History mystery

July 4, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Recognition sought for Ohio’s baseball pioneer

YOUNGSTOWN

Historians have chronicled the events which led to Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier. That historic event occurred on April 15, 1947 when the three-sport star from UCLA made his professional debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field.

Some baseball historians, however, question if Robinson, was the first black player to appear in the majors. One is Craig Brown, a Salem native and professor at Kent State University Salem and Stark branches.

Brown wonders where Mount Pleasant native Moses “Fleetwood” Walker, a catcher for the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884, rates. The Blue Stockings were members of MLB’s American Association, which became the American League.

While baseball acknowledges that post-1900 players and teams comprise the modern game, players and their many accomplishments prior to the turn of the century have arguably been minimized when a comparative analysis is taken of the two eras.

Born on Oct. 7, 1856, Walker was the product of a black father and Caucasian mother and along with brother Weldy, played one season for the Blue Stockings. He appeared in 42 games, batted .263 and helped the team to a 46-58 overall mark, good enough for an eighth-place finish.

The American Association was in direct competition for players with the National League of its day.

Brown’s political science classes from the past several years have undertaken a project that he hopes will shed some light on Walker’s role in the history of the game.

The hope is that tOhio will recognize the role Walker played during those early years by declaring annually his birthday as Moses “Fleetwood” Walker Day.

Brown’s efforts began three years ago.

“It’s been a slow process in Columbus; however, recent indications are Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, who has a true appreciation for the history of the state and the game, might soon bring HB 87 to a vote,” Brown said. “The bill got to committee this past March and while it is now up to Rosenberger to get it to the floor for a vote, if and when that happens then the Senate should act on it rather quickly.”

Brown and his students remain confident that once it gets to the governor’s desk, John Kasich will sign it into law.

“Moses accomplished something really big when you look at it from a time perspective,” Brown said. “We were just 25 years removed from slavery and blacks were looked at as intellectually and physically inferior.

“When Walker played, he debunked that myth and proved that an African-American can indeed, play ball with success and that to me is an historic event,” Brown said. “By participating and taking the field he showed what equality was really about.”

At the turn of the century student-athletes often failed to finish high school, yet alone attend college to receive an education, play sports and ultimately graduate.

Walker graduated from high school in Steubenville, attended Oberlin College and then transferred to the University of Michigan where he was a star catcher on the Wolverines’ baseball team in 1882.

While at Michigan, Walker also played for the Cleveland-based White Sewing Machine Club where he experienced the first of many mistreatments due to the color of his skin.

In 1883, he was a member of the Toledo Blue Stockings of the Northwestern League. The following year, along with brother Weldy, Walker made his major league debut when the Blue Stockings joined the American Association.

Like the racism that Robinson endured, Walker and his brother experienced much racism yet continued to go about their jobs for the team.

“I’m a firm believer in [Dr.] Martin Luther King’s letter from the Birmingham jail when he states that when an injustice is found, anywhere, it is our responsibility to address that and with Fleet, there’s definitely an injustice in not recognizing his contributions to the game,” Brown said. “He’s a tragic figure who endured much racism and that needs to be addressed.”

It has been noted that Walker’s outspoken ways had owners silently begin to lock out future black players. While he had some baggage, Walker was a smart businessman who was considered an inventor and philanthropist during his day.

“Fleet was well-educated. He was a supporter of Black Nationalism and was also acquitted by an all-white jury in the murder of a white man while playing ball in Syracuse, N.Y.,” Brown said. “On the other end of the spectrum he bought a theater in Cadiz and also applied for patents on several inventions for the up-and-coming moving picture industry. He published a weekly newspaper and even received patents for an exploding artillery shell.”

Brown said he feels the day will come when Ohio honors Walker, but the fact that no special interest groups are behind the push makes awareness that much tougher.

“This is advocacy and lobbying all in one. While we’re trying to push the bill, we’re also educating people in the process and bringing new people into the mix,” Brown said.

Those wishing to take part in HB 87 can reach Brown at 330-277-9509 or via e-mail at browncraig77@hotmail.com.