First African-American MLB player

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Awaiting Review
Date Saturday, June 21, 1879
Location Providence, RI, United States
Description

The first African-American MLB player was not Jackie Robinson, or even Bud Fowler. The first was William E. White (1860-1937), who played one game for the Providence Grays in 1879. White was the first baseman of the Brown University baseball team, and was pressed into service when the Grays' regular first baseman was injured. The GA-born White was mixed-race. It is not clear that any of his classmates or Providence teammates knew he wasn't Caucasian.

Sources

Wikipedia, based on discoveries of Bruce Allardice. See also White's bio in SABR, also by BA.

Submitted by Bruce Allardice



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