The Independent Carolina Baseball League

Here is the lastest portrait of Edwin Collins "Alabama" Pitts. It's not finished but it is well on the way.

Pitts, after leaving Albany in 1935 and Trenton midseason in 1936, joined the Charlotte Hornets in the outlaw Carolina League where he was a hitting sensation. No stats are available but he had a .411 BA after the first 19 games. In 1937, with the Gastonia Spinners and Valdese Textiles, he hit .333 BA. In 1938 with the Valdese and the Lenoir Finishers he hit .268 BA. On June 7, 1941 he died from a stabbing and subsequent loss of blood after a barroom brawl in Valdese, N.C. This was 6 years after his release from Sing Sing on June 6, 1935.

The next time you see this painting the uniform color will have changed. Hank was in the gallery yesterday and reminded me I had painted the uniform the wrong color. It is gray, not beige. It's hard to tell from black and white photographs. I'm glad Hank is here to help me with these details. I really want these portraits to be authentic.

What do you think of the painting so far? Leave a comment.

Diane Overcash
Original Art
21 Union Street South
Concord, NC 28025
704-784-1549
dianelovesart@vnet.net