportunities in helping to build the Salt Lake Occidentals .
“He was involved in baseball prior to the Assembly and with the Occidentals. He was a catcher; he was a manager,” said Chris Hansen, a local baseball historian. Hansen explained that Burns was also a boxing promoter and manager and knew the ropes. He used his business smarts and influence to attract more attention to the team.“He’s the one who helped bring in Jack Johnson, the heavy weight championship fighter in 1908 and 1909, 1910 to Utah," Hansen said. "Took him around Utah. Jack Johnson umpiring a game because of Joe Burns involvement."
As more people started hearing or reading about the Salt Lake Occidentals, more boxing athletes became interested in joining the team. “There’s a guy on the Assembly team named Kid Bell that Joe Burns was managing. And Kid Bell lived in Colorado, but whenever he’d come to Utah, it was for fighting. Joe Burns would have him play with the Assembly team that weekend ”, Hansen said.The presence of the Salt Lake Occidentals helped to further the Black community in business ventures and improved quality of life.
Salt Lake Occidentals Boxing Joe Burns Baseball Jack Johnson Historian Business
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