Pre-Negro Leagues stars laid the foundation for integration
Before the birth of the Negro Leagues, pioneering Black players proved they belonged in pro baseball.
Stories of Black baseball
Stories that highlight the lives and experiences of Black ballplayers through key moments in history, artifacts and baseball cards.
Featured Story
Doby blazed trails on, off field
On June 30, 1978, Larry Doby became the second Black manager in AL/HL history.
#Shortstops: History’s mysteries preserved in Big Bill Smith scrapbook
The scrapbook of William T. "Big Bill" Smith helps to tell the story of pre-Negro Leagues baseball in the early 20th century.
New PWCC cards in Shoebox Treasures highlight integration of baseball
PWCC Vault adds new cards to Museum's Shoebox Treasures exhibit.
Rube Foster’s writing predicted future of Black baseball
Rube Foster's vision made the Negro National League a reality in 1920.
National tragedy brought baseball to a halt for two days in 1968
Out of respect for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., players on the Pittsburgh Pirates refused to play on the day of his funeral, and ultimately MLB delayed the season two days.
Smith’s vision helped clear Jackie’s path to majors
Sportswriter and Spink Award winner Wendell Smith worked tirelessly to push for baseball's integration.
#Shortstops: Rachel’s legacy
Buck O'Neil Award winner Rachel Robinson advocated for Jackie Robinson's plaque to be changed to recognize his pioneering efforts to integrate Major League Baseball.
Brown’s lone big league homer made history
Willard Brown made history on Aug. 13, 1947 when he became the first Black ballplayer to homer in the major leagues.
The Taylors, including Hall of Famer Ben Taylor, helped define a generation of baseball in the Negro Leagues
Ben Taylor was one of the most respected first basemen of his time.
Black newspapers preserved Negro Leagues history
For decades, the history of the Negro Leagues was written in Black newspapers.
#Shortstops: Rube Foster’s home team
Letters from Rube Foster highlight one of the many challenges faced by Negro League teams.
When Robinson signed with Montreal, baseball and America changed forever
Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers' organization on Oct. 23, 1945.
#Shortstops: Playing for the 'Right' Reasons
Josh Barfield donated his bat to the Hall of Fame following the Civil Rights Game on March 31, 2007.
#CardCorner: 1969 Topps Donn Clendenon
Donn Clendenon appeared on not just one but two versions of cards in Topps 1969 series.
#Shortstops: Dark Town Battery
Dark Town Battery, a mechanical bank, brings to light the intersection of American culture, politics and race relations during the 19th century.
#CardCorner: 1969 Topps Leon Wagner
Leon Wagner's 1969 Topps card features the outfielder in a Reds uniform, a team for which he never played.