Baseball team made up of death row inmates had executions delayed if they kept winning
‘Play like your life depends on it’ is often heard in the world of sport when the stakes are high, but it was a little more literal for the Wyoming State Penitentiary All Stars back in 1911.
The baseball team were made up completely of prisoners who had ben sentenced to death. The death row in-mates competed for the Wyoming All Stars, with their 12-man roster made up of some of the most high-risk criminals in the United States.
When they made their debuts in July 1911, the team included three rapists, a forger, five thieves and three killers.
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The prisoners would compete against free men week-in-week-out, but there was plenty more incentive for the All Stars to win, with their lives on the line. As a result the death row setup were told victories would knock time off their sentences, delay their executions or they would see them reduced to life, but losses were much more costly.
The incentive seemed to work, as they recorded an empathetic 11-1 victory over Wyoming Supply Company Juniors – one of the strongest teams in the area. As well as being commended for their quality skill set, the convicts surprised many with the impressive manners and sportsmanship – especially considering their past charges.
The game received national attention, with the Washington Post even keen to cover the clash. The star of the show on their debut clash was convicted murderer Joseph Seng, who hit two home runs on the way to their victory.
(Image: The Death Row All Stars)
Earning the plaudits from the Washington Post, their report read: “Joseph Seng, who was convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to death, played a classy game all the way through.
“He will petition the governor to commute his sentence to life imprisonment sometime this month.” Despite his conviction Seng became a star in the baseball world, with Wyoming residents lining the streets for tickets to catch a glimpse of the action.
(Image: The Death Row All Stars)
A book by Chris Enss and Howard Kazanjian named ‘Death Row All Stars: A Story of Baseball, Corruption, and Murder’ read: “It was the golden age of baseball, and all over the country teams gathered on town fields in front of throngs of fans to compete for local glory.
“In Rawlins, Wyoming, residents lined up for tickets to see slugger Joseph Seng and the rest of the Wyoming Penitentiary Death Row All Stars as they took on all comers in baseball games with considerably more at stake.”
Despite the hopes of losing his death row spot due to his performances on the playing field Seng’s hopes were in vein. After a year of competing the convicted murderer was finally executed for his crimes, and this all but saw the end of the Penitentiary All Stars.
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