Smith’s vision helped clear Jackie’s path to majors
Sportswriter and Spink Award winner Wendell Smith worked tirelessly to push for baseball's integration.
Stories of Black baseball
Stories that highlight the lives and experiences of Black ballplayers through key moments in history, artifacts and baseball cards.
Featured Story
Doby blazed trails on, off field
On June 30, 1978, Larry Doby became the second Black manager in AL/HL history.
Brown’s lone big league homer made history
Willard Brown made history on Aug. 13, 1947 when he became the first Black ballplayer to homer in the major leagues.
The Taylors, including Hall of Famer Ben Taylor, helped define a generation of baseball in the Negro Leagues
Ben Taylor was one of the most respected first basemen of his time.
Black newspapers preserved Negro Leagues history
For decades, the history of the Negro Leagues was written in Black newspapers.
#Shortstops: Rube Foster’s home team
Letters from Rube Foster highlight one of the many challenges faced by Negro League teams.
Larkin’s loyalty made him the Cincinnati kid
The 12-time All-Star shortstop spent entire MLB career with the Reds.
Hall call puts exclamation point on Gibson’s career
Bob Gibson's career of excellence culminated in a first-ballot election to the Hall of Fame in 1981.
When Robinson signed with Montreal, baseball and America changed forever
Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers' organization on Oct. 23, 1945.
#Shortstops: Playing for the 'Right' Reasons
Josh Barfield donated his bat to the Hall of Fame following the Civil Rights Game on March 31, 2007.
#CardCorner: 1969 Topps Donn Clendenon
Donn Clendenon appeared on not just one but two versions of cards in Topps 1969 series.
#Shortstops: Dark Town Battery
Dark Town Battery, a mechanical bank, brings to light the intersection of American culture, politics and race relations during the 19th century.
#CardCorner: 1969 Topps Leon Wagner
Leon Wagner's 1969 Topps card features the outfielder in a Reds uniform, a team for which he never played.
Frank Robinson’s legacy includes history on the field and in the dugout
Frank Robinson left his mark as a record-setting player and as the first African-American manager in big league history.
Yankees' acquisition of Raines helps kick-start dynasty
Tim Raines was traded from the White Sox to the Yankees on Dec. 28, 1995, and helped New York win World Series titles in 1996 and 1998.
Rice named AL MVP after historic 1978 season
In 1978, Jim Rice's incredible season earned him the AL MVP Award.
#CardCorner: 1978 Topps Earl Williams
Earl Williams' 1978 Topps card was the last of his eight-year big league career.