ONE OF THE EARLIEST ARTICLES ON AFRICAN-AMERICANS PLAYING BASEBALL

[AFRICAN AMERICAN BASEBALL]. Oakland Daily News. The “Superior Race” Defeated. Oakland: William Gagan, 20 July 1871. Vol. 11, No. 5. 4pp., large folio (610 x 457 mm), few professional paper repairs affecting the text. A VERY EARLY REPORT ON BLACK BASEBALL. “A colored base ball club of Chicago, recently contended with, and defeated a crack club of white players of the same city… Would it not be still more significant, if, with the proper financial, moral, physical, and social encouragement, Chicago should produce a base ball club of blacks competent to dispute the palm of superiority with any and all clubs of any and all colors? Is the negro the coming base ball player?” The prophesy soon became true in 1920 with the formation of the first Negro National League. As of 2023, Major League Baseball comprises about 40% players of color, with 6% identifying as Black. There are currently 23 Black baseball players in the baseball hall of fame.