Beginning in 1976, successive U.S. presidents have designated February as "Black History Month." On December 17, 2020, Rob Manfred, the current president of major leagues, announced that he would upgrade the status of the black league to the level of major leagues, and since then, Black History Month has been given a more profound meaning on the baseball field. In the vicissitudes of the sea, the black figures on the major league field have gone from disappearing to shining, and the floating and heavy story is absolutely fascinating.
Image source: fumscd.org
In 1865, the American Civil War ended, and blacks were legally free and civil, and naturally they could compete with white athletes. The identity of the first black athlete to enter professional baseball is difficult to verify, but as early as 1870, black baseball players Frank Stewart and Charles Bannister had a record of playing for white clubs. Stewart, a Civil War veteran, was also called the best of all baseball players in New York State by the Rochester Evening Express.
In addition to the previously mentioned Stewart, the first african-American professional baseball player recognized was Bud Fowler, who worked as a pitcher, receiver and second baseman in minor leagues since 1878 and played for more than a dozen early minor league teams. On record, Fowler hit a .308 strike rate in over 2,000 hits, and he's also an excellent pitcher.
Fowler (rear center) Source: SABR
Unfortunately, the unfair treatment of blacks in professional baseball has only just begun. In 1876, Jim Crowfa was introduced in the southern states of the United States, and the policy of racial segregation officially began. At that time, society, especially in the South of the United States, was still very hostile to black people, and baseball was naturally no exception, the most famous example being Cap Anson, the first superstar in the history of professional baseball and the first in the history of major league baseball to win 3,000 hits. Anson has repeatedly refused to compete with black people, and his position in baseball has also contributed to the spread of this trend. A "tacit understanding" gradually arose between the clubs, that is, the professional baseball community wanted to exclude black people.
Karp-Anson Source: Baseballhall.org
A "gentleman's pact" gradually took shape in the mid-1880s, an unwritten rule that allowed professional club owners to no longer renew contracts for blacks. Fleetwood Walker became the last black player to make the major leagues for a long time. Walker took over in 1884 for the Then American Association's Toledo Blue Stockings. With a higher than average level of attack, he was also well received for his catching ability. However, he is not only discriminated against by opponents and fans, but even by people who are hostile to him internally. Even so, Pitcher Tony Mullane, who deliberately disobeyed his match, later admitted in interviews that Walker's catch-up ability was excellent. Walker's brother Welday Walker also fought alongside him in the Blue Sox at the same time, making the brotherhood a good story.
Fleetwood (first from left in row 2) and Wilde (second from right in row 3) with their white teammates Image source: the Guardian
On July 14, 1887, the International League voted not to sign black players. Since then, all white leagues have introduced similar regulations, and under the whitewash of "isolation but equality", blacks have almost disappeared in professional baseball. But for black baseball players, there is still a vast world of their own. As early as the 1860s, after the end of the Civil War, many predominantly black baseball clubs emerged in the United States. These clubs not only compete against each other, but also have the opportunity to compete against white clubs. As the atmosphere of racial segregation in the white-dominated professional baseball world grew, the development of black baseball clubs was also in full swing. Some people in the black baseball industry also came and went, making no small contribution to the commercialization and professionalization of black baseball, including Rube Foster, who was later known as the "father of black baseball".
Black team Chicago Union Giants in 1905 Image: NLBPA
The United States entered World War I in 1917, and the manpower demand of the domestic military industry soared. Under such historical conditions, combined with the backward economic conditions of the southern states and the widespread racial segregation and racial discrimination, a large number of African Americans migrated from the rural areas of the southern states to the northeast, Midwest, and Western regions of the United States, known as the Great Migration of African Americans. This has greatly increased the base of baseball fans in areas with a more relaxed racial atmosphere. After the end of World War I in 1919, the conditions were ripe for the creation of a black union. Foster, who had been involved in the management of the team as a player and had the idea of reviving the Negro League as early as 1910, immediately after the end of the war, he began to organize it, and in mid-February 1920, he formed the Negro National League at a conference held in Kansas City.
1924 "Colored" World Series
Under pressure from outside competitive forces and controversy over Foster's business policies, the Negro Nations League was dissolved in 1932. Just as black baseball was at a low point, Cumberland Posey, who also came from the same player, founded the East-West League. The East-West League, born in the Great Depression, did not last long, but retained the tinder for the Black Baseball League. Gus Greenlee, attracted by Posey's profit model, founded the Second Generation Black Nations Coalition (the namesake of The Samet). The famous Josh Gibson, who played in the black league of the period, is said to have hit nearly 800 home runs in his career, when some fans referred to baseball legend Babe Ruth as "White Josh Gibson."
Josh Gibson Credit: Baseball Hall of Fame
World War II soon arrived, and like major leagues, many black league stars who were playing in the year also resolutely joined the army, and the reflection of the war made the baseball world integrate after World War II. With the help of Then Major League Commissioner Chandler, Brooklyn Dodgers (now the predecessor of the Los Angeles Dodgers) general manager Blanche Rickey began looking for black players to enter major leagues. The story behind us is all familiar, an African-American named Jackie Robinson broke down major league racial barriers in 1947 and was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame through his tenacity and hard work. Relatively less well known is that in the same year, Larry Doby signed with the Cleveland Indians (now cleveland Guardians), becoming the first black player in the U.S. league. The more low-key pioneer faced similar insults and discrimination to Robinson, but he also used his efforts to eventually enter Coopertown.
Jackie Robinson Credit: Baseball Hall of Fame
For the remainder of the 1940s, only four major league teams completed racial integration. The spread of new ideas will still take time, but that doesn't stop some milestones from emerging. On July 9, 1948, Satchel Paige, who had long been famous in the Black League, made his debut for the Indians, becoming the first black pitcher in the League. Peggy was 42 years old when she first appeared in the major leagues, and he also holds the record of the "oldest rookie" in the major leagues to this day. Robinson became the first major league black player to receive the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 1949.
Saguir-Peggy
In the 1950s, some of the top black players set the bar for the league. Milwaukee Warriors ( now Atlanta Warriors ) Hank Aaron began his legendary career chasing home run records , and Willie Mays showed his all-round talent to fans. Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe took just eight years to win the Best Rookie, Most Valuable Player and Cy young awards after two years of military service in the middle of the road. "Mr. Bear" Ernie Banks became the first black player in history to win the MVP Award. During this decade, all major league teams admitted black players.
Hank Allen breaks Ruth's home run record Image: Latimes
In the 1960s and 1970s, although the first black players to enter major leagues were gradually entering the twilight of their careers, their juniors were still the bright stars on baseball's top stage. People of color also occupy half of the Grand League, bringing the diversity of the Big League to new heights. In 1963, Elston Howard became the first black MVP winner in the League. Bob Gibson lowered his SELF-PLAY rate to 1.12 in the 1968 season, setting a single-season SELF-DEFEAT record that no one has ever broken. On September 1, 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates lined up major league first line of all-black players. In 1975, Frank Robinson, the first two-league MVP winner, became the first black head coach in major league history. During this time, the American League finally caught up with the National League in terms of strength, and black players played an indispensable role. Such black star names as Well include the likes of Joe Morgan, Willie Stargell, Reggie Jackson and Jim Rice. In the seventies, black players accounted for nearly one-fifth of the major league players, and they contributed about a quarter of the victory contribution point (WAR), which was indeed the golden age of black players.
Famous "Mr. October" Reggie Jackson Source: The Athletic
In later times, black players were still talented. There's "coach" Rickey Henderson who defines the perfect first-time batter with his career stealing record, and Barry Bonds who takes over the Giant's historic outfielder mantle. There is Tony Gwynn to show the charm of the home run, and there is Eddie Murray and Ken Griffey Jr. to interpret the passion of home run. With Dwight Gooden shining on the pitcher's mound, Ozzie Smith wielding magic in the interior. It is because of the countless black players that the baseball stage has become more and more exciting.
The number of black players and the value of victory contributions to the major league share change graph Source: SABR
The red line is the share of the number of black players, and the blue line is the share of the black player's victory contribution
The history of black players being quarantined seems like a thing of the past, but the black pioneers who fought for today's situation should be remembered forever. It is because of this black that baseball has become more colorful. The "colorful black" in the designer joke is the best portrayal of generations of black players.
Honor the great pioneers and thank them for the many great moments and fun they brought to baseball! In the comments section, tell me which black player you have the most impression of!