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 player. There were multiple black and white professional leagues, some of which showed success while others failed in a few short weeks. It was the players talents that drew the crowds and determined the financial success of one league over another.
When baseball became desegrated, the players were able to compete fairly to prove who really was the best no matter what color or background. African American baseball players continue to reach and surpass record scores, to be honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame and be leaders of the game.
Famous Organizations
Famous Players
- Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron – 1957 National League Most Valuable Player
- Emmett Littleton Ashford – First Black Professional Umpire
- Ernest Banks – First Black player to play with Chicago Cubs
- Joseph Black – First Black Pitcher to win a World Series game
- Willard Jesse Brown – First Black player to hit a Home Run in the American League
- Orlando Manuel Cepeda – 1958 National League Rookie of the Year
- Oscar McKinley Charleston – Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976
- Leon Day – Set a Negro League record by striking out 18 batters in a single game.
- Curtis Charles Flood – 7-time Gold Glove Winner
- William Hendrick “Bill” Foster – Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996
- Pack Robert “Bob” Gibson – World Series Most Valuable Player in 1964 and 1967
- Dwight Eugene Gooden – Youngest recipient of Cy Young Award
- Elijah Jerry “Pumsie” Green – First Black player to play with Boston Red Sox
- Anthony Keith “Tony” Gwynn – 1998 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
- Reginald Martinez “Reggie” Jackson – 1973 American League Most Valuable Player
- Walter Fenner “Buck” Leonard – Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972
- John Henry “Pop” Lloyd – Greatest Shortstop in Negro League History
- James Raleigh “Biz” Macke – Premier Catcher in the Negro League in 1920’s
- William Howard “Willie” Mays – 2005 Bobby Braden Youth Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
- Frederick Stanley McGriff – 10 Seasons of 30 plus Home Runs
- Joe Leonard Morgan – 1982 Comeback Player of the Year
- John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil – First African American Major League Coach
- Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige – At the age of 42, he was Oldest Player to Debut in the Major Leagues
- Cumberland Willis “Cum” Posey – Organized and Managed the Homestead Grays
- Kirby Puckett – 1985 Roberto Clemente Award
- James Edward Rice – 1992 Dane-Farber Cancer Institute’s “Jimmy Award”
- Frank Robinson – 1989 American League Manager of the Year Award
- Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson – 2005 Congressional Gold Medal
- Charles Wilber “Bullet” Rogan – Between 1920 and 1938, ‘winningest’ pitcher in Negro League history
- Samuel Peralta Sosa – 1998 National League Most Valuable Player
- Wilver Dornell “Willie” Stargell – 1974 Roberto Clemente Award
- Tony Stone – First Woman to play Negro League Baseball
- Roberto Clemente Walker – 1973 Presidential Citizens Medal
- King Soloman White – Formed the Philadelphia Giants