A History of the Black Athlete

Timeline

1867: Scattered evidence of the beginning of black baseball

Scattered evidence of black baseball begins in the immediate post-Civil War era. In October 1867, the Brooklyn Uniques were hosts to the Excelsiors of Philadelphia in a contest called "the championship of colored clubs." These two teams are among the first known black baseball clubs, and this was the first known intercity contest. The Excelsiors won 37-24.
1869: Philadelphia Pythons are the first black team to play an all-white club

The Philadelphia Pythons were the first black team to play an all-white club. They defeated the Philadelphia City Items, 27-17.
1878: Bud Fowler becomes the first African-American professional player

April 24, 1878 - The first known black professional player - previous to the present league organization - was John W. "Bud" Fowler. Playing for a local team from Chelsea, MA, he defeated the Boston club of the National League in an exhibition game.
1881: Moses Fleetwood Walker becomes first black college varsity baseball player

Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first black college varsity player and a memnbber of the first Oberlin College varsity baseball team. In 1883, the baare-handed catcher signed with the Northwestern League Toledo Team. He became the first black in minor league baseball when the team entered the American Association in 1884.
1884: Moses Fleetwood Walker becomes first player in major league history

May 1, 1884 - Moses Fleetwood Walker, a catcher, made his debut with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association, then a major league, becoming the first black player in major league history. Walker, who batted .263 in 42 games in his only season, predated Jackie Robinson, the first modern African-American major leaguer, by 63 years.

Related Profile:

Moses Fleetwood Walker
Baseball Pioneer
1886: Peter Jackson becomes the first black to win a national boxing crown

September 25, 1886 - Peter "The Black Prince" Jackson won the Australian heavyweight title with a knockout of Tom Lees in the 30th round.
1889: Cuban Giants becomes first black professional baseball team

In 1885, Frank P. Thompson organized a group of waiters and bellmen at the Argyle Hotel on Long Island, NY to form the Cuban Giants. Four years later, the team joined the Middle States League and became the first black professional baseball team, finishing the season with a 55-17 record.
1890: George Dixon becomes the first black world champion in boxing

June 27, 1890 - George "Little Chocolate" Dixon defeated Nunc Wallace to win the bantamweight title.
1892: First black college football game was recorded

December 27, 1892 - A game between Livingstone College and Biddle College, which eventually changed its name to Johnson C. Smith University. The Livingstone Bears were formally organized in the fall of 1892. Documented in the college's newspaper's 1930 edition, team members purchased a regulation football and uniforms, the players equipped their street shoes with cleats, taking them off after practice.
The young women of the school's industrial department made the players' uniforms for the first game. The teams played two 45-minute halves on Livingstone's front lawn. W.J. Trent scored Livingstone's only touchdown on a fumble recovery. By then the snow had covered the field's markings and Biddle argued that the fumble was recovered out of bounds.
The official ruled in Biddle's favor, allowing them to keep the 5-0 lead that they had established early on and giving the visitors the victory.
1901: Charles Grant becomes first black player in the non-major American League

Charles Grant, a second baseman, became the first black player in the American League (not yet a major league) under the name Charles Tokahama, claiming he was a full-bloodied Cherokee. A former member of the black Columbia Giants, he played for the Baltimore Orioles until the deception was exposed.
1908: First intercity basketball competition between black clubs

December 18, 1908 - The intercity competition between black clubs was between thr Smart Set Club of Brooklyn, New York, and the Crescent Athletic Club of Washington, D.C. The Brooklyn club won at home and away.; Jack Johnson becomes the first black heavyweight champion

December 26, 1908 - Jack Johnson knocked out Tommy Burns in Sydney Australia in the fourteenth round to become the first black heavyweight boxing champion.
1909: First black college basketball teams

Lincoln University (PA), Hampton Institute (now University) and Wilberforce University fielded the first black college basketball teams in 1909 and 1910. YMCAs and YWCAs formed the first black teams and introduced the game on campuses through their student associations and the schools eventually embraced it.
1920: Rube Foster Forms the Negro League

February 13, 1920 - Andrew "Rube" Foster, a former pitcher, organized the first successful black professional baseball league, the National Association of Professional Baseball Clubs, usually called the Negro National League. The Indianapolis ABC played the Chicago Giants in the league's first game.
1923: Rajo Jack becomes the first black to particapate in auto racing

Rajo Jack becomes the first black to participate in automobile racing, albeit on a restricted basis. A 245-pound man, Jack continued to race beyond the age of 60.