In 2024, the City of Rancho Cordova honored Carter with a tribute as part of its Utility Box Art Wrap program. Photo courtesy of Mike Marando

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - This September, the Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame will be hosting its 11th annual induction ceremony where it will recognize a select few whose athletic excellence has earned them a spot in the history books. 

While every selected candidate is deserving of entry, there is one whose impact athletically and locally has earned this year’s Community Award, reserved for the person or group that has made their mark in the world of sports and within in the area. Enter Elmer Carter, who is being posthumously recognized after passing away at the age of 100 in 2011. 

Carter, who was born in Dalton, MO on April 12, 1911, was a standout in the Negro League for eight seasons in the 1930s while playing for the Kansas City Monarchs, Birmingham Black Barons and St. Lous Stars. In 1937 while splitting time between the Black Barons and Stars, Carter led the league with a .390 batting average. Perhaps his top accolade came during one individual game in 1932, when he had the honor of playing catcher for legendary pitcher Satchel Paige, who is regarded as arguably the greatest pitcher of all time. 

In addition to his baseball career, Carter would go on to enlist in the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division during World War II. He would then move to into the Greater Sacramento area, where he encountered a situation that would eventually change the region altogether. While trying to buy a house, Carter had trouble obtaining a loan to purchase a home despite being financially capable. That would lead Carter to eventually open the first Black-owned bank in Oak Park, where he would go on to give loans to Black families facing a similar struggle. He lived in Rancho Cordova for several years prior to his passing. 

In 2024, the City of Rancho Cordova honored Carter with a tribute as part of its Utility Box Art Wrap program. Renowned local artist Leroid David was selected to paint a utility box at the corner of Zinfandel Drive and Spoto Drive in Rancho Cordova, illustrating both Carter and the legacy of Negro League baseball. 

The 11th annual Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Rancho Cordova City Hall. Tickets for the induction ceremony are $35, which includes an appetizer and cocktail reception and awards program can be purchased at the Cordova Community Council, visit  cordovacouncil.org/ccc-events/11th-Annual-Rancho-Cordova-Sports-Hall-of-Fame.