
October 3, 1867: "The First Colored Baseball Championship"
"Championship” is often a fluid concept when applied to 19th-century…

September 3, 1869: Inter-racial baseball in Philadelphia
Frederick Douglass said no city was more prejudiced against colored…

July 14, 1887: The color line is drawn in baseball
On the morning of July 15, 1887, the New York Herald boldly titled…

August 16, 1889: Integrated baseball in Pennsylvania: Cuban Giants defeat Lebanon Grays
Thirteen teams played in the Middle States League, an integrated…

April 18, 1890: Amateur John Lyston wins Atlantic League tuneup against Gorhams
A reconvening of the annual baseball meetings was held on March…

September 1-3, 1904: Philadelphia Giants defeat Cuban X-Giants in championship series
The early twentieth century rivalry was intense between the two…

August 27, 1916: Chicago American Giants defeat Indianapolis ABCs on close play at the plate
Rube Foster of the Chicago American Giants, J.D. Howard, and…

May 7, 1921: Detroit Stars and Bacharach Giants hit the long ball
It was Saturday, May 7, 1921, the opening day of the Negro National…

July 16, 1921: Cristóbal Torriente, Chicago American Giants knock the starch out of ‘Iron Man’ McGinnity
1921 Chicago American Giants team with Cristóbal Torriente…

August 3, 1924: Cyclone Joe Williams leads Royal Giants to victory
Four thousand fans arrived at Maryland Park on Sunday, August…

September 7, 1929: Havana's Luis E. Tiant knocked out in Baltimore exhibition game
The Havana Red Sox baseball team arrived in Miami in March of…

September 10, 1933: The Game of Games: Negro Leagues stage first all-star game at Comiskey Park
"The East-West Game became the spirit and life of Negro League…

August 26, 1934: The Hottest Show in Town: Satchel Paige mows 'em down in Negro Leagues all-star game
The summer of 1934 was a scorcher in Chicago. It was one of the…

August 11, 1935: The Mule Kicks the Maestro in Negro Leagues all-star game
At a time when a pint of Kentucky bourbon cost $1.251 and a…

May 3, 1936: Satchel Paige and the Pittsburgh Crawfords visit Zanesville, Ohio
The Zanesville (Ohio) Greys were a Class C minor-league baseball…

July 6, 1938: Braves Field hosts an integrated baseball game
Bob Quinn owned the Boston Red Sox from 1923 into 1933. In 1936…

August 6, 1939: Late home runs lift West to win in Negro League all-star game
As the Cheers resident know-it-all Cliff Clavin might have said,…

May 18, 1940: Young Roy Campanella clouts two home runs for Baltimore Elite Giants
For decades, baseball had been played in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,…

May 30, 1942: New York Black Yankees defeat Birmingham Black Barons on Decoration Day at Sportsman's Park
On a warm Saturday afternoon in May, with the nation’s list…

August 1, 1943: Thrills and Surprises: 51,723 see Satchel Paige and other Negro League greats in All-Star Game
“If you were anybody, you were at the East-West Game.” —…

September 26, 1943: Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, and Buck Leonard lead Homestead Grays in Game 4
A crowd of 6,000 turned out to Comiskey Park on September 26,…

June 13, 1944: Ray Dandridge, Newark Eagles soar over Memphis Red Sox
“Ray Dandridge was fantastic. ... Once you saw him, you never…

August 13, 1945: KC Monarchs pay a 'royal' visit to Braves Field
On occasion, the buildup exceeds the event. Such was the case…

May 5, 1946: Leon Day throws Opening Day no-hitter for Newark Eagles
It is common knowledge that Cleveland Indians Hall of Famer Bob…