The History of African-Americans in Baseball -The Columbus Clippers

By Joe Santry/Historian

African Americans have a long and rich history in Columbus professional baseball. Sixty years before Jackie Robinson broke the 20th century color barrier, J. Higgins caught, played third base and centerfield for the 1887 Columbus Senators in The Ohio State League There were a number of African Americans playing professional baseball that season but suddenly blacks disappeared from the professional ranks. Historians have many theories on why this occurred. Some believe it was due to Southerners coming north to play professionally. Others believe it was because of antislavery laws being passed at that time which made it illegal to sell human beings Baseball owners found it a very lucrative business to sell players to other clubs In 1887, Mike “King” Kelly was sold by the Chicago White Stockings to the Boston Beaneaters for an unprecedented sum of $10,000 Were teams worried about the repercussions if they sold a black ballplayer? Or was it the growing sentiment for separate but equal that was beginning to sweep the nation? Others historians believe it was simply racism

African-Americans formed their own teams and leagues in the late 19th century. Bud Fowler, the best African-American player in the 19th century, formed the Columbus Black Tourist team in 1900 The team traveled the country in style in a customized train car

In 1908 the Black Tourists joined the Colored Ohio State League which featured teams from Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Springfield, Dayton and Xenia.

The Columbus Buckeyes were a member of the Negro National League in 1921 The team featured two future Hall of Famers, John Henry “Pop” Lloyd and Sol White

The Pirates’ Honus Wagner was once asked what he thought of Pop Lloyd being referred to by the press as “The Black Wagner” The legendary from the Negro National League and young talented players that would still make their mark

In 1932 The Negro Southern League’s Louisville Black Caps transferred to Columbus and became the Turfs. Like all the previous Negro League teams the Turfs played their games at Neil Park onCleveland Avenue laying off the name of Columbus Red Birds of the American Association. The Blue Birds finished in sixth place in ‘33 but had some memorable ball players

Player-manager Dizzy Dismukes was a college educated, submarine pitcher. After a long managerial career, he became secretary and personnel director of the Kansas City Monarchs until 1952 During this time, he was instrumental in the careers of Jackie Robinson, Cool Papa Bell, Buck O’Neil, Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks and Elston Howard and many more legendary players His career ended as a scout for the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox shortstop replied that he was flattered by the comparison.

Connie Mack and Babe Ruth simply called Lloyd the greatest ball player they ever saw play the game

White was retired as a player and working as the Buckeyes’ traveling secretary when the team’s second baseman was injured during a road trip White filled in for twelve games and became the oldest player in Columbus history at the age of 54. White’s book, History of Colored Baseball, was the first book on the Negro Leagues

The Keystones were a strong independent Negro team from 1929-1930. The teams were a unique combination of veterans

In the 1930’s Columbus had two teams in the Negro National League; the Columbus Blue Birds in 1933 and the Columbus Elite Giants two years later The new Negro National League was formed in 1933 after the original league disbanded in 1931 The new circuit consisted of the Cole’s American Giants, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the Baltimore Black Sox, the Nashville Elite Giants, the Detroit Stars, the Homestead Grays and the Columbus Bluebirds. The league was the brainchild of W J Peebles of Columbus, who became the owner of the Columbus franchise. Peebles named his club the Bluebirds

Ted Radcliffe was nicknamed Double Duty by the famous sports writer Damon Runyon when he saw Ted pitch the first game of a double header and catch the second game. Ted was one of the most colorful players in black baseball. He lived to the age of 103. Bill Byrd was one of the last pitchers to throw a legal spitter. He learned the pitch from teammate Roosevelt Davis while hurling for the 1933 Columbus Blue Birds Recruited to pitch for the Columbus Elite Giants for the 1935 season, he became the Giants’ ace for the next 16 seasons. Late in his career, Byrd’s young catcher Roy Campanella affectionately called Bill “Daddy”. The Elite Giants moved to Columbus from Nashville and finished with the third best record in the league behind the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the New York Cubans Three of the longest home runs in Cooper Stadium history were hit by Negro League stars Josh Gibson, "the Babe Ruth of the Negro Leagues", is the only man, that we can document, to hit a ball over the famous brick wall beyond the trees in left field

The Negro Leagues folded in 1960 but traveling teams continued to make stops in Columbus.