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On Tuesday Oct. 17, 2023, Dr. Miram Wright presented her talk: “'Why Isn’t the City of London proud of this team?’ Black Baseball and Community in Chatham and London, 1920s-1930s,” to a mixed audience of the public and students lounging in the Medline Student Commons at Huron University College at Western University.
Dr. Thomas Peace, Assistant Professor in charge of the History Department at Huron at Western University, introduced his friend and research collaborator Dr. Wright and mentioned her latest book, Sporting Justice: The Chatham Coloured All-Stars and Black Baseball in Southwestern Ontario, 1915-1958.
Assistant Professor of History at University of Windsor, Dr. Wright specializes in race and sports in Canada and is the co-director of the public history project, Breaking the Colour Barrier: Wilfred ‘Boomer’ Harding and the Chatham Coloured All-Stars, 1932-1939, that was launched in 2017.
On Tuesday Oct. 17, 2023, Dr. Miram Wright presented her talk: “'Why Isn’t the City of London proud of this team?’ Black Baseball and Community in Chatham and London, 1920s-1930s,” to a mixed audience of the public and students lounging in the Medline Student Commons at Huron University College at Western University.
Dr. Thomas Peace, Assistant Professor in charge of the History Department at Huron at Western University, introduced his friend and research collaborator Dr. Wright and mentioned her latest book, Sporting Justice: The Chatham Coloured All-Stars and Black Baseball in Southwestern Ontario, 1915-1958.
Assistant Professor of History at University of Windsor, Dr. Wright specializes in race and sports in Canada and is the co-director of the public history project, Breaking the Colour Barrier: Wilfred ‘Boomer’ Harding and the Chatham Coloured All-Stars, 1932-1939, that was launched in 2017.
Dr. Miram Wright with her new book
Dr. Wright stated that in 1934, the Chatham Coloured All-Stars team was the only time a Black team won champion on the Ontario Baseball Amateur Association Championship (OBA), just two years after the team was formed. One famous player from this team was Ferguson Jenkins, the Black baseball teams were an inter-generational history of other Black teams. The history was told by family members who relayed memories and pictures to reveal the rich history of Black baseball in Southwestern Ontario from Chatham to Windsor and London. Dr. Wright stated that “players were marginalized politically, economically and socially. In the late 1930s, Blacks were excluded from playing on White teams, so they made their own and played against White and Indigenous teams.”
Picture of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars baseball team
However, she pointed out that a Black baseball team called the London Coloured Stars was formed in the 1920s in which some of those players played on the Chatham Coloured Giants team. Exhibition games were played at Sterling Park in Chatham, located right against the railroad tracks in the Black neighbourhood. Following WWI, people needed to socialize and reconnect. Many of the Black players had served in the Black Military.
Dr. Wright referenced the Black Canadian newspaper The Dawn of Tomorrow, published from 1923 to 1925, by James Jenkins from London, ON., throughout her presentation that reported on the exhibition games with pictures from 1923. The All Stars won 15 out of 19 exhibition games.
Many of the London players came from the same modest Black neighbourhood in London. Dr. Wright presented an article from The London Free Press dated Oct. 1923, naming the players on the Coloured Stars baseball team: James and Harry Coursey, Harry was a pitcher who played for a White team and in 1925, became the first Black manager of a White baseball team; brothers Hank and Roy Anderson; Herbert Wilson who was hearing impaired and could not speak became an umpire and brothers Fred and Charlie Kelly from Ingersoll. Charlie Kelly was a WWI soldier who played for the King.
Moxley was another inter-generational baseball playing family who resided in London for decades. Dr. Wright pointed out that a family member, Patti, was in the audience. She stated that in a picture, a teenager is mentioned as ‘Dr. Moxley’ as the team’s mascot. Dr. Wright surmises he could be a son of one of the three Moxley brothers.
In 1925, the Chatham Coloured All-Stars team invited Detroit to play an exhibition game and ensured London players joined their team as they were good players. Games were played in the afternoon followed by entertainment at night. Teams used concerts to raise money for clubs and for people when they were sick. Teams provided support to their communities. An example of support, Dr. Wright stated was when Charlie Kelly played hockey in 1943, Herbert Wilson came out to watch him play.
Dr. Wright referenced the Black Canadian newspaper The Dawn of Tomorrow, published from 1923 to 1925, by James Jenkins from London, ON., throughout her presentation that reported on the exhibition games with pictures from 1923. The All Stars won 15 out of 19 exhibition games.
Many of the London players came from the same modest Black neighbourhood in London. Dr. Wright presented an article from The London Free Press dated Oct. 1923, naming the players on the Coloured Stars baseball team: James and Harry Coursey, Harry was a pitcher who played for a White team and in 1925, became the first Black manager of a White baseball team; brothers Hank and Roy Anderson; Herbert Wilson who was hearing impaired and could not speak became an umpire and brothers Fred and Charlie Kelly from Ingersoll. Charlie Kelly was a WWI soldier who played for the King.
Moxley was another inter-generational baseball playing family who resided in London for decades. Dr. Wright pointed out that a family member, Patti, was in the audience. She stated that in a picture, a teenager is mentioned as ‘Dr. Moxley’ as the team’s mascot. Dr. Wright surmises he could be a son of one of the three Moxley brothers.
In 1925, the Chatham Coloured All-Stars team invited Detroit to play an exhibition game and ensured London players joined their team as they were good players. Games were played in the afternoon followed by entertainment at night. Teams used concerts to raise money for clubs and for people when they were sick. Teams provided support to their communities. An example of support, Dr. Wright stated was when Charlie Kelly played hockey in 1943, Herbert Wilson came out to watch him play.
Newspaper advertisement of an exhibition game
Black baseball teams were being accepted into OBA in 1930s, as teams were struggling due to softball became a more popular sport. Black baseball teams drew in the crowds. Henry Coursey became Manger of the new Hotel London team that was sponsored by Hotel London located at the time on Dundas and Wellington St. in London. Coursey worked at the hotel along with the Anderson brothers, Flogg Smith and Griffin Stratford.
Games in London were played at Springbok Park. According to one article, in 1932, an exhibition game was followed by a picnic that attracted between 1000 to 5000 people. A year later, the team made it to the playoffs. The Dawn of Tomorrow had this title: ’Why Isn’t the City of London proud of this team?’ Black baseball came to halt in 1934 when Hotel London fired all their Black employees resulting in the end of the Hotel London team. A year later, a new team emerged called The Harlem Aces.
Games in London were played at Springbok Park. According to one article, in 1932, an exhibition game was followed by a picnic that attracted between 1000 to 5000 people. A year later, the team made it to the playoffs. The Dawn of Tomorrow had this title: ’Why Isn’t the City of London proud of this team?’ Black baseball came to halt in 1934 when Hotel London fired all their Black employees resulting in the end of the Hotel London team. A year later, a new team emerged called The Harlem Aces.
Dr. Wright stated there is a lot to learn about London Black baseball. For example, a Black baseball player, Ted Alexander, played baseball in the United States then played in London Ontario in 1950.
Dr. Wright stated there is a lot to learn about London Black baseball. For example, a Black baseball player, Ted Alexander, played baseball in the United States then played in London in 1950. Following her presentation, Dr. Wright answered questions from the audience. History Professor, Dr. Nina Reid-Maroney, informed Dr. Wright and the audience that MA student, Zahra McDoom, is currently conducting research in vintage baseball teams. Dr. Peace thanked Dr. Wright for speaking and invited the audience to treats.
Dr. Wright stated there is a lot to learn about London Black baseball. For example, a Black baseball player, Ted Alexander, played baseball in the United States then played in London in 1950. Following her presentation, Dr. Wright answered questions from the audience. History Professor, Dr. Nina Reid-Maroney, informed Dr. Wright and the audience that MA student, Zahra McDoom, is currently conducting research in vintage baseball teams. Dr. Peace thanked Dr. Wright for speaking and invited the audience to treats.
Dr. Thomas Peace after thanking Dr. Wright for speaking
I took this opportunity to introduce myself to the family members of the vintage baseball teams. As a committee member for Emancipation Day Celebrations at Fanshawe Pioneer Village, my goal is to have a vintage baseball game for next year. As a tribute to the Chatham Coloured All-Stars baseball team and early Black baseball in Canada, a charity baseball game, ‘The Field of Honour’ Charity Baseball Game, began in 2021. For the last three years, descendants of the early Black baseball players from Chatham-Kent, help raise funds for The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society and Black Mecca Museum, which preservers the history of Blacks in early Chatham.
On Sunday July 28, 2024, Fanshawe Pioneer Village will hold their fourth Emancipation Day Celebrations. How wonderful and what an honour would it be, to have a vintage baseball game to be part of these festivities? And how timely to; 2024 will mark the 90th anniversary of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars OBA Championship. According to Samantha Meredith, Executive Director-Curator of The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum, “we are having some big plans for our 2024 Field of Honour.” Stay tuned.
Accolades that the Chatham Coloured All-Stars team received include the following: induction into the Baseball Ontario Hall of Fame in 2018; induction into Chatham’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. Other accolades to be achieved, is for the Chatham Coloured All-Stars team to be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and for the team to honoured on a Canadian Postage Stamp. To help support these causes, visit the Mecca Museum’s website to fill out a nomination ballot.
Eighty-six years after the team’s inception, it seems not only London, but Southwestern Ontario and soon Canada, will be proud of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars baseball team.
(Photos by Heather A. Rennalls)
Related Links:
On Sunday July 28, 2024, Fanshawe Pioneer Village will hold their fourth Emancipation Day Celebrations. How wonderful and what an honour would it be, to have a vintage baseball game to be part of these festivities? And how timely to; 2024 will mark the 90th anniversary of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars OBA Championship. According to Samantha Meredith, Executive Director-Curator of The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum, “we are having some big plans for our 2024 Field of Honour.” Stay tuned.
Accolades that the Chatham Coloured All-Stars team received include the following: induction into the Baseball Ontario Hall of Fame in 2018; induction into Chatham’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. Other accolades to be achieved, is for the Chatham Coloured All-Stars team to be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and for the team to honoured on a Canadian Postage Stamp. To help support these causes, visit the Mecca Museum’s website to fill out a nomination ballot.
Eighty-six years after the team’s inception, it seems not only London, but Southwestern Ontario and soon Canada, will be proud of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars baseball team.
(Photos by Heather A. Rennalls)
Related Links:
Quote: "They were just a group of young men, wanting to show people that this is everybody's game....They were our heroes." ~ Dorothy Wright, President of the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society, talking about the Chatham Coloured All-Stars Baseball Team.
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