Whenever I watch a baseball game the last thing I pay attention to what race or color of the players. While most of us, especially the younger generation, has the integration of the sport for granted, the only difference we have probably seen the color team uniforms. We forget, or May not be aware, that at one point in our nation's history of baseball was segregated sport.
During the late 1800s, African Americans were forced to form their own teams because they were not accepted into the major and minor baseball lige.Prvi black professional baseball team was founded in 1885 and was named Babel Black Panthers.Tim was later renamed the Cuban giants by a white businessman who hoped to attract more white fans to the games. Tim has become popular, and because of its success, many similar name teams such as the Cuban X-Giants, appeared wanting to be accepted by white patrons. These "Cuban" teams were composed of African-Americans, not Cubans. At that time the United States and Cuba have allies and friendly towards each other, so the explanation that would sound more appealing.
After the American Civil War in 1865, black baseball, which consists largely of former soldiers and officers of black, sprouted mainly in the east and mid-Atlantic. Philadelphia has become its main hub. Despite segregation, black teams progressed. They not only play each other, but the majority of their revenue is earned by playing against a white independent semi-pro clubs.
During the First World War, African-American migrations from south to north due to rapid labor required of the defense industry. With the growth of urban populations of black came affluent fan base with extra money to spend on baseball games. During this time, a former pitcher for the Cubans called Andrew "Rube" Foster worked to establish the all-black league, which is more stable and organized. He pointed out that black teams should be owned exclusively by black people. At the time many of these teams are owned and promoted by white businessmen. By 1920, thanks to the efforts of Foster, the Negro National League was founded in Kansas City, Missouri. Andrew Foster became its president and controlled every aspect of the league and its players. Despite this achievement, the Negro National League folded after the 1931 season because of hard economic times.
During the Second World War, as well as millions of African Americans worked in war industries, they also filled the stands to watch the matches in each city. They are making good money and wanted to reap the benefits of economic boom, while also demanding social justice. As black players came to be considered as potential and started signing with major League Baseball teams, racial barriers began to come down and the death of Negro leagues began to fade into oblivion.
the first black player to break the color barrier, Jackie Robinson. Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey signed Robinson in 1946 to integrate the Major League Baseball. Prior to his signing with the Dodgers, Robinson played professionally in the Negro Leagues. Although black players are getting noticed, they are also being tested to see how well it can withstand the racist heckling jeers from the crowd and comments from new teammates on what to play with African-Americans on their team. Harassment and threats to the price of black players had to pay for the right to integrate the major leagues.
Among those who had their start in the Negro Leagues, and is considered a pioneer in breaking the color barrier in baseball as Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe. As a teammate of Jackie Robinson, they also played for the Dodgers.
Early Negro leagues, not only used to nurture the talent of young African-American baseball player but also plays a leading masses of black baseball fans who enjoy the sport. Before his death, Negro leagues were among the most prosperous black-owned business ventures of his time.
