2006-09-21 09:15:46 · 21 answers · asked by tardis1977 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Well Tardis, that is a great question. Apparently, from the late 1870's and until the late 1890's there were about 50 blacks that played on professional teams. In those days there was not much difference between "Major League" teams, and "Minor League" teams. In fact, some "Minor League" teams became "Major League" teams simply by joining a "Major League" circuit.
Needless to say, there was not much stability as teams changed affiliations or folded quite often. During this era there were no large ballparks with big grandstands.
The man credited being the first black player in professional baseball was Bud Fowler in 1878 when he played for a team in New Castle PA. Fowler, played for other white teams during his career and is credited with being the inventor of the shin-guards for catchers. However he was not the first black Major League player.
Someone correctly mentioned above that it was Moses "Fleetwood" Walker. Walker, joined the Toledo club in 1883 while they were still a minor league team. The following year the Toledo club entered the American Association, which was the top Major League circuit at the time. Hence, Walker was the first black player in the Majors.
In 1890 there came an unwritten rule in the game of baseball that banned blacks from the game. It lasted until Jackie Robinson was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
2006-09-21 11:23:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American player in Major League Baseball. In celebration of the most momentous day in baseball history, Commissioner Alan H. (“Bud”) Selig declared April 15 “Jackie Robinson Day” in perpetuity.
2006-09-21 16:57:26 · answer #2 · answered by sportsfan 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should know your own question by now. Yes there was Blacks in the Majors before Jackie Robinson.
2006-09-26 14:51:39 · answer #3 · answered by Sam 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think i saw some research where there was someone else in the league b4 him but no body really put it out there i don't think they let him play much or as much as Jackie only like a few times but i believe there was a black on the team but Jackie was the first to play like an equal player i'm not sure though i just have a slight memory of reading or hearing that hope this helps
2006-09-21 16:25:27 · answer #4 · answered by princess 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first black to play ML baseball, Walker player his first ML game 5-1-1884, 63 years before Jackie Robinson....Robinson was the first to break the color barrier, after years of segregation...
2006-09-21 17:16:09 · answer #5 · answered by jack 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
not in any high profile way. Jackie was the first Major League player who was black
2006-09-21 16:23:12 · answer #6 · answered by kapute2 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. Moses fleetwood Walker was a catcher in the old AA in the 1880
2006-09-21 20:24:28 · answer #7 · answered by Bobuck 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO. blacks played baseball, not in the majors but in the ***** league b4 jackie
2006-09-21 16:17:53 · answer #8 · answered by d2pain 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I dont think so I have a t-shirt of all the teams in the ***** League,which was created because of the shutout to the Majors.
2006-09-21 16:18:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not in MLB - Jackie was the first. There was the ***** league.
2006-09-21 16:52:13 · answer #10 · answered by Tommy D 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋