Early integrated baseball images

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Posted By: Brian C.

Early images of integrated teams are particularly unique. Please post any you'd like to share. Here are three of mine:

Photo #1: a cabinet photo from a California Winter League game played on November 16, 1912. I've revised my description of what is going on in this image based on the enormously helpful input of a board member. The photo shows Pete Hill of the Chicago American Giants arguing a call in a game against the San Diego Bears. Chief Meyers is the catcher with his back to the camera. Another member of the Chicago American Giants (believed to be first baseman Bill Pierce) can be seen just to the left of Meyers' head. Irv Higgenbotham, who played in the Pacific Coast League, is the tall guy with his head down who is walking away on the right side of the photo. An article that appeared the next day in the San Diego paper shows Pierce being escorted off the field by the policeman with the tall hat to Pete Hill's left in this photo. Pete Hill was the captain of the Giants, and in this photo he is apparently arguing a call on behalf of his teammate Pierce. I believe that this 1912 image is one of the earliest original photos of integrated professional baseball.


Photo #2: a real photo postcard of the ca. 1910-15 Homestead Giants. Here's a close up of the players. This one is unique in that there are 12 African American players and two white players.


Photo #3: a real photo postcard of an integrated Connecticut team. Their expressions are priceless.