10 Famous African American Baseball Players

From Jackie Robinson to Hank Aaron these are some of the most famous African American Baseball players in history.

Hank Aaron

Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron (born February 5, 1934), nicknamed “Hammer” or “Hammerin’ Hank”, is a retired American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder who serves as the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves He played 21 seasons for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) and two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL), from 1954 through 1976. Aaron held the MLB record for career home runs for 33 years, and he still holds several MLB offensive records.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson is remembered as the first African American player in Major League Baseball He had an exceptional rookie year, winning the National League batting title and helping the Brooklyn Dodgers to win the World Series His career batting average was .311 and he was named National League MVP in 1949. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

Willie Mays

Willie Mays, nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid”, is a retired American Baseball center fielder who spent almost all of his 22-season Major League Baseball (MLB) career playing for the New York/San Francisco Giants before finishing his career with the New York Mets He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility.

Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente was born in Puerto Rico in 1934. He played his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1972. Clemente was a 12-time All-Star and won the National League MVP Award in 1966. He also won four Gold Glove Awards and led the Pirates to a World Series victory in 1971. Clemente died tragically in a plane crash in 1972, while attempting to deliver supplies to victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua.

Frank Robinson

Frank Robinson is a former professional baseball player who played for the Baltimore Orioles the Los Angeles Dodgers the California Angels, and the Cleveland Indians He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Robinson is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson is a former professional baseball right fielder who played 21 seasons for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics Baltimore Orioles New York Yankees and California Angels of major league baseball (MLB). He was nicknamed “Mr. October” for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the Athletics and the Yankees. Jackson helped Oakland win five consecutive American League West divisional pennants, three consecutive American League pennants and three consecutive World Series titles, from 1972 to 1974. Jackson also helped New York win four American League East divisional pennants, six American League pennants and two consecutive World Series titles, from 1977 to 1981. He is the only player to have been a member of both teams.

Jackson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks nicknamed “Mr. Cub” and “The Sweetest Swing in the Game”, was an American professional baseball player who spend his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Chicago Cubs as a shortstop and first baseman, from 1953 to 1971.

Billy Williams

Billy Williams was born in Whistler, Alabama on June 15, 1938. He began his Major League career with the Chicago Cubs in 1961. Williams was an All-Star for six seasons and was the National League batting champion in 1972. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987.

Lou Brock

Lou Brock is a former American professional baseball player He began his 19-year career playing in the Negro Leagues, and then spent another 19 years as an outfielder for Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals where he was a two-time World Series champion and a National League Most Valuable Player Brock was inducted into the national baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.

Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds is a former American Baseball Left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants He received a record seven MVP Awards eight Gold Glove Awards a record 12 Silver Slugger Awards, and 14 All-Star selections. He is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time.