Who was the first African-American to play Major League Baseball?

Moses Fleetwood Walker (born 1856) was an American sportsman, author and inventor. Walker succeeded in baseball: he is credited by some with being the first African-American to be in the Major League Baseball. Moses was a catcher of the Toledo Blue Stockings club for one season. Until 1889 he was playing in minor leagues. Then the color limit was set in professional baseball, so Moses Fleetwood Walker was prevented from playing in a major league.

After leaving baseball in 1891, Walker became a businessman and an inventor. He ran a hotel and a theater, published a newspaper and even patented several inventions. He cared much about the future of African-Americans, supported black nationalism and led an active political life. He died on the 11th of May, 1924.

More Info: bleacherreport.com

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178 Comments

Tonie Carr

The question is wrong if you go back and read it again: "he is credited by SOME with being the first African-American to be in major league baseball. Moses was a catcher for the Toledo Blue Stockings club for one season. Until 1889 he was playing in the minor leagues. The color limit was set in professional baseball, so Moses Fleetwood was PREVENTED from playing in a major league." The answer sounds more questionable than the question. It's a bunch of double-speak and hanging chads. Jackie Robinson SHOULD BE the correct answer. I rest my case and throw myself on the mercy of public opinion.

Claudia Williams

Was this a trick question? I see where most of us thought it was Jackie Robinson!

Ruben Pages

BOOM! A real bomb. Jackie Robinson has always been accredited.

Bonnie Oliver Binford

WE have been told all our lives it wa the famous #42. That HE was the first. Everyone that guessed becuase of the history of the game seems to have missed it. BTW It was JUST celebrated last week. Every [layer on every team wore #42 for Jackit Robinson.

Thomas Love

You said MAJOR league baseball. He played in the minors and never the majors.

debmollo

Not the major, it was Jackie Robinson

Jim Hill

Actually it is believed that Wilkiam Edwaed White was the firsr African American to play in the majors. He only played in one game replacing an injured player on June 21st,1879.

Papamason

The question said Major League Baseball player. Very misleading and bad question! Boo!

cgrhm

The correct answer is Jackie Robinson. Minor league is not major league.

Owen Tucker

Fleet and his brother Welday were mixed race ball players. They both looked black at a time when the European looking players often refused to participate because of their inclusion. There were others that may have “passed” as white that were allowed to play (before Jackie). You’ll find both Fleet and Welday in baseball reference-dot-com

Roger L. Moore

Stephen Forest, “Some people “ are just wrong.

myers nj

This makes not one iota of sense!! Minor leagues is not major leagues and playing for Toronto for one season is NOT playing for the major leagues in the United States. I call foul!

Stephen Forest

'Some people'? Some people are reaching...

David Carney

You are wrong. The question is major league not minor league.

Kiki

Tonie Carr, I agree with you wholeheartedly!! The correct answer IS Jackie Robinson.

Charles Borg

Jackie Robinson, byname of Jack Roosevelt Robinson, (born JanCairo, Georgia, U.S.—died October 24, 1972, Stamford, Connecticut), the first Black baseball player to play in the American major leagues during the 20th century..

douglaswatson

Why is there a Jackie Robinson Day in MLB, when every player in the Majors wears the number 41 on there jerseys to celebrate Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier by being the first African-American to play in the Major League? The correct answer is Jackie Robinson.

lowryjacqueline

I was born in the '60s and only one I ever heard them speak of as far as this was Jackie Robinson I don't even know nothing about this other person I've never even heard them mention him