Negro Leagues

The Minnesota Twins have been honoring the St. Paul Colored Gophers (an all black baseball team) for a few years now by wearing their uniforms, for specially designated games. A while back I did some quick research to see what I could dig up about the team. It's not much. But it's really interesting all the same.

via: agate type

The St. Paul Colored Gophers were an all black baseball team that formed in 1907, 13 years before the Negro Leagues were formed in 1920 and they played a large role in the desegregation of baseball.
One of the top pitchers in black baseball, Walter Ball, helped organize the Colored Gophers.

In 1909, they won the “World’s Colored Championship” beating one of the best teams, the Leland Giants of Chicago. The Gophers won the 5 game series in game 5 due a large part to pitcher Johnnie Taylor. Taylor knocked in both the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the 9th. He then, in the bottom half of the 9th went back out to the mound and finished the game off.

via: agate type

 As a knitter, I can't help but appreciate the sweaters they're wearing in the above picture. I have half mind to go ahead and knit one of my very own.


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