Jap Payne

Who was Jap Payne?

Andrew H. "Jap" Payne was a baseball player in the Negro Leagues. He played multiple positions, including outfield and infield. Standing at 5-foot-10 inches, Payne was described as "unimposing," but he became known for slapping line drives past infielders, as well as having an excellent arm. Payne was rumored to have gotten the nickname "Jap" due to his slanted eyes. In August, 1907, Payne lost his temper and attacked an umpire, causing a near-riot, and his language occasionally forced umpires to throw him out of games. In 1953, Hall of Famer Pop Lloyd named Payne as the right fielder on his all-time team.