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Moses Yellowhorse: the Tragic Career Ofa Pittsburgh Pirate Williamjakub Moses YellowHorse: The Tragic Career ofa Pittsburgh Pirate WilliamJakub HE STORY OF Moses YellowHorse, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the first "full-blooded" Indian to play major league baseball, begins in1898. 1Born to Thomas and Clara YellowHorse, who lived on a 160- acre farm near Pawnee, Oklahoma, Moses was among the millions ofboys of his generation who grew up playingbaseball. But he did so witha few special twists. DJ.O. Ferguson, editor of the local newspaper, Pawnee Chief, and a personal friend of YellowHorse, reports that YellowHorse said that "his pitching accuracy came from throwing stones atrabbits and squirrels for the family stewing pot, and his wristaction came 2 from doing other household chores/' Moses Yellowhorse Moses attended the Federal Indian School at Chilocco, was the first full- Oklahoma, where, inaddition to his studies, he honed his baseball blooded Native- skills and love of the game. In1917, at the age of 19, Moses was American to play in playingboth varsity ball and semi-pro ball. By 1920, he helped the major leagues pitch the Travelers of Little Rock to the Southern Association when he joined the Championship, sporting a record of 21 wins and 7 losses. 3 Pirates in 1921. At the end of that winningseason, Barney Dreyfuss, owner of He's shown here at the Pittsburgh Pirates, purchased YellowHorse's contract from the spring training in Travelers. 4 Dreyfuss brought the 22-year-old pitcher to Pittsburgh, Hot Springs, thereby quickly propelling him into the history books. Arkansas, 1921. Baseball was prospering after surviving the "Black-Sox" gambling scandal of 1919, but the "national pastime" had other practices, notably concerning race, that today would be consid- ered scandalous. Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Landis did nothing to eliminate the league's policy barring non-whites. Landis, according to one account, "was arbitrary, anti-minority, anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti-nonwhite and anti what he called 'sissies/ to him all those who were interested in things cultural." 5 Anunrelenting foe of integration, Landis made little effort to disguise his racial prejudice as commissioner from 1920 to 1945. Despite the existence of many talented black players, Landis sabotaged efforts tointegrate them into the majors. Club owners also would not budge from the league's "white only" policy, insisting that white players would not play alongside blacks, that white fans wouldnot attend games inwhich blacks played, and that hotels would not house black players on road trips. As a result, blacks established their own teams and leagues. In 186 Pittsburgh History, Winter 1995/96 187 Moses YellowHorse 1919, Andrew "Rube" Foster, considered the "father ofblack drums, unintelligible war whoops and foot stomping. This baseball" and one of the most influential figures inthe sport's adulation never adversely affected YellowHorse, who typically history, proposed to Landis that one black team jointhe National strode towards the pitchers mound, threw a few warm-ups, and League and another jointhe American League. Landis turned the proceeded— withthe business athand. YellowHorse threw only one proposition down, and in1920 Foster held a meeting withother pitch a "smokin' fastball." He had a tremendous arm and he black owners that ultimately resulted information of the Negro knew it.Injust four months, he became a favorite among fans in National League. Pittsburgh boasted two of the league's finest Pittsburgh and throughout the league. The possibility of teams, the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. 6 YellowHorse appearing ina game almost assured the respective Although Native-Americans were not formallybanned from team owners of a record number of customers. baseball, Barney Dreyfuss' signing of Moses YellowHorse flewin YellowHorse's acceptance by baseball fans throughout the the face of tradition. YellowHorse was a full-blooded Pawnee, the league was remarkable. He roomed withthe team and was not likes of whichhad never worna Major League uniform.— From segregated on the road, as was Jackie Robinson after the latter's time to time, a few "mixed-blood" Native-Americans— notably debut withthe Brooklyn Dodgers inthe 1940s. Moses was Jim Thorpe, "Chief" Bender, and "Chief" Meyers had made it accepted as a fullmember of the Pittsburgh Pirate franchise.—In to the majors. Jim Thorpe, unquestionably America's most fact, on one outing to play— the New York Giants, the team outstanding Indian athlete, was of French and Irish descent as well including YellowHorse stayed at the posh Ansonia Hotel on as a member of the Sac and Fox tribes. Thorpe played outfield for New York's Upper West Side. the New York Giants from 1913 to 1917 and was part of the 1917 YellowHorse's presence provoked resentment among a few Giants World Series team. He later was selected by the Associated fans, who felthe had no business on the playing field. In the early Press as America's best all-around male athlete of the firsthalf of part of the twentieth century, most Native Americans were subject the twentieth century. Charles A."Chief" Bender, a star pitcher for to numerous racist laws and practices. Some states had laws the Philadelphia Athletics from 1903 to 1914, was part German as against intermarriage between Native Americans and whites, and wellas part Chippewa. Bender appeared infive World Series and did not permit Native Americans to attend school with white was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953. Lastly,John T. children. Indians livingon reservations were not recognized as "Chief" Meyers was a mixed-blood member of the Cahuilla tribe citizens of the United States until1924. Prior to that, they had of California and a graduate of Dartmouth College. Myers, a been deprived of property rights, not permitted to vote, and wer j. catcher withthe New York Giants from 1908 to 1915 and withthe not afforded equal protection of the law. Lastly, insome Western Brooklyn Dodgers in1916, played withthe Giants inthree World states, Native Americans, especially those of darker skin, were Series games and appeared with the Dodgers intheir 1916 World prohibited from staying inwhitemotels or eating inwhite Series debut. 7 restaurants, and were relegated tomenial jobs or worked as The color line had not been invoked inthe cases ofThorpe, migrant workers. 12 Meyers and Bender, possibly because of their mixed ancestry. But Native Americans suffered discrimination because some in how did a "full-blooded" Indian like YellowHorse, "as dark as the society considered them lazy and untrustworthy, malingerers and previous night's lunar eclipse," 8 gain entry into the league? drunkards. Unfortunately, the few who had made itto the major For one thing, Pirate ownerDreyfuss was a powerful force, leagues did little to change the widelyheld stereotype. Most fell and Commissioner Landis, although quite prejudiced against victim to alcohol, a malady instrumental to many ballplayers' blacks, was intrigued by YellowHorse's Indian heritage. 9 Landis' demise. YellowHorse was no exception. On one occasion, "while fascination withYellowHorse was so great that inthe spring of intoxicated and carousing in the area adjacent to Forbes Field," he YellowHorse's first season withthe Pirates, Landis summoned was found to be belligerent and creating a disturbance. 13 Apolice manager Gibson and YellowHorse to his chambers. After their officer arrived to find YellowHorse inneed of a cap remover and meeting, highlighted by a question and answer session, Landis was bleeding fromusing his teeth to open beer bottles. The officer and impressed withthe Pirates' latest addition. 10 Once back in anunnamed Pirate subdued him and got himhome. This was not Pittsburgh for the home opener, YellowHorse earned his first the last time YellowHorse would succumb to the destructive plaudits by defeating Cincinnati and becoming the first Pirate influences ofliquor. pitcher to wina home opener inhis rookie season. Touted by YellowHorse's promising rookie season was cut short when many as the best rookie findof the year, newspaper men bestowed he sustained a groininjury requiring surgery. In 10 games, upon YellowHorse the moniker "Chief," although he held no such YellowHorse's 5-3 record had helped the Pirates finish the 1921 status among his people. season insecond place behind New York. Ahealthy YellowHorse The fans inPittsburgh accepted YellowHorse. Indeed, they might nothave significantly altered their finish,buthe was sorely were swept up infrenzied support of their "favorite Indian." In a missed by team and fans. short time, YellowHorse acquired quite a vocal following. During In 1922, YellowHorse was fullyrecovered fromhis groin home games, the chant "Put in YellowHorse" would build slowly injury and eagerly awaited the start of a new season. According to but steadily into a crescendo until the whole of Forbes Field a local newspaper, YellowHorse was inthe best shape and condi- reverberated. 11 Periodically the chant was accompanied by beating tion of all the Pittsburgh players. 14 He believed he had much to 188 Pittsburgh History, Winter 1995/96 However, prove. that was not to be the case. ByJune of that By the early 1960s, YellowHorse's place inPawnee society season, manager Gibson was replaced byhometown favorite Bill was solidified, and he was held inhigh esteem. His positive McKechnie amid charges ofheavy drinking by unnamed influence onPawnee youth was evident. "The tribehonored 15 ballplayers and a general lack ofdiscipline onthe team. Fingers YellowHorse onhis 66th birthday. Afeast and ceremonial war pointed at Moses YellowHorse and his roomate, Pirate shortstop dance were given inrecognition of his accomplishments past and and future Hall of Famer Walter "Rabbit" Maranville,but nothing present." However, the specter of death stepped forward and three was ever proven. months later, on April10, 1964, Moses YellowHorse died of an Dissatisfaction withYellowHorse began to surface among apparent heart attack. 16 He was buried with the traditional Pirate fans. An October newspaper account predicted that "as a Pawnee ceremonies and interred inthe North Indian Cemetery, pitcher player days and his are few." Ironically, this was the same Pawnee, Oklahoma.
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