Feb. 13, Black History Moment, Baseball, Anyone?

[FUNdamental]

The formation of the first black professional baseball league in 1887 was the result of a unanimous decision of the National Association of Baseball Players in 1868 to exclude all blacks from participating in the newly formed major league. Even though this was the very first Negro League that was established, there were many blacks that played on integrated teams and played on all black teams that competed in exhibition games and barnstorming games throughout the country. This league was made up of eight teams. Unfortunately, approximately 2 weeks after the league was formed just about every team in the league went bankrupt. A few of the teams continued to play independently for a while until the only remaining team was the Cuban Giants who incidentally was the very first all black professional team. They were established in 1885 and when approached to join the Negro National League, they declined and chose to continue playing as exhibitionists. It wasn't until 1920 when a new Negro National League was formed following the
rejection of a proposed integrated Major League featuring one all black team in each major circuit. The Major League Baseball commissioner refused the idea in 1919. Andrew "Rube" Foster, also known as the "Father of Black Baseball" founded this new league. Foster was known as an outstanding pitcher but was more commonly recognized as a very witty businessman. Foster
played the executive role better than he played the field. He had tremendous organizational skills, was a shrewd judge of talent, and was a master tactician. There is no wonder why he was able to forge a spot in baseball history. After carefully formulating his plan for an organized league of black teams, he gathered the owners of the stronger, more successful black ball clubs. A meeting was held in Kansas City to establish the rules and regulations that would govern this new league. That day in mid February of 1920, the National Association of Colored Professional Baseball Clubs, later to be named the Negro National League, was formed.


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[cashhound]

Isn't there a museum in KC?

[bassmount]

Negro League Baseball
History and key players in baseball's gone—but not forgotten—league

by Michael Morrison

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Have you ever heard of Oscar Charleston? He's recognized by some as one of the most talented baseball players of all time. His career has been compared to both Ty Cobb's and Babe Ruth's. In 1921, he batted .430 and led the league in doubles, triples and home runs. He retired with a .376 batting average, and in 1976 was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.


Yet sadly, the answer to the question just asked is probably "no" — because Charleston played at a time when blacks weren't allowed to play in the "white" major leagues. He is just one of literally thousands of exceptional ball players that segregation robbed of the recognition and the opportunities they richly deserved.

The Early Stages


In May, 1878, John "Bud" Fowler became the first black player to play professionally, albeit in the minors, when he took the mound for the Lynn Live Oaks of the International League. Throughout the 1880's, despite a prevalence of segregation, many black players suited up for minor league teams and finally in 1884, Moses "Fleetwood" Walker became the first black baseball player to reach the majors when his Toledo Blue Stockings joined the majors' American Association. Unfortunately it was short-lived, as the team could not survive financially and folded after the 1884 season. The talent exhibited by Walker and the other black players was unquestioned ,and according to reports, began to scare white players who felt that their jobs might be in jeopardy. Black players were greeted more and more with "Whites Only" signs on locker room doors, and by the late 1880s, the color barrier was in full effect.

The first all-black team was put together in 1885 and was for a short time known as the "Argyle Athletics." They toured the Northeast, often playing the best white teams in the area, but were usually met with resistance from white fans. With hopes of attracting more white fans to the games, team owner Walter Cook attempted to fool them by changing the name of the team to the Cuban Giants. Players were even instructed to avoid speaking English while in public and on the field. The scheme worked for a while but by the turn of the century, no black players or teams were allowed to play with whites.
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I'd LOVE to know where you are getting your information Fundi, because in several threads, your dates just are not jiving or your information seems to leave out key points in each event you are trying to give information on, making it look really one sided, as if you are doing it to only start trouble and not just posting for the enrichment of DOD. This is the second time I've noticed it.

I got the above article from: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]


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