People, Locations, Episodes

Jack Johnson, Boxing Heavyweight Champion born

*Jack Johnson was born on this date in 1878. He was an African American Boxer, and the first Black heavyweight-boxing champion.

J. L. Wilkinson, Baseball Executive born

*J. L. Wilkinson was born on this date in 1878. He was a White American Black sports executive.

Born in Algona, Iowa, James Leslie Wilkinson grew up in Des Moines and attended Highland Park College.  While there he pitched for the baseball team while also playing professional and semiprofessional ball. An injury ended his playing career, but he remained on the management side of the game for the rest of his working life.

Major Taylor, Cyclist born

This date marks the birth in 1878, of “Major” Taylor. He was an African American cyclist and one of the preeminent American sports pioneers of the 20th century.

Charles Follis, Football Player born

*Charles Follis was born on this date in 1879.  He was a Black professional American football player.  Charles W. Follis was born in Cloverdale, Virginia, to James Henry and Catherine Matilda Anderson Follis. James Henry was a farm laborer. Follis was the third born of seven children. The older siblings were Lelia M. and Cora Belle. Sister Laura Alice and […]

James Peters, Rugby Player born

*James Peters was born on this date in 1879. He was a Black Rugby player.

From Salford, England, his father George Peters, was from the West Indies and worked in a circus until he was killed in a lion’s cage. Young Peters played cricket and rugby at school. He was also an outstanding (all-around) athlete winning the 100 yards, mile, long jump, high jump and walking races in 1894. After leaving school Peters became a printer. He moved to Bristol in 1898 and in 1900 joined Knowle Rugby Club. Some white members objected to the inclusion of a Black man and resigned.

Rube Foster, Baseball Player, and Manager born

*On this date, we the recall the birth of Andrew “Rube” Foster in 1879. He was an African American baseball player, one of the most completely talented baseball players in Black baseball.

From Calvert, Texas. As a raw-talent rookie pitcher in 1902, Foster is credited with 51 victories. In 1903, pitching for the Cuban American Giants, he won four games in the play-off victory over the Philadelphia Giants. The next year, after jumping to the Philly team, Rube won two games in the three-game play-off victory over his former teammates.

Jesse Stahl, Cowboy, and Rodeo Star born

*The birth of Jesse Stahl in 1879 is celebrated on this date. He was an African American cowboy and rodeo star.

Bobby Marshall, Minnesota Lawyer, and Athlete born

*Bobby Marshall was born on this date in 1880. He was an African American athlete and lawyer.

George Poage, Olympian, and Teacher born

*George Coleman Poage was born on this date in 1880. He was an African American athlete and teacher.

Joe Bartholomew, Golfer, and Golf Course Designer born

Joseph M. Bartholomew was born on this date in 1885. He was an African American golfer who specialized in designing golf courses.

Joe Bartholomew was born in New Orleans, and was a seven-year-old caddie at nearby Audubon Golf Course. Bartholomew copied the swings of the golfers for whom he caddied, taught himself the game’s touch, and quickly became skilled enough to instruct others. He became such a good player–he once shot 62 at Audubon–that club members backed him in arranged matches.

Emory Malick, Aviator born

*Emory Malick was born on this date in 1881. He was an African American aviator.

Emory Conrad Malick grew up in central Pennsylvania, first in Seven Points, then in nearby Sunbury. There he built his own gliders and flew them across the Susquehanna River to his job as a farmhand and carpenter over on Cattie Weiser’s farm. By 1910, Malick had taken his aviation skills to Philadelphia, where he later transported passengers for the Flying Dutchman Air Service and took aerial photographs for Dallin Aerial Surveys. He also worked as a carpenter and master tile-layer.

Jimmy Winkfield, Horse Jockey born

Jimmy Winkfield was born on this date in 1882. He was an African American horse jockey.

From Chilesburg near Lexington, KY, he began racing in 1898. Winkfield went from being the youngest of 17 in a family of sharecroppers, to racing for $8 a month and eventually, $1,000 a race. His racing statistics show him winning back-to-back Kentucky Derby’s, (1901 on His Eminence, and 1902 on Alan-A-Dale). He was the last Black jockey to win a Kentucky Derby.

Bob Douglas, Basketball Architect born

*Bob Douglas was born on this date in 1882. He was an African American athlete, coach and administrator.

Born in Saint Kitts, British West Indies, in 1923 Robert L. “Bob” Douglas founded the New York Renaissance (Rens) basketball team. Douglas owned and coached the Rens from 1923 to 1949, guiding them to a 2,318-381 record (.859). The Renaissance barnstormed throughout the United States, mostly in the Midwest, and played any team that would schedule them, Black or White.

Samuel L. Ransom, All-Sport Athlete born

*The birth of Samuel Ransom is celebrated on this date in 1883. He was a Black high school, college, and professional athlete in several sports. He played professional football and baseball and later coached college football. Some researchers believe he is the first Black to play college basketball. Samuel L. Ransom was born in Chicago, […]

Harry Haskell Lew, Basketball Player born

*Harry Haskell Lew was born on this date in 1884.  He was a Black basketball player. Harry “Bucky” Lew was born in the Pawtucketville section of Lowell, Massachusetts, to William and Isabell (Brown) Lew. Young Lew was a talented musician and played a violin solo at his graduation from Pawtucketville Grammar School. In the late […]