The Homestead Grays in 1930.
Click on the "Josh Gibson Bio" link below to read about the career of Josh Gibson.
The first organized league of teams consisting solely of African-Americans -- it was called the Negro National League -- was in 1920. This first league lasted until 1931. A second league, also called the Negro National League, was organized in 1933. Another league, the Negro American League, was launched in 1937. The former folded after the 1949 season, the latter held on until 1962.
In 1970, Satchel Paige, credited with 55 no-hitters, was the first Negro League star to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Note: Jackie Robinson, the 1st modern Black Major Leaguer, played for the Kansas City Monarchs (1945), of the Negro League was Elected to Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers in 1962, BUT he made it because of his time with the Dodgers.
He first played for the negro leagues
The first league for African-American ball players was founded in 1887, even as some minor league clubs had such players on their rosters. The last such league folded in 1951.
Negro League and Major League Baseball legend, Leroy "Satchel" Paige was 75 when he died on June 6, 1982. (born July 7, 1906) After the integration of MLB, Paige became the oldest Rookie in history when he signed with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 42. He played professionally until the age of 47 and was the first player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame based on his Negro League play.
Kansas City Monarchs
Kansas City Monarchs
The first organized league of teams consisting solely of African-Americans -- it was called the Negro National League -- was in 1920. This first league lasted until 1931. A second league, also called the Negro National League, was organized in 1933. Another league, the Negro American League, was launched in 1937. The former folded after the 1949 season, the latter held on until 1962.
In 1970, Satchel Paige, credited with 55 no-hitters, was the first Negro League star to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Note: Jackie Robinson, the 1st modern Black Major Leaguer, played for the Kansas City Monarchs (1945), of the Negro League was Elected to Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers in 1962, BUT he made it because of his time with the Dodgers.
Baseball player Buck Leonard played in the Negro League. Buck Leonard was a first baseman in the League and started playing in 1933. IN 1972 he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
If you do not count the Negro League, the first non-white major league player was the great Jackie Robinson.
Jackie Robinson played for the Negro League, but on April 15, 1947, was called to play in the big leagues, making him the first black big league baseball player.
He first played for the negro leagues
He was the first black or negro to play in the major league baseball.
As a professional, Robinson first played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League, then with the Brooklyn Dodgers' farm club, the Montreal Royals, and finally with the Dodgers for his 10 year Major League career.
It was Buck O'Neil, the Negro League veteran who joined the Chicago Cubs as a coach in 1962.
There is no record of the first home run in the Negro Leagues. The league was not well organize and many records were not kept correctly. Most records of the Negro League was recreated using what could be obtained, but no official complete records have been recognized.