PRIDE 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E The African-American Baseball Experience Cuban Giants season ticket, 1887 A f r i c a n -American History Baseball History Courtesy of Larry Hogan Collection National Baseball Hall of Fame Library 1 8 4 5 KNICKERBOCKER RULES The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club establishes modern baseball’s rules. Black Teams Become Professional & 1 8 5 0 s PLANTATION BASEBALL The first African-American professional teams formed in As revealed by former slaves in testimony given to the Works Progress FINDING A WAY IN HARD TIMES 1860 – 1887 the 1880s. Among the earliest was the Cuban Giants, who Administration 80 years later, many slaves play baseball on plantations in the pre-Civil War South. played baseball by day for the wealthy white patrons of the Argyle Hotel on Long Island, New York. By night, they 1 8 5 7 1 8 5 7 Following the Civil War (1861-1865), were waiters in the hotel’s restaurant. Such teams became Integrated Ball in the 1800s DRED SCOTT V. SANDFORD DECISION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BA S E BA L L PL AY E R S FO U N D E D lmost as soon as the game’s rules were codified, Americans attractions for a number of resort hotels, especially in The Supreme Court allows slave owners to reclaim slaves who An association of amateur clubs, primarily from the New York City area, organizes. R e c o n s t ruction was meant to establish Florida and Arkansas. This team, formed in 1885 by escaped to free states, stating slaves were property and not citizens. By the late 1880s, more than 30 African Americans played played baseball so passionately that writers of the time combining players from Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C. and Frederick Douglass, c. 1879 A f reedom and fairness for former slaves. in the major and minor leagues. They were confronted with Courtesy of Library of Congress 1 8 5 9 Philadelphia teams, was not Cuban at all. The reason for the insults of teammates, rough play of opponents and MATCHUP OF BLACK BALLCLUBS called it a mania. African Americans were no different, but in It failed dismally, even in baseball, a game choosing the name “Cubans” is unknown. 1 8 6 0 threats and occasional violence of locals. In 1887, at least In the earliest recorded matchup of two black ballclubs, the Henson Base Ball FREDERICK DOUGLASS RETURNS Club of Jamaica, New York defeats the Weeksville Unknowns of Brooklyn. baseball, as in much of American life, they played mostly in s p read throughout the nation by the war. In nine African Americans appeared on teams in the TO AMERICA FROM EUROPE International League. Despite many obstacles, some of The great abolitionist, author and orator returns to his homeland from abroad. He influences many political decisions regarding segregated settings, including southern plantations, as early as the both the North and the South, opport u n i t i e s these black players succeeded, such as Bud Fowler, Grant African Americans from the Civil War until his death in 1895. Johnson, George Stovey, Frank Grant and the Walker 1850s. After the Civil War, African Americans had the opportunity for black players in organized baseball brothers. Fowler and Johnson would soon help found the 1 8 6 1 - 1 8 6 5 Michigan-based Page Fence Giants, one of the most n a r rowed as racial prejudice deepened. CIVIL WAR to play ball with white players, even professionally, but those successful black baseball teams of the 1890s. Approximately 180,000 African-American soldiers comprising 163 segregated units o p p o rtunities diminished as Re c o n s t ruction ended and segre g a t i o n As black communities became worlds of their serve in the Union army during the Civil War. own within the larger American society, Battery A, Second Colored U.S. Artillery became entrenched as part of American culture. Courtesy of Chicago History Museum 1 8 6 3 EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION African Americans established teams in clubs President Lincoln frees slaves in all states “in rebellion” and declares they “will be received into the armed service.” By the late 19th century, African Americans had developed and schools. By the mid-1880s, they were 1 8 6 5 Not only did black teams face white teams on the field, but baseball to its fullest potential on their own sandlots and diamonds. also forming their own professional teams. African-American players played on the same teams with whites, THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT African-American ballplayer and his wife, including at the major league level. Moses Fleetwood Walker Carlisle, Pennsylvania, c. 1880 Abolishes slavery within the U.S. 1 8 6 7 (back row, center) played on the integrated minor league Toledo Courtesy of Bob and Adelyn Mayer, Black communities took pride in these teams and their dynamic team in 1883. In 1884, Toledo joined the major league American THE PYTHIAN BASEBALL CLUB Spring Fever Memorabilia, Putnam Valley, New York Association, making Fleet and his brother Weldy, who played on Abraham Lincoln 1 8 6 5 - 1 8 7 2 Courtesy of Chicago History Museum The Pythian Club, an amateur African-American baseball club from the same team, the last black major leaguers prior to Jackie Philadelphia, is denied mem- Robinson in 1947. FREEDMEN’S BUREAU brand of the National Pastime. It was here that bership in the National As seen in the let- A federal agency responsible for improving ter below, Walker education and attaining other civil rights is “The prejudices of race are rapidly disappearing. and the Toledo black baseball became the seedbed for those tal- created to help freed slaves. Cincinnati team routinely Red Stockings, faced the specter 1869. A week Courtesy of ented players who eventually paved the way to or two ago we chronicled a game between the 1 8 6 5 - 1 8 7 7 First schoolhouse built for the education of RECONSTRUCTION 1 8 6 9 integrated baseball. Dozens of barnstorming Freedmen, Port Hudson, Louisiana 1i Courtesy of Chicago History Museum 1J 1F Pythian 1G 1H Federal troops are stationed in the South to help THE CINCINNATI RED re-establish those states back into the Union. The Cuban Giants, 1888 STOCKINGS black teams had developed and were playing (colored) and Olympics (white) clubs of Courtesy of Lillian Dabney around the country by the time the first successful black league Philadelphia. was formed in 1920. 1 8 6 6 The Closing Door We the undersigned do hereby warn you not to put up Walker, “Printmaker to the People” AFRICAN-AMERICAN REGIMENTS Called “Buffalo Soldiers” by Native Americans, 1 8 7 1 African-American soldiers are recruited to the negro catcher, the evenings that you play in Richmond, as we serve in Army units in the West. Some journalists continued to fan the dying embers of Currier and Ives, one of America's most popular FIRST PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE Though plagued by financially weak franchises hope for integration in the Reconstruction era, but many could mention the names of 75 determined men who have sworn to pictorial records, cruelly ridiculed the ability of Baseball team, Troop L, Ninth Calvary, CIVIL RIGHTS ACT As the number of black baseball leagues changed and grew, Fort Wingate, New Mexico and players jumping from team to team, baseball’s Courtesy of Palace of the Governors Photo Archives Forbids discriminatory state laws or first professional league, the National Association, Americans were already busy closing opportunity to African Americans to play baseball. Although no (NMHM/DCA), Negative no. 98374 mob Walker if he comes on the ground in a suit. We hope you will Black Codes, giving equal rights to all male citizens operates for five sea6s. African Americans. Black teams like the Pythians of longer acceptable today, it was common for this form of segregated ball was embraced by local towns and KU KLUX KLAN Troy Haymakers of the National Association, 1871 Courtesy of National Baseball Hall of Fame Library Philadelphia played all comers, including white teams, remarks and images like these to appear in print listen to our words of warning, so that there will be no trouble; Groups such as the KKK begin subjecting African Americans to a reign of terror, 1 8 7 6 neighborhoods, with teams and players earning both legendary but opportunities for such interracial contests quickly during the 19th century. The following letter to a campaign of intimidation and violence that would continue for more than 100 years. but if you do not there certainly will be. We only write this to NATIONAL LEAGUE diminished. Ironically, Pythians captain and star player the editor of Sporting Life in 1887 echoed such With tougher player contracts, the National League begins play with eight teams, including the four strongest franchises status as well as income for their communities. Following World Octavius Catto was murdered during riots in Philadelphia prejudice. prevent much bloodshed, as you alone can prevent. 1 8 6 8 from the defunct National Association. War II and the loyal service of more than one million segregated on the day of the first important election in which black FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT men were legally allowed to vote, October 10, 1871. ––Letter from the Richmond, Virginia team to the manager of Toledo team regarding Moses Fleetwood Walker, 1883 Grants citizenship to all people born on U.S. soil, affording them 1 8 7 8 Good sherry has a fine nutty flavor and so equal protection and due process of law regardless of race A f ri c a n - A m e rican soldiers, the game itself finally became a testing FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL PLAYER perhaps we would then remark that the Bud Fowler plays for pay in Lynn, Massachusetts, on a team in the minor league International Association.