"Biz" Mackey played and coached semi-pro and professional baseball for nearly 34 years from 1916-1950. The Luling native began playing at age 18 in 1916 for the Prairie League's Luling Oilers and started his professional career two years later with the San Antonio Black Aces. A natural leader, he was considered a premier catcher but was adept at all positions. A line-drive hitting switch hitter, he compiled a .335 lifetime batting average and was regarded by many as the greatest catcher to play in the Negro Leagues. His quick, deadly accurate snap throw became legendary, and his batting placed him among the all-time leaders in total bases, RBIs, and slugging percentage. He relished throwing out the game's best base stealers and once caught Ty Cobb trying to steal in five straight attempts. Roy Campanella, who was mentored by Mackey as a teenager, later called him a defensive master and the best catcher of his era. Mackey won 2 batting titles, 2 world championships, and was a 5-time All-Star. He retired from baseball in 1950, lived in Los Angeles, and died in 1965.