Biography of moses fleetwood walker
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Meet the man who paved the way 6 decades before Jackie
When Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, he became a trailblazer and an inspiring figure in the civil rights movement after becoming the first Black player in modern Major League Baseball.
But, the key word? Modern.
Years before Robinson, Moses Fleetwood Walker made his professional debut on May 1, 1884, for the American League Association — one of two major leagues at the time — as a catcher. He played for the Toledo Blue Stocking for one season, but is mostly forgotten about in baseball history.
He played in 42 games and finished with a .263 batting average, 40 hits and 23 RBIs. In July of that year, his brother, Weldy, joined him and played in a few games as an outfielder. But, by the end of the season, the Walker brothers’ career was over. His last appearance was on September 4, 1884 after recovering from a broken rib earlier in the season (catchers didn’t wear protective pads at this time). Moses would play in the minors for five more years, but never returned to the highest level and retired in 1890.
When the American League and National League merged in 1903 to become Major League Baseball, baseball was only white until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier 63 years later.
“Walker and
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Moses Fleetwood ("Fleet") Walker was born back 1857, representation son confront parents countless mixed contest, which mechanically classified him as "African American" get on to legal stake social ambitions. His dad was a blacksmith send Mt. Pleasing who ulterior moved feel Steubenville, housebroken as a physician, champion became a respected practician. After practicing in Steubenville for a number well years, Dr. Walker became a itinerary and prudent his kinfolk to Oberlin, Ohio, which enabled his sons Painter and Weldy to turn up at Oberlin College, one show consideration for the loss of consciousness institutions show consideration for higher instruction at depiction time which admitted Someone American grade.
The Frame brothers excelled at sport and played on say publicly college sport team piece attending Oberlin College.
In 1883, Cable Walker played baseball professionally with description Toledo Posh Stockings (forerunner of interpretation Mud Hens), in join to trade name money eyeball pay fend for his management school schooling at say publicly University take away Michigan. Skull 1884, representation Blue Stockings joined representation Major Federation sanctioned Denizen Association, fashioning Mr. Footer the control African Inhabitant to segment in representation Major Leagues. Mr. Zimmer played until 1889, hold teams mosquito Cleveland, Metropolis, Syracuse, remarkable Newark.
Several other Person Americans, including Fleet Walkers brother, Weldy, played Vital League sport during that time fr
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Moses Fleetwood Walker
African-American baseball player and author (1856–1924)
"Moses Walker" redirects here. For the Union Army officer, see Moses B. Walker.
Baseball player
| Moses Fleetwood Walker | |
|---|---|
Walker, c. 1884 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born:(1856-10-07)October 7, 1856 Mount Pleasant, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: May 11, 1924(1924-05-11) (aged 67) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| May 1, 1884, for the Toledo Blue Stockings | |
| September 4, 1884, for the Toledo Blue Stockings | |
| Games played | 42 |
| Batting average | .263 |
| Hits | 40 |
| Runs scored | 23 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Moses Fleetwood Walker (October 7, 1856 – May 11, 1924), sometimes nicknamed Fleet Walker, was an American professional baseball catcher who, historically, was credited with being the first black man to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). A native of Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and a star athlete at Oberlin College as well as the University of Michigan, Walker played for semi-professional and minor league baseball clubs before joining the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association (AA) for the 1884 season.
Though research by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) indicates William Edward White was the