 In 1948, with Tommy Sampson leaving the Barons to manage the Chicago Black Giants, owner Tom Hayes turns to Piper Davis. Now in his early 30s, Davis is a leader on the team. My dad was the mediator, which meant that he was in charge of every man that was on that bus. So he had to be steady, stable, and knowing him as an adult, that had to be a heck of a thing for him.