Moses Fleetwood Walker was born on October 7, 1857, in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. He was the fifth oldest of seven children. His mother, Caroline was a midwife, and his father Moses was a minister and a physician. Growing up he played baseball with friends from his neighborhoods and in a recreation league set up for only colored children. He was a gifted athlete and excelled in education.
In 1879 he was enrolled to a historically integrated Oberlin College. After the creation of the school’s first varsity baseball team in 1881, Walker was able to join and become the first choice catcher. He was the first African American to play white intercollegiate baseball. In 1882 and 1883 Walker played baseball and attended law school at the University of Michigan. While an acclaimed ballplayer at both schools, he graduated from neither. He was known as “Fleet” by his family and friends (Larry 2000).
Even when the National Association of Professional Baseball Players replaced the older National Association of Baseball Players, four years later, the newly formed Association did not have a written clause excluding blacks. The earlier ban had already set the color barrier and although not binding on all of the early leagues it was quite effective. Thus in 1876, when the National League was organized without a written ban against blacks, it did not need one, for there existed a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ barring Negroes.” (Williams 1998)
In the summer of 1883, Walker began his professional carrier with the Toledo Blue Stockings and became the first black player in the Major League. Many followed his foot-steps and by 1887 the league had seven black players, including Walker’s brother Welday "Weldy" Wilberforce Walker. Walker's baseball career was affected by growing racial antipathy and segregation in the United States (Larry 2000). He was frequently subjected to racist taunts and even threats from fans, especially in the southern states, mostly in Kentucky and Virginia. He also had to deal with insults from the press.
Walker fought through the racism and discrimination he received from everyone including his team mates, and he was able to have couple of successful years before he hung up his glove. After baseball he became a very successful business owner and inventor. In 1891 Walker was charged and arrested for stabbing a man to death. He was acquitted of all charges when the court ruled in his favor. The court decided Walker committed the murder in self-defense. Later in his life he became a supporter of Black Nationalism and had a successful carrier in politics.
References
Larry R. Gerlach. "Walker, Moses Fleetwood"; http://www.anb.org/articles/19/19-00730. html;
American National Biography Online Feb. 2000. Access Date: Fri Mar 06 2015
Williams, Nudie. "Footnote to Trivia: Moses Fleetwood Walker and the All-American Dream." JOUR. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 1 Jan. 1988. Web. 6 Mar. 2015. <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1542-734X.1988.1102_65.x>.
In 1879 he was enrolled to a historically integrated Oberlin College. After the creation of the school’s first varsity baseball team in 1881, Walker was able to join and become the first choice catcher. He was the first African American to play white intercollegiate baseball. In 1882 and 1883 Walker played baseball and attended law school at the University of Michigan. While an acclaimed ballplayer at both schools, he graduated from neither. He was known as “Fleet” by his family and friends (Larry 2000).
Even when the National Association of Professional Baseball Players replaced the older National Association of Baseball Players, four years later, the newly formed Association did not have a written clause excluding blacks. The earlier ban had already set the color barrier and although not binding on all of the early leagues it was quite effective. Thus in 1876, when the National League was organized without a written ban against blacks, it did not need one, for there existed a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ barring Negroes.” (Williams 1998)
In the summer of 1883, Walker began his professional carrier with the Toledo Blue Stockings and became the first black player in the Major League. Many followed his foot-steps and by 1887 the league had seven black players, including Walker’s brother Welday "Weldy" Wilberforce Walker. Walker's baseball career was affected by growing racial antipathy and segregation in the United States (Larry 2000). He was frequently subjected to racist taunts and even threats from fans, especially in the southern states, mostly in Kentucky and Virginia. He also had to deal with insults from the press.
Walker fought through the racism and discrimination he received from everyone including his team mates, and he was able to have couple of successful years before he hung up his glove. After baseball he became a very successful business owner and inventor. In 1891 Walker was charged and arrested for stabbing a man to death. He was acquitted of all charges when the court ruled in his favor. The court decided Walker committed the murder in self-defense. Later in his life he became a supporter of Black Nationalism and had a successful carrier in politics.
References
Larry R. Gerlach. "Walker, Moses Fleetwood"; http://www.anb.org/articles/19/19-00730. html;
American National Biography Online Feb. 2000. Access Date: Fri Mar 06 2015
Williams, Nudie. "Footnote to Trivia: Moses Fleetwood Walker and the All-American Dream." JOUR. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 1 Jan. 1988. Web. 6 Mar. 2015. <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1542-734X.1988.1102_65.x>.