Moses "Fleetwood" Walker
Posted by: 
The Moops
N 41° 38.914 W 083° 32.389
17T E 288496 N 4613874
First African American major league ballplayer.
Waymark Code: WM6RJ
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 01/29/2006
Views: 79
Moses Fleetwood Walker was born on October 7, 1856 in Ohio to Moses M. Walker, a physician, and Caroline, a midwife. He attended and played baseball at Oberlin College and the University of Michigan. In 1883, Walker joined the newly formed Toledo Blue Stockings and became the first African American major league ballplayer when Toledo joined the Major League-sanctioned American Association the following year. As a barehanded catcher, his biggest assets were his catching ability, powerful throwing arm, and aggressive base running. He endured racial prejudice from teammates, opponents, and baseball fans, and eventually left to become a writer, inventor, civil rights advocate, and entrepreneur. Walker was elected to the Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. He died in 1924 and is buried in Stuebenville, Ohio in the family plot at Union Cemetery.
Marker Number: 47-48
County: Lucas
Significance of Location: Person
Bicentenial Mark: yes
Website address: [Web Link]
Additional Coordinate: Not Listed
Additional Coordinate description: Not listed
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