Walker, Moses, Fleetwood

MOSES FLEETWOOD WALKER

Born: October 7, 1856 in Mt.Pleasant, OH
Died: May 11, 1924 in Cleveland, OH

Moses Fleetwood Walker, who along with his brother, Welday Walker, became the second and third U.S. Negros to play in a white league (Bud Fowler was first) and the first black players to play in the major leagues.

Moses Fleetwood Walker attended Oberlin College where he had studied Greek, French, German, Latin, and math, then attended the University of Michigan law school.

In 1881, Moses Fleetwood Walker and his brother Welday joined Oberlin College's first varsity baseball team.

In 1883, Fleetwood, a catcher, signed with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the Northwestern League. A year later the Blue Stockings join the American Association, which was considered a major league. Fleetwood played in 42 games in 1884 and hit .263; while his brother, Welday Walker played in six games. Until 1947, the Walkers were the only black players ever to play in the major leagues.

In 1891, Fleetwood Walker was assaulted outside a Syracuse bar on a Sunday afternoon as he returned home from church. He killed his attacker with a knife in self-defense. A jury acquitted him to the cheers of the spectators.  Sebsequent to this event, Moses retired from playing baseball and returned to his home in Steubenville, Ohio.