First African-Americans in Baseball Quiz

Answer: Larry Doby

Larry Doby joined the Cleveland Indians on July 5, 1947. In 1948, he hit the winning home run in game four of the World Series. He was the first African-American player to hit a home run in the World Series. Doby was also the the first African-American home run champion in 1952, with 32 home runs for the Cleveland Indians.

Answer: Aaron

It happened in 1968, where Brothers Hank and Tommie played together for the 1968-1971 Atlanta Braves, and shared the outfield together in many games. Hank's 755 career home runs is a well-known feature in Major League baseball. Brother Tommie, older by five years, hit only 13 home runs in his seven-season career, and four of those as a Brave. Tommie died in 1984 at the age of 45.

Answer: Emmett Ashford

The appointment of Ashford in 1966 as an American League umpire (after umpiring for 14 years in the minor leagues) made him the first African-American to umpire in the Major Leagues. Ashford went on to umpire both an All-star Game in 1967, and a World Series in 1970 before the mandatory retirement age of 55 years ended his Major League umpiring career. Ashford worked his first Major League game in Washington D.C. on opening day, in a game between the Washington Senators and the Cleveland Indians. Vice President of the United States Hubert H. Humphrey was in attendance to throw out the ceremonial first baseball to start the game. Ironically, Ashford and his wife had difficulty getting into the stadium because security people did not believe he was an umpire.

Answer: Joe Black

A member of the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers, and the 1952 Rookie of the Year, Black recorded a victory over the New York Yankees on October 1, 1952. The final score was, Dodgers 4, Yankees 2.

Answer: Don Newcombe

In 1949, Newcombe was named Rookie of the Year. In 1956, he was named both Most Valuable Player and was the recipient of the Cy Young Award for his pitching performances.

Answer: Dan Bankhead

As a member of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, Bankhead became the first African-American pitcher in the Major Leagues on August 26, 1947. A native if Empire, Alabama, he played in the Major Leagues until 1951. Bankhead along with his four brothers all had played in the Negro Baseball League. Dan went on to play with the Memphis Red Sox, and in the Canadian and Mexican leagues before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He pitched in the Major League All-Star games of 1941, 1946, and 1947.

Answer: Sam "Toothpick" Jones

Jones accomplished this fete on May 12, 1955, as a member of the Chicago Cubs, throwing a 4-0 shut out against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jones ended the game by striking out the last three batters he faced in the ninth inning, after he has walked the bases loaded. This was the first no-hit game in Chicago's Wrigley Field since 1915.

Answer: Art Williams

A former minor league pitcher in the mid 1950s, and the first African-American player with the Detroit Tigers, Williams learned the umpiring trade by attending and graduating from baseball's Umpire Development School. After serving as a minor league umpire for four seasons, he made his Major League debut at third base in a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres on September 18, 1972, in San Diego, California.

He was later fired from his position. His lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was pending when he died in 1979.

Answer: First African- American coach in the major leagues

O'Neill was signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1962. A notable former first baseman in black baseball, he had served for several years as a baseball scout.

Answer: Frank Robinson

Robinson was hired to manage the Cleveland Indians on October 3, 1975. Later in his career, Robinson managed the San Francisco Giants from 1981 to 1984, and the Baltimore Orioles from 1988 to 1991.

Answer: Ferguson Jenkins

Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins was born on December 13, 1943 in Chatham. Ontario, Canada. Other accomplishments throughout his career included playing in three All-Star games, Winning the National League Cy Young Award in 1971, leading the National League in strikeouts in 1969 with 273, and being elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1991. Jenkins spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs.

Answer: Leroy "Satchel" Paige

Paige first pitched in the American League in 1948. He was also the first African-American to actually pitch in a World Series game. One of the best known players in black baseball, he became the first African-American elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for his career in the Negro Baseball League in 1971. During his five seasons in the Major Leagues (1949-1953), he won 28 games and lost 32.

Answer: Brooklyn Dodger

The first African-Americans to appear in the World Series were Brooklyn Dodger players Dan Bankhead and Jackie Robinson in 1947.
Bankhead played in only one game and Robinson participated in all seven games against the New York Yankees.

Answer: Henry Aaron

Aaron's career spanned 23 seasons from 1954 until 1976. Aaron hit 30 or more home runs in seven consecutive seasons from 1957 through 1963, three consecutive seasons from 1965 through 1967, and five consecutive seasons from 1969 until 1973. Born on February 5, 1934, right fielder Henry Louis "Hammerin Hank" Aaron became best known for setting the Major League record for the most home runs in a career (755), surpassing the previous mark of 714 held by Babe Ruth. Aaron is also the first player to hit at least 20 home runs in 20 different seasons. Aaron won three Gold Glove awards in right field, and was named to a record number of 24 All-Star teams. Aaron was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1982, after receiving 406 votes of the 415 votes cast by the baseball sports writers.

Answer: Pumpsie Green

That distinction went to Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green. The native of Oakland, California, was born October 27, 1933. Green made his debut with the Boston Red Sox on July 21, 1959, as a pinch-hitter against the Chicago White Sox. During his career with Boston, he served mostly as a pinch-hitter and days off replacement for infielders Pete Runnels and Frank Malzone.