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Black History Month

For Black History Month we want to take the opportunity to recognize some individuals of African heritage who have contributed to the game of baseball in Canada. There are so many more than we could possibly name here, so we’ve selected 16 inductees and 5 teams to highlight. These are trailblazers and legendary franchise players who have left a significant mark on their sport.

Click through to read the stories of all that these individuals and teams achieved in and for Canadian baseball.

inductees

Jesse Barfield | Born October 29, 1959 in Joliet, IL | Class of 2023

Jesse Barfield was drafted in the ninth round of the MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977. He spent parts of five seasons in the Jays’ minor leagues before making his MLB debut on September 3, 1981. For nine seasons, Barfield was a standout for the Blue Jays, both at the plate, and in right field where his exceptional arm had him atop the leader board in assists four times. Barfield was an All-Star in 1986, a two-time Gold Glover, and a Silver Slugger award winner. Alongside Lloyd Moseby and George Bell, Jesse Barfield was part of a trio widely touted as the greatest outfield in Blue Jays history.

Joe Carter | Born March 7, 1960 in Oklahoma City, OK | Class of 2003

1992 and 1993 cemented Joe Carter in the history books of Canadian baseball. Joe Carter arrived in Toronto at the start of the 1991 season, becoming part of one of the greatest Blue Jays teams of all time. Carter represented the C in “WAMCO”, the Blue Jays’ unstoppable top of the batting order, and he was also a five-time All-Star, and two-time Silver Slugger. In 1992, Joe Carter fielded the final out from Mike Timlin, the play that gave the Blue Jays their first ever World Series win, but 1993 is what made Carter a legend. On October 23, 1993, Joe Carter hit a walk-off World Series home run (just the second ever), in what has often been declared the greatest moment in Canadian baseball history.

Jimmy Claxton | Born December 14, 1892 in Wellington, BC | Class of 2021

Jimmy Claxton claimed to have played baseball all over North America. His travels included time with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League, and also as a member on two teams in the East-West Negro League. As a result, he has since been elevated to Major League status when seven different Negro Leagues were acknowledged by MLB as Major Leagues. He is the only Canadian to have been awarded professional recognition following the announcement. Jimmy Claxton was at the head of another milestone when in 1916 he became the first Black player ever featured on a USA-made baseball card with a Zee-Nut series release.

Charlie Culver | Born November 17, 1892 in Buffalo, NY | Class of 2021

Charlie Culver’s career brought him to Canada as a member of various barnstorming teams that ventured north of the border. Culver kept finding himself in Montreal, first as a player, and then as a manager of the Quebec Provincial League’s team, The Black Panthers. Charlie Culver played a major role in paving the way for the acceptance of Black players into the Quebec Provincial League.

Andre Dawson | Born July 10, 1954 in Miami, FL | Class of 2004

Andre Dawson, aka The Hawk, was drafted in the 11th round of the 1975 amateur MLB draft by the Montreal Expos. He made his big league debut on September 11, 1976, and was named the NL’s Rookie of the Year the year following. In 11 seasons with the Expos, Dawson established himself as one of the franchise’s best ever players. The Hawk was an All-Star three times, a Gold Glove winner five years in a row, and a Silver Slugger award winner three times as well. When Dawson retired after 21 big league seasons, he was one of only three players to record more than 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases. Dawson was inducted into Cooperstown in 2010, wearing an Expos cap on his plaque.

Rob Ducey | Born May 24, 1965 in Toronto, ON | Class of 2013

Rob Ducey was one of those lucky individuals who got to play for his hometown team. Born in Toronto, Ducey was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent in 1984. After a few years in the Jays’ minor league system, Ducey made his big league debut on May 1, 1987. He spent six seasons with the Jays before being traded, but he returned to Toronto in 2000. He moved to Montreal the year following where he retired from the Major Leagues after the 2001 season. Ducey is one of only four Canadians to play for both the Blue Jays and the Expos.

William Galloway | March 24, 1882 in Buffalo, NY | Class of 2021

Although born in Buffalo, William “Hipple” Galloway’s parents were Canadian, and he grew up in Ontario after the age of six. Galloway evolved into a talented baseball player while playing on several integrated teams in Ontario. When he joined the Woodstock Bains Canadian League Team in 1899, he officially became the first Black Canadian to play organized baseball. Unfortunately, his membership on the team was short-lived, as several white players objected to his presence there, and he was forced to leave the team. In 1900, Galloway joined the Cuban X Giants and continued his baseball career as a barnstormer.

Cito Gaston | Born March 17, 1944 in San Antonio, TX | Class of 2002

In 1992, Cito Gaston became the first African American manager to win a World Series, and he did it twice in a row. Gaston had enjoyed an 11-year long MLB career as a player, but it is as a manager that he is most celebrated. On May 15, 1989, Gaston succeeded Jimy Williams as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. In the first season under Gaston’s leadership, the Blue Jays captured their second division title, and he was named the Canadian Baseball Man of the Year. Gaston managed the Blue Jays from 1989-1997, and again from 2008-2010. Upon his return to the Jays in 2008, Gaston was honoured with the Jackie Robinson Award from the Negro Leagues Baseball Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement.

Doug Hudlin | Born December 12, 1922 in Victoria, BC | Class of 2017

Doug Hudlin established a 40+ year career as one of the most respected and celebrated umpires in his home province of British Columbia. In his many years calling games, Hudlin became the first non-American umpire to work the Little League World Series. He was named to several umpiring halls of fame and membership groups as he efficiently established himself at the top of his profession. In addition to his work on the field, Hudlin also became the founding director of the BC Black History Awareness Society. In his honour, the BC Baseball Umpires Association presents the Doug Hudlin Distinguished Service Award annually to an umpire working in BC.

Fergie Jenkins | Born December 13, 1942 in Chatham, ON | Class of 1987

On July 21, 1991, Fergie Jenkins became the first Canadian-born player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The honour came after a dominant 19-year pitching career which included three All-Star appearances, and one Cy Young Award. From 1967-1972, Jenkins played six consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins. When Jenkins retired in 1983, he was the only pitcher in history at that time to record more than 3,000 strikeouts while allowing fewer than 1,000 walks.

Russell Martin | Born February 15, 1983 in East York, ON | Class of 2024

When Russell Martin was twelve, he was living with his father, Russell Martin Sr. in Montreal and attending École Édouard-Montpetit, a school with an excellent sports program. Martin’s father busked full time in Montreal to make ends meet, and support his son’s dream of professional baseball. Russell Martin went on to have a highly successful career in the major leagues, including four All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger award. When Martin was signed by the Blue Jays for the 2015 season, Russell Martin Sr. played the anthem on the saxophone to start a Spring Training game on April 3. He got a standing ovation.

Manny McIntyre | Born October 4, 1918 in Devon, New Brunswick | Class of 2021

Manny McIntyre is recognized as the first Black Canadian to play organized baseball in the modern era. McIntyre played all around the maritime provinces for several different teams, having success on the field and catching the eye of numerous teams that he played against. In 1946, McIntyre was signed by the Sherbrooke Canadians (the St. Louis Cardinals Class C farm team) to a pro contract. At the time he was one of only six Black players playing organized baseball.

Lloyd Moseby | Born November 5, 1959 in Portland, AR | Class of 2018

Lloyd Moseby was selected by the Blue Jays in 1978, making his MLB debut on May 24, 1980. When Moseby was awarded the Silver Slugger in 1983, he became the first Blue Jays outfielder to receive the award in the franchise’s history. Moseby was named the team’s Player of the Year that same year, and got the nod for the All-Star game three years after that. Alongside Jesse Barfield and George Bell, Lloyd Moseby was part of the greatest Blue Jays outfield in franchise history.

Tim Raines | Born September 16, 1959 in Sanford, FL | Class of 2013

Over the course of 13 seasons with the Montreal Expos (from 1979-90, and 2001), Tim Raines secured his place in history as a franchise legend, and one of the greatest lead-off hitters the league had ever seen. Raines was named an All-Star seven years in a row from 1981-1987, and also earned a Silver Slugger in 1986. In 2017 Raines was inducted into Cooperstown wearing an Expos cap on his plaque.

Jackie Robinson | Born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA | Class of 1991

In 1947 Jackie Robinson made history when he broke through Major League Baseball’s long-standing colour barrier. The impact his life had on the Major Leagues is enormous, as he blazed the way for so many of the other players on this list. Jackie Robinson’s connection to Canada was in his one year playing for the Montreal Royals in 1946, the farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Royals were a testing field for Robinson’s entry into the majors the following year. In spite of struggling against the racism inherent in the sport at the time, Robinson excelled, leading the International League in batting average, walks and runs, all of which culminated in the Royals’ first Junior World Series win. With the win at home in Montreal, fans were in attendance to lift Robinson onto their shoulders. Jackie Robinson was inducted into Cooperstown on July 23, 1962. His actions continue to impact the game to this day.

Fred Thomas | Born December 26, 1923 in Windsor, ON | Class of 2021

Fred Thomas was a gifted all-round athlete, excelling in baseball, basketball and football. He barnstormed in the late 1940s, but split his time between baseball and basketball. When Thomas took the field for the Wilkes-Barre Barons, Cleveland’s farm team, he became the first Black player to join the Eastern League. In the early 1950s, Thomas joined the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL), playing for Kitchener, Guelph, Waterloo, and London over the years.

Teams

Lincoln Nine “All Black” Baseball Team

The first known all-Black baseball team in Canada was the Lincoln Nine “All Black” Baseball Team, formed in 1869 in London, ON. The team played against White and Black teams around Southwestern Ontario, apparently with the fundraising support of London’s Black community. While the Lincoln Nine were the first, they were certainly not the last all-Black team to excel in baseball.

Saint John Royals

The Royals were an all-Black team from New Brunswick whose origins date back to the 1880s. Beginning after World War I the team truly hit their stride, dominating the Saint John’s West End League, and taking home 4 championship titles in a row from 1919-1922. The team were the pride of the Black community in St. John, and they were an inspiration for future players, including future CBHFM inductee Manny McIntyre.

Amber Valley “All Black” Baseball Team

Amber Valley was established as an unincorporated community approximately 160km north of Edmonton, AB. The Black community was Canada’s largest, and furthest north, and grew as a refuge for African Americans fleeing Oklahoma in the early 20th century. In 1915, the community had formed a baseball team which was gaining notoriety in northern Alberta, playing against First Nation and Métis teams. Impressing their opponents, the team traded baseball skills lessons to the other teams for instruction in northern survival.

Chatham Coloured All-Stars

The All-Stars formed in Chatham, ON in 1932 in a time when Black players were not permitted to play organized baseball. Initially the team barnstormed through southern Ontario, but they were sponsored in 1933 by local Chatham businessman, Archie Stirling to play in the Chatham City League. The team became a popular attraction thanks to their exciting style of play. In 1934 the Chatham Coloured All-Stars took home the Ontario Baseball Association Intermediate B championship title, becoming the first all-Black team to win a provincial title. Their legacy lives on thanks to the continued pride in the team from the Chatham community to this day.

Quebec Provincial League Black Panthers

Building on numerous positive experiences with Black barnstorming teams, the Quebec Provincial League admitted the Black Panthers for the 1936 season. While managed by local legend Charlie Culver, the team relied on American players, a mix of prospects and Negro League veterans. The team, which barnstormed in southern Quebec and upstate New York in between its league obligations, was in the first division in 1936, but struggled the following year, ultimately disbanding after the 1937 season. Despite their brief existence, the Black Panthers left a lasting legacy, paving the way for Jackie Robinson and many Negro League players who would come to Quebec in the subsequent decade.

There are so many more successful teams and players that could be discussed, this is merely a snapshot. Baseball is full of stories of Black individuals fighting to play the game they love, using their skill on the field as a way to rise above the social constraints of a racist society. We are proud to be able to share some of these stories as we enter into Black History Month.

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