Jimmy Claxton and his 1916 Zeenut

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Posted By: Ben 

Just learned while watching Ken Burns Baseball that Jackie Robinson was not in fact the first black baseball player in the 20th century -- it was Jimmy Claxton, who played very briefly for the Oaks PCL team in 1916.

Better yet, he made an appearance in the 1916 Zeenut series (card #24). This is probably old news to all of you, but it is new to me. Does anybody own/know about this card? Any info would be much appreciated!

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Posted By: runscott

...sold in the big Sotheby's auction

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Posted By: Brian Weisner

The Halper/Sotheby's card sold for $3,737.00. There was another sold by Lew Lipset in his march 2000 auction. I'm not sure os the selling price, but I'm sure somone else will post the answer. Be well Brian

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Posted By: Julie

Mark Macrae owns one, and has sold at least two (he offered me one, but I didn't want to pay $3000 for it). The story goes, Jimmy Claxton was playing on some coast league team in 1916, and the oakland Oaks (?) needed an extra pitcher for the second half of their double header on Memorial Day. Jimmy Claxton had been calling himself an Indian, which he looked about as much like as most Mulattos do. He pitched the game but (this is from Mark, who got to know Jimmy's son) someone in the stands identified Jimmy's parents and--get THIS--thought there was too much difference between their colors (he should see Jeter's folks!), and reported Jimmy as passing, or one of his parents as being married to the wrong race, or some such foolishness, and Jimmy Claxton played no more for the Oaks. However, that very day, the Zeenut people were there, taking photographs for the 1916 Zeenuts, and Jimmy Claxton got himself on a card. Which sells for about $3000, and is hard to find.

For some reason i wasn't especially interested in the accidental appearance on a Zeenut card, but it's true that Jimmy Claxton is the only black guy you'll find on an American baseball card till 1947.

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Posted By: Julie

...

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Posted By: scgaynor

Actually, Bobby Estalella who played from 1935-1949 with several Major League teams had a Black father and Latin American mother, which I think, technically makes him Black.

Scott