The American icon, Jackie Robinson accomplished feats in his lifetime that no mere mortal could comprehend. His sacrifices on and off the baseball diamond created the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement, insuring that all men were created equal, regardless of color or appearance. Indeed for the Civil Rights Movement, Jackie Robinson was the foundation.
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But, even before Jackie's courageous career, another man fought for equality by playing the game he loved. It was Moses Walker, who by forging the path of a new era in American history, began the fable stepping stones to Jackie Robinson and the American dream.
Walker was born on October 7, 1856 in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. Walker was the son of Moses W. Walker, the first African American physician in the history of Mount Pleasant, Ohio. Walker became educated in schools before attending college at the University of Michigan. He became Michigan's starting catcher late in the 1882 collegiate season. Records indicate Walker hit .308 during the season and batted second in the lineup.
After college, Walker was signed to a minor league contract with the Toledo Blue Stockings and became their starting catcher. It was playing for Toledo where Walker received his first injustice as a professional baseball player. Toledo was scheduled to play the Chicago White Stockings on August 10, 1883. The White Stockings were led by manager Cap Anson. Anson is widely considered the best hitter of the 19th century. He was the first player in Major League history to record 3,000 career hits.
Yet despite his great on field prowess, Anson was a noted racist and bigot. He refused to allow his club to play on the same field as Moses Walker. Toledo manager Charlie Morton stood in defense of Walker, telling Anson if the White Stockings refused to play, then it would be considered forfeit. If the White Stockings forfeited, then they would not be payed for the trip and 19th-century baseball players did not make a good amount of money. Anson then decided to allow his team to play. Walker also took the field that day and played the game with dignity and honor.
Walker made his major league debut on May 1, 1884 with the Toledo Blue Stockings, who in 1884 were considered a Major League team. He would go on to play 42 games in the Major Leagues, batting .263 as the team's starting catcher. Walker never hit a home run in his major league career, though was credited with three triples. Spectators say Walker was gifted with good speed, even for a catcher. Walker's brother Welday also played for the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884, batting .222 in five games. They are the first African American brothers to play on the same Major League team.
Walker would finish his professional baseball career in 1889, after being released by the Syracuse Stars of the minor leagues. Not long after his release, Major League Baseball created the color barrier, barring African American players from signing professional contracts. This act was known was the Gentleman’s Agreement, though in retrospect, there was nothing “gentlemanly” about the agreement.
After his baseball career, Walker became a Hotel and Theater owner in Ohio. He even started a weekly newspaper called The Equator, used to advocate African American rights in the local communities. Walker worked until his death on May 11, 1924. Walker is buried at Union Cemetery in Steubenville, Ohio.
Walker is considered by most to be the first African American to play Major League Baseball. There have been reports to the contrary though, by the Society of American Baseball Research. They claim that William Edward White, an African American man and former slave, played one game for the Homestead Grays in 1879. However, this does not change the legacy of Moses Walker.
If anything, it adds to Walker's legacy. Walker worked hard to make his dreams, and the dreams of those around him, come true. He was the foundation for Jackie Robinson and thus the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement. We should applaud Mr. Moses Walker for his hard work and integrity to improve not only Major League Baseball, but the American dream as a whole.
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