A Brief History of African Americans in Baseball

In honor of Black History Month, we’re taking a look back at the African Americans who have made their mark on America’s favorite pastime: baseball. From Jackie Robinson to Hank Aaron, these athletes have left a lasting legacy both on and off the field.

The Early Years

Although baseball is thought of as a “national pastime,” it was not always inclusive of all Americans. In the early years of the sport, African Americans were not allowed to play on professional teams. It wasn’t until 1884 that the first African American professional player, Moses Fleetwood Walker, signed a contract to play for the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association.

The first African American baseball players

The first African American baseball players to play in the Major Leagues were Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Larry Doby, who played for the Cleveland Indians. Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, and Doby followed suit in 1948. Despite their historic achievement, both men faced significant challenges and barriers throughout their careers.

African Americans have been playing baseball since the sport was invented. The first known African American player was William Edward White, who played one game for the Worcester Ruby Legs in 1879. However, it was not until 1884 that an African American player, Moses Fleetwood Walker, played regularly in the Major Leagues. Walker played for the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association, one of two Major League baseball leagues at the time.

The number of African American players in the Major Leagues began to decline in 1889 when racial segregation was introduced into professional baseball. In 1887, there were eight African American players on Major League rosters. By 1900, that number had dwindled to just two: Bud Fowler and Frank Grant. Fowler played for several teams between 1878 and 1887 while Grant played second base for the Buffalo Bisons from 1886 to 1888.

Europeans and Latin Americans began to increasingly populate Major League rosters in the early 1900s, crowding out African American players even further. It wasn’t until 1947 that Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier with his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Negro Leagues

The Negro Leagues were African-American baseball leagues that were established during the time when Major League Baseball was segregated. The first Negro League was the Negro National League, which was founded in 1920. The league lasted until 1931, when it was replaced by the East-West League. The East-West League only lasted one season before it collapsed.

The Negro American League was founded in 1937 and lasted until 1948, when it too folded. The league was resurrected in 1949 and continued to operate until 1960, when Major League Baseball began to integrate.

During the years that the Negro Leagues existed, many great African-American players starred in them. Some of these players, such as Jackie Robinson and Josh Gibson, went on to have their numbers retired by Major League Baseball teams.

The Integration of Baseball

Jackie Robinson

On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball by becoming the first African American to play in a major league game. He was an instant success, winning the Rookie of the Year award his first season and helping the Brooklyn Dodgers win the National League pennant. He was named National League Most Valuable Player in 1949, and he continued to excel throughout his ten-year career. Robinson’s success as a player opened doors for other African American players, and by the end of the 1950s there were over eighty African American players in major league baseball.

Other African American baseball players

Other African American baseball players who made significant contributions to the game during the period of integration include:

Larry Doby: The first African American player to be signed by a Major League team, Doby joined the Cleveland Indians in 1947, just three months after Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. A seven-time All-Star center fielder, Doby helped the Indians to win the 1948 World Series. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

Willie Mays: One of the greatest all-around players in baseball history, Mays was a five-tool player who could run, hit for average and power, field and throw with equal skill. He made his Major League debut with the New York Giants in 1951 and went on to play 22 seasons with the Giants and San Francisco Giants, winning two MVP Awards and 12 Gold Glove Awards. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.

Hank Aaron: Another Baseball Hall of Famer, Aaron is widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all time. He played 21 seasons with the Milwaukee Braves and Atlanta Braves, winning three Gold Glove Awards and hitting 755 home runs — a record that stood for 33 years until it was broken by Barry Bonds in 2007.

The Modern Era

The integration of African Americans into the Major Leagues began in 1947 with Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Since then, many African American players have made their mark on the game of baseball. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, African American players began to make up a significant portion of Major League rosters. In recent years, the number of African American players has declined, but they are still an important part of the game.

African American baseball players today

African American baseball players have come a long way since the days of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in 1947. Today, African Americans make up a significant portion of Major League Baseball (MLB), with around 27 percent of all players being of African descent.

One of the most successful African American baseball players today is Chicago Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler. Fowler was born in 1986 and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2004 and made his MLB debut in 2008. Fowler helped lead the Cubs to a World Series victory in 2016, and he was named an All-Star in 2017.

Other notable African American baseball players include Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop, New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, and Houston Astros outfielder George Springer. These players and many others are proof that Jackie Robinson’s legacy continues to live on in the game of baseball.

The impact of African Americans in baseball

The integration of African Americans into the game of baseball was a gradual process that spanned over the course of nearly a century. The first African American professional player was Moses Fleetwood Walker, who made his debut with the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884. But it would be another 60 years before Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier at the Major League level, when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Since that time, countless African American players have made their mark on the game, including such legends as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Rickey Henderson, Ken Griffey Jr., and Derek Jeter. Today, African Americans make up approximately 14 percent of Major League Baseball rosters. While that number is still far below the percentage of African Americans in the general population (roughly 13 percent), it is a significant increase from just a few decades ago.

The impact of African Americans on baseball goes well beyond just numbers and statistics. The contributions of African American players have helped to shape the game itself, both on and off the field. In particular, their style of play – characterized by speed and power – has come to define what many people consider to be “the perfect baseball swing.”

And while there is still room for improvement when it comes to diversifying coaching staffs and front offices across MLB, there is no question that African Americans have played a vital role in making baseball the great game that it is today.