Moses Fleetwood Walker: The Black player who broke baseball's color barrier six decades before Jackie Robinson

Moses Fleetwood Walker is an icon, a legend and a completely forgotten trailblazer. The American professional baseball catcher is historically credited as being the first Black man to play in Major League Baseball.

Throughout his baseball career, Walker spent 42 games with the Toledo Blue Stockings and the Syracuse Stars, batting .263 with 40 hits and 23 runs scored. He was the last African American to participate at the Major League level before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line in 1947.

"Moses Fleetwood Walker was the Syracuse Stars' catcher in 1888 and 1889, & is known as the first Black man to play in the major leagues. In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, we'll be honoring great Black players in Syracuse baseball history in conjunction with @MiLB's The Nine!" - Syracuse Mets

Walker's entrance into professional baseball caused immediate friction in the league, with the executive committee of the Northwestern League debating a motion that would prohibit all colored ballplayers from entering the league. The proposal was handed in by the representative of the Peoria, Illinois club. After a heated debate, the motion was dismissed, allowing Walker to play.

On Aug. 10, 1883, in an exhibition against the Chicago White Stockings, manager Cap Anson refused to play a game against Toledo if Walker was in the lineup. Toledo's manager Charlie Morton challenged Anson's announcement by not only warning him of the risk of forfeiting gate receipts but also by starting Walker in right field.

After the Toledo Blue Stockings were transferred to the American Association in 1884, which was a Major-League organization, Moses Fleetwood Walker was set to make baseball history. On May 1, 1884, Walker became the first African American to play in a Major League game.

"This was the 1st black person to play MLB Moses Fleetwood Walker. He is the reason MLB made a color line...he was to so good they had to ban him and his brother. 60 YEARS BEFORE ROBINSON & DOBY PLAYED IN MLB https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Fleetwood_Walker #BlackHistoryMonth #blackhistorymonth2023" - CleOhUSA

Moses Fleetwood Walker's legacy is unknown to the casual fan

Although Walker is historically credited as the first Black baseball player to play in an MLB game, Jackie Robinson is often wrongfully given that title. While Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line in 1947, Walker technically did so brought 60 years earlier.

While the official title may be misunderstood by common baseball fans, both of these players' contributions to the sport will never be forgotten. Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated by the MLB every season, with players from each team donning the Dodgers' iconic number 42.