October 7, 1856 - May 11, 1924

Moses Fleetwood Walker

^{Photo courtesy}

While not nearly as celebrated as Jackie Robinson, Moses Fleetwood Walker holds the honor of being the first Black player to play for a major league team, as a catcher for the 1884 Toledo Blue Stockings. His brother, Weldy Walker, was the second black player on a major league team, playing on the same team as his brother.³

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  Interesting Fact

  In 1882, he was the first black person to play baseball and varsity sports at the University of Michigan⁴⁶

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  Statistic

  Despite racism and the impeding ban, he played 42 games for the Toledo Blue Stockings³

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  Teams Played

  Never played on all-black teams, played on white minor leagues after expulsion from the Toledo team³

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  Quote

  Moses Fleetwood Walker was no ordinary man, and in the 1880s he was no ordinary baseball player. - David W. Zang³

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