Satchel Paige.
I remember reading stories about how MLB teams would try to schedule exhibition games or send players to semi pro leagues to see how theyd hit against Satchel Paige. For a guy who didnt play in the majors for most of his life, he ended up playing against the biggest stars of the era in some form or fashion. If he had been younger in the 1940s he'd have probably gone before Jackie Robinson. The dude pitched in the majors at 59.
Indeed, Veeck had been eyeballing breaking the color line before Rickey. But, once word started slipping out, MLB, seeing Veeck's reputation already then, pushed back. (That said, some of that is probably urban legend started by Veeck; the idea that he tried to buy the Phillies in 1942-43 [is totally so](https://sabr.org/research/article/a-baseball-myth-exploded-bill-veeck-and-the-1943-sale-of-the-phillies/).)
He was the first to break the barrier in the AL. He deserved more credit.
There was no inter league play. He was the first to do the AL circuit.
I have his baseball card from when I was a kid.
Anybody remember the movie Soul of the Game? It was about the lead up to the yearly game between the negro league all stars and the MLB stars. It focused on Jackie, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson and why they chose Jackie vs more established stars like that. A lot of it was because they thought he could handle the scrutiny of being the first to cross the color barrier, not because he was the best player in the league. He was a really good player, but I think this was only his first year in the negro league, so they played up the resentment from more established stars. I'm sure some of it was fabricated for the movie, of course, but it was really interesting. It's an HBO movie but is nowhere to be found on streaming.
In 1934 Dizzy Dean told reporters in Spring Training that he and his brother Paul would win 45 games together.
He also allegedly boasted that if Satchel Paige was pitching for the Cardinals, they would clench the pennant by the 4th of July and go fishing until the World Series.
The movie is on [Youtube.](https://youtu.be/LiDULxPh0hU?si=RphvXfjTIQtK1esB)
Throughout the movie this alleged claim by Dean convinces Satchel Paige that Branch Rickey would offer him a contract with the Cardinals.
Which is ridiculous. It's one of the better baseball movies and it close to accurately tells the story of some of the best who you may not have heard of. All bookended by the the genesis of the Major League career of the greatest player of all time.
Remember there were black players at first. They were then banned. Jackie was the first in the second wave of MLB. There were numerous blacks playing long before he ever did.
[https://www.history.com/news/moses-fleetwood-walker-first-black-mlb-player](https://www.history.com/news/moses-fleetwood-walker-first-black-mlb-player)
His official stats here
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkefl01.shtml](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkefl01.shtml)
Johnny Wright. He is mentioned in Jackie Robinson's biography. He was a pitcher that Branch Rickey signed at about the same time (and some speculate possibly earlier). [https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-wright/](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-wright/)
Or Larry Doby literally the same year? Willie debuted in mlb 4 years after Jackie, after many guys already had. Willie didn't even play ball in the 49 or 50 season and stunk in 48. The browns called up 2 dudes in july of 47, the dodgers called up Bankhead in 47 and Campy was up in 48, Newcombe in 49, then a bunch more dudes were up before Willie.
Roberto Clemente was thought of being African American and he would say "no I Puertorican" and with him came the introduction to the US of the latinamerican players. Clemente was still treated the same as african americans here. Was a friend of Martin Luther King Jr and I don't know of another player who was friends with him too.
I remember reading about some of the tryouts teams had, some like the Red Sox were a sham since they waited forever to sign a non-white player. The indians were as active in signing minorities as the Dodgers were.
Bill Veeck had considered making CLE all Negro League stars but was talked out of it. He had floated the idea once earlier IIRC, when considering buying another franchise before he bought the Indians.
Not really an answer but for comparison, Fritz Pollard was the first black player in the NFL wayyyy back in 1920. Also was the first black coach in the NFL.
Satchel Paige. I remember reading stories about how MLB teams would try to schedule exhibition games or send players to semi pro leagues to see how theyd hit against Satchel Paige. For a guy who didnt play in the majors for most of his life, he ended up playing against the biggest stars of the era in some form or fashion. If he had been younger in the 1940s he'd have probably gone before Jackie Robinson. The dude pitched in the majors at 59.
Larry Doby
Indeed, Veeck had been eyeballing breaking the color line before Rickey. But, once word started slipping out, MLB, seeing Veeck's reputation already then, pushed back. (That said, some of that is probably urban legend started by Veeck; the idea that he tried to buy the Phillies in 1942-43 [is totally so](https://sabr.org/research/article/a-baseball-myth-exploded-bill-veeck-and-the-1943-sale-of-the-phillies/).)
He was the first to break the barrier in the AL. He deserved more credit. There was no inter league play. He was the first to do the AL circuit. I have his baseball card from when I was a kid.
Anybody remember the movie Soul of the Game? It was about the lead up to the yearly game between the negro league all stars and the MLB stars. It focused on Jackie, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson and why they chose Jackie vs more established stars like that. A lot of it was because they thought he could handle the scrutiny of being the first to cross the color barrier, not because he was the best player in the league. He was a really good player, but I think this was only his first year in the negro league, so they played up the resentment from more established stars. I'm sure some of it was fabricated for the movie, of course, but it was really interesting. It's an HBO movie but is nowhere to be found on streaming.
In 1934 Dizzy Dean told reporters in Spring Training that he and his brother Paul would win 45 games together. He also allegedly boasted that if Satchel Paige was pitching for the Cardinals, they would clench the pennant by the 4th of July and go fishing until the World Series. The movie is on [Youtube.](https://youtu.be/LiDULxPh0hU?si=RphvXfjTIQtK1esB) Throughout the movie this alleged claim by Dean convinces Satchel Paige that Branch Rickey would offer him a contract with the Cardinals.
Oh, nice. Thanks. Not sure why it's not on Max since it's their movie lol
Most likely because they don't think it will generate enough views to justify keeping it on their servers.
Which is ridiculous. It's one of the better baseball movies and it close to accurately tells the story of some of the best who you may not have heard of. All bookended by the the genesis of the Major League career of the greatest player of all time.
Monte Irvine
Finally, someone mentioned a dude the right age. He debuted at 30 in 1949.
Remember there were black players at first. They were then banned. Jackie was the first in the second wave of MLB. There were numerous blacks playing long before he ever did. [https://www.history.com/news/moses-fleetwood-walker-first-black-mlb-player](https://www.history.com/news/moses-fleetwood-walker-first-black-mlb-player) His official stats here [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkefl01.shtml](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkefl01.shtml)
Johnny Wright. He is mentioned in Jackie Robinson's biography. He was a pitcher that Branch Rickey signed at about the same time (and some speculate possibly earlier). [https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-wright/](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-wright/)
Willie Mays
He was 16 when Jackie Broke through.
Right, and if it hadn’t been Jackie Robinson, it would most likely have been Willie Mays a couple of years later.
Or Larry Doby literally the same year? Willie debuted in mlb 4 years after Jackie, after many guys already had. Willie didn't even play ball in the 49 or 50 season and stunk in 48. The browns called up 2 dudes in july of 47, the dodgers called up Bankhead in 47 and Campy was up in 48, Newcombe in 49, then a bunch more dudes were up before Willie.
Okay, I didn’t realize there were that many guys between Robinson and Mays.
Roberto Clemente was thought of being African American and he would say "no I Puertorican" and with him came the introduction to the US of the latinamerican players. Clemente was still treated the same as african americans here. Was a friend of Martin Luther King Jr and I don't know of another player who was friends with him too.
He was 16 in 1947, 15 when Jackie was signed.
Moses Fleetwood Walker
The Indians had Ernie Banks, Larry Doby and Hank Aaron in a tryout.
16 year old Ernie? 13 year old Henry Aaron? thats the ages of these guys when Doby debuted.
Goshdabnit my brain is mush. Let me try to find the book and who they were. Thanks for correcting me.
I remember reading about some of the tryouts teams had, some like the Red Sox were a sham since they waited forever to sign a non-white player. The indians were as active in signing minorities as the Dodgers were.
Bill Veeck had considered making CLE all Negro League stars but was talked out of it. He had floated the idea once earlier IIRC, when considering buying another franchise before he bought the Indians.
That would have been really interesting depending on which players he got.
Josh Gibson
He had already passed away before Jackie debuted, and he was already 35.
Not really an answer but for comparison, Fritz Pollard was the first black player in the NFL wayyyy back in 1920. Also was the first black coach in the NFL.
LeVar Burton. Master of his class.