Baseball is an American pastime full of history. Some of the greatest baseball players ever, were and are, African American. Although blacks and whites have been playing the game for more than 200 years, baseball was played separately until the mid 20th century. In the late 1870’s, Bud Fowler became the first known professional black […]
"Baseball"
Wilver Dornell “Willie” Stargell – March 6th in African American History
March 6, 1940 Wilver Dornell “Willie” Stargell, hall of fame baseball player, was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma. Stargell was signed by the Pittsburg Pirates at the age of 18 and made his major league debut in 1962.
Eddie Clarence Murray – February 24th in African American History
February 24, 1956 Eddie Clarence Murray, hall of fame baseball player, was born in Los Angeles, California. Murray was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1973 amateur draft.
Josh Gibson – January 20th in African American History
January 20, 1947 Josh Gibson, Hall of Fame Negro League baseball player, died. Gibson was born December 21, 1911 in Buena Vista, Georgia. He made his professional debut with the Homestead Grays, the preeminent Negro League team of that time, in 1930.
Reece “Goose” Tatum – January 18th in African American History
January 18, 1967 Reece “Goose” Tatum, Hall of Fame basketball player, died. Tatum was born May 31, 1921 in El Dorado, Arkansas. In high school, he played baseball, football, and basketball. He played Negro league baseball from 1937 to 1949 and was a co-owner of the Detroit Clowns baseball team in the late 1950s.
Jackie Robinson #42 – April 15th in African American History
Jackie Robinson Day Baseball fans may find themselves doing double-takes while watching a major-league game on April 15, seeing the number “42” on the back of every uniform. The reason? April 15th is “Jackie Robinson Day,” marking the anniversary of Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, ending over six decades of racial segregation […]
Charley Frank Pride – March 18th in African American History
March 18, 1938 Charley Frank Pride, country music singer, was born in Sledge, Mississippi. Pride’s initial love and life-long dream was to become a professional baseball player. However after a number of years in the minor leagues and several injuries, he turned to music. In 1966, Pride released “Just Between You and Me” which was […]