Leniel Hooker Newark Eagles Negro League Baseball Original TYPE 1 photo PSA/DNA LOA

From the SABR website:"Leniel Charlie Hooker was a right-handed pitcher from 1940 to 1948 with the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League. A 6-footer who weighed about 169 pounds, Hooker had a decent fastball and also threw a knuckleball. He was also considered a fair hitter and an excellent fielder.The first newspaper account in which Hooker is found noted him playing baseball for Captain Cole's Giants in North Carolina's prison league in 1936. He pitched a 12-inning complete game, giving up six hits and beating the Print Shop Devils, 3-2, for the Giants' sixth consecutive victory. Hooker's team represented Central Prison, a state prison in Raleigh. Why Hooker was serving time is unknown. By 1939 Hooker was out of prison, living in a rented room in Raleigh, and working as a dishwasher at the Sir Walter Hotel.Hooker's pitching gained notice and in 1940 he was signed by the Eagles. Right around the beginning of the season - on April 27, 1940 - Hooker's father died in Sanford at the age of 75. Hooker started 11 games for the Eagles; he pitched two complete games and finished the year with a 3-5 record. The Eagles battled for the pennant that year, but ended up in third place in the Negro National League finishing with a 26-21-1 record."He played Negro League Baseball from 1940-1948, mainly with the Newark Eagles.He finished up his pitching career with a 41-42 record. He played in the 1946 World Series vs the KC Monarchs. In 1949 he moved on to organized integrated baseball, playing for the Farnham Pirates and Drummondville Cubs (class C)He passed away in 1977 at the age of 61.Offered is this one of a king TYPE 1 photo, circa 1945 of Hooker in his Eagles uniform at the ballpark that measures 3.25" x 4.5" in size.Appears that Hall of Famer, Biz Mackey is trotting in the background.Derives from the estate of a former player.SUPER rare and the only solo image of Hooker that we've ever come across.Original TYPE 1 LOA from PSA/DNA for the photo included.*note NOT FOR SALE*