THE EARLY YEARS

After the American CivilWar ended, free blacks pursued their dream of playing professional baseball. In 1867, the National Association of Base Ball Players rejected a request for membership by the all-black Philadelphia Pythians baseball club. The Pythians were not allowed to play in professional baseball. However, on September 18, 1869, the Pythians did become the first all-black team to play an exhibition game against an all-white team, the City Items. The Pythians won 27-17.

Despite refusal to enter the professional leagues, African Americans fielded their own amateur and professional teams. On of the best known all-black professional teams were the Cuban GiantsPIONEERS

Bud Fowler started as a great pitcher for a local team in Chelsea, Massachusetts. At the age of 20 he beat the National League's Boston team 2-1 in an exhibition game. He played for many teams and leagues for many years and was recognized as one of the best players of his era, but could not get signed on with any professional league teams because of the color of his skin.

One of the greatest African American players of the 19th century may have been Frank Grant who played second base for the Buffalo Bisons of the International Association. By the age of 20, he led the International League in hitting, but he was also subjected to constant harassment from opposing teams.

Moses Fleetwood Walker studied at Oberlin College where he started a varsity baseball team with the help of his younger brother. In 1884, Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first black to play in the major leagues. He played as a catcher for the American Association Toledo Blue Stockings. Throwing and batting right, Walker played in 42 games, had 152 at-bats and had 40 hits in his only season in major league baseball. His own teammates refused to play with him. Threatening letters called for the removal of Walker from the team. Walker was let go from the team and played for several minor league teams and then played for Newark in the International League.

Smokey Joe Williams was considered the greatest black pitcher of the early 20th century, even greater than the legendary Satchel Paige by some accounts. He pitched for the Leland Giants in 1909 at the age of 24. He became known for his strikeout skills when he pitched for the Lincoln Giants from 1912 - 1923.

In 1887, Fleetwood Walker, Bud Fowler, Frank Grant, Robert Higgins, George Stovey, and three other black players went to play in the newly organized International League. Playing in the International League was also difficult for blacks. Teams were comprised of both white and black players and the black players were often treated unkindly by the white players.

When Syracuse Stars left-handed pitching rookie Robert Higgins went to the mound to pitch his first game in the International League, the crowd yelled threats to kill him because he was black. His own teammates played poorly so that he would lose. Some of them also refused to have their picture taken with him.

In 1887, members of the St. Louis Browns refused to play in an exhibition game against the all-black Cuban Giants. Also in 1887, when Cap Anson - one of the most highly regarded white players in baseball at that time - heard a team was considering hiring a black player (George Stovey) he stated that he nor any other member of the Chicago White Stockings would play on a team or against a team with black players.

Racism in the International League continued to grow. One umpire said he would make calls against the team with black players. In an effort to avoid the constant confrontation, major league owners made an agreement to no longer sign black players. The minor leagues followed suite and declared that black players would no longer be welcome on their teams.

Teams stopped recruiting black players, and they soon disappeared from organized white baseball. Black players would not return to white organized baseball for over sixty years. During the late 19th century at least 70 black players played some level of organized baseball. Beyond this involvement, blacks were on the outside looking in on the game of professional baseball.