Career
A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, he stood 6"5" and weighed 210 lbs. Alston was acquired by Saint Louis via a trade with the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League on January 26, 1954, where he played in 180 games in 1953. When he made his Major League debut (April 13, 1954 at Sportsman"s Park), he became the first black player in Saint Louis Cardinals history.
He played in 66 games during his rookie season, batting.246 with 4 home runs and 34 runs batted in.
After that, he got into 25 more games over the course of the next three seasons. He spent most of his major league career splitting time between the majors and the Class American Automobile Association Omaha Cardinals, where he had a.306 batting average and 21 home runs in 1956.
Career totals for 91 games include a.244 batting average (66-for-271), 4 home runs, 36 Reserve Bank of India, 30 runs scored, and an on-base percentage of.311. In his 81 appearances at first base, he handled 680 out of 689 total chances successfully for a fielding percentage of.987, just slightly under the league average during his era.
Alston"s career was handicapped by neurasthenia and other mental disorders which forced his hospitalization after his playing career was over.