1884 Petrolia Ontario Baseball Team

[Archive]

Posted By: jamie

Now that the auction for this unusual postcard is over, is Bud Fowler pictured here?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6253999258&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEDW%3AIT&rd=1

Neat piece nonetheless, but what a treasure it would be if he was.

[Archive]

Posted By: ramram

I doubt he played up there in '84 (although some players played for several different teams in a season. No telling who it might be but there were several blacks who played in semi-pro teams during that period.

"The first black professional baseball player, Fowler debuted in the 1878 International Association.

In 1884 Fowler hit .302 for Stillwater of the Northwestern League, topping the circuit with 57 hits. In '85, Fowler was the second baseman for Keokuk of the Western League and then for Puebl of othe Colorado State League."

Rob M.

[Archive]

Posted By: gregor197

Fowler played in Canada in 1881. He was originally signed by a team in Guelph, but his teammates refused to play with him. He then briefly signed with Petrolia, but his teammates threw the game when Fowler took the mound, and he left town soon after.

See, for example, William Humber, editor, _All I Thought About Was Baseball: Writings on a Canadian Pastime_.

[Archive]

Posted By: jamie

thanks for the info! i will definitely have to check out that book