Thorn: Why discriminate? Welday Walker’s story
From SABR member John Thorn at Our Game on July 6, 2015:
Welday (also spelled Weldy) Wilberforce Walker was one of two African-American brothers to play in Major League Baseball in 1884, with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association. Moses Fleetwood Walker’s story has often been told, notably in David W. Zang’s book, Fleet Walker’s Divided Heart and in Jerry Malloy’s “Out at Home” at Our Game:
http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2014/08/18/out-at-home/
http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2014/08/19/out-at-home-part-2/
http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2014/08/20/out-at-home-part-3/
http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2014/08/21/out-at-home-postscript/
His brother’s story is less celebrated, but he too was a notable player and an articulate champion of his race. When the Tri-State League banned black ballplayers in 1888 (a rule later rescinded) Welday Walker sent a letter to the league’s president and to the editor of Sporting Life, which published it on March 14, 1888.
Read the full article here: http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2015/07/06/why-discriminate/
Originally published: July 9, 2015. Last Updated: July 9, 2015.