On Sunday’s sunny afternoon, Oberlin College baseball players jogged onto the field to face off against Allegheny College. This game, however, they weren’t sporting their usual crimson and gold uniforms; they instead donned black and cream jerseys in the style of the 1903 Oberlin baseball uniforms, and the name on the back of each jersey read “Fleet Walker.”
These uniforms were just one aspect of the baseball team’s game honoring Moses Fleetwood Walker, the first African American person to ever play major league baseball, and an Oberlin College student from 1877–1881. The dedication game took place at the historic League Park.
Walker played for the Oberlin baseball team in 1881 and later made his major league debut with the Toledo Blue Stockings on May 1, 1884, playing 42 games with them as a catcher before being released due to injury. Throughout his collegiate and professional career, he was known mainly for his defensive prowess, though he also hit for both average and power.
“This was actually our fourth year [honoring Walker],” Head Coach Johnathan Ray said. “It’s grown each year. And I think our team really enjoys being able to have a game that’s dedicated toward Moses every year. … Our goal is always to provide a good experience for our student athletes. This is one of those extra things that we do that’s pretty cool.”
Despite it being the fourth Moses Fleetwood Walker Dedication Game, it was the first time the game was played at the historic League Park, the original home of Cleveland’s Major League team. The Cleveland Spiders played there from 1891–1899 before the Cleveland Indians replaced them and played there from 1901–1946. Then, the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro Leagues took over the field from 1942–1950.
Much of the park has changed, but one original wall and the ticket office are still standing, the latter of which now houses the Baseball Heritage Museum.
“The mission of the Baseball Heritage Museum is to preserve and present the stories of the underrepresented people in baseball on the field, in the bleachers, and beyond,” Museum Director Ricardo Rodriguez said. “The takeaway from the museum should be that baseball is a unifying sport. The ticket house, where the museum is housed, is a great analogy to that because this one building was the main spot where people would buy their tickets out front, regardless of race, creed, sex, or socioeconomic background. They all had to go through this building for the same reason: They were coming here to watch baseball.”
The museum itself is home to exhibits that showcase the field’s history, including a display case with Babe Ruth’s 436th career homerun ball, as well as histories of the Negro Leagues, women’s baseball, sandlot teams, and so much more.
“Yeah, it’s definitely different,” Coach Ray said when asked about the experience of playing at a historic field. “You have the chance to go walk around and see all the different people that got to play at that field. … It’s always cool to be able to say that you played at one of those historic parks.”
In addition to the 1903-style jerseys, the team honored Walker and baseball history more broadly by inviting former Indianapolis Clowns player Jay Valentine to throw out the first pitch. Valentine grew up in the town of Oberlin and went on to play the ’77 and ’78 seasons with one of the Negro League’s most famous barnstorming teams. Valentine performed in the Clowns’ exhibition games, doing miming acts and doing imaginary ball bits.
“It was quite an experience,” Valentine said. “We traveled 28 states in three months, and we played against anybody and everybody; we were like the [Harlem] Globetrotters of baseball.”
The game itself was disappointing for the Yeomen, as they fell to Allegheny 15–13. By the bottom of the fifth inning, they were trailing 12–3, but were able to put up seven runs in the bottom of the frame to get themselves back in the game. Helped by first-year Patrick Leonard, who recorded two key hits and tied a program record with four walks, and fourth-year Alex Gaetano, who slammed a bases-clearing double, the Yeomen were just two runs behind entering the ninth inning. Ultimately, they were unable to overcome the deficit.
Despite the loss, the Yeomen hope to continue this tradition, making Moses Fleetwood Walker games at League Park an annual affair. Additionally, Coach Ray has a vision for uniform tributes.
“One of our plans as we go forward is every two years or so, go pick a decade of Oberlin baseball and create that replica jersey,” Coach Ray said. “It’s always cool for our guys to be able to see a different era, a different style. So it’s our way of paying tribute to the legacy of Oberlin baseball.”
For the baseball team, it’s important that Walker’s name and history don’t get forgotten; this game is a way to keep celebrating his accomplishments and remind the public that Oberlin has always been a place that has fostered groundbreaking change.
“Our college is known for being that trailblazer of change and helping with diversity [and] inclusivity,” Coach Ray said. “The more people we can get to come out and support on those days, the more fun it is. [We want] everyone to know that we have a really cool part of history that isn’t as well known as it should be, but we’re trying to bring light to it and also enjoy what we do: just playing baseball.”
