George Alexander "Sharky" Sweatt

George Sweatt was born in Humboldt on December 7, 1893. Sweatt attended school in Humboldt from elementary through high school and revealed a natural talent at playing baseball. As a boy, Sweatt found work in the hayfields near Humboldt and as a young man worked at Humboldt's Monarch Cement plant as a cement bag tier.

Sweatt began his baseball career playing with the Iola Go-Devils and later with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Baseball League. During his career, George Sweatt was a multi-tool player who became known as a dangerous hitter with men on base.  He was regarded as one of the best clutch hitters in the league.  He began his career with the Kansas City Monarchs, playing at third base, but later played all three outfield positions and three infield positions with the exception of shortstop.  Sweatt was the only player in the league to play in all of the first four Negro League World Series while with Kansas City . The Monarchs won the 1924 Negro League World Series with George Sweatt on the roster. Traded to the Chicago American Giants in 1926, Sweatt won two World Series with them before retiring from baseball in 1928.

Although Sweatt had been given the nickname "Sharky" as a young man, as a ball player he became known as "Never" Sweatt because of the cool he displayed on the field. After retiring from the Negro League in 1928, Sweatt went to work for the Postal Service in 1957 after a 28 year playing career.

George A. Sweatt Park was dedicated in Sweatt's honor in his hometown of Humboldt in 1983. The Johnson-Sweatt Classic baseball tournament started in 1999 as a tribute to Sweatt and fellow baseball great Walter Johnson, also of Humboldt. George Sweatt died in Los Angeles, California on July 19, 1983.

To learn more about George Sweatt, visit the Humboldt Historical Museum located at the corner of Second & Neosho in Humboldt, Kansas. The museum is open from 1:30 - 4:00 pm every weekend from Memorial Day weekend through the second weekend in October and also by appointment. Call 620-473-2250, 620-473-8267, or 620-473-3464.