Barrier Breakers

1994 Ted Williams "The Negro Leagues"

In my Unique Cards album, I have a "Barrier Breaker" page for players (and others) that were instrumental in breaking a barrier or being known/credited/etc. for something really notable. I start with Moses Fleetwood Walker, who as noted in my first Syracuse Baseball post, is credited with being one of the first African-Americans to play MLB, and last, until Jackie Robinson in 1947. Walker was a catcher with Toledo Blue Stockings in the American Association in 1884.

Unsure. Beer card? On the back it says "Test Card/50."

Along with her husband, Effa Manley co-owned the Newark Eagles baseball franchise in the Negro leagues from 1935 to 1946 and was sole owner after his death. Throughout that time, she served as the team's business manager and fulfilled many of her husband's duties as treasurer of the Negro National League. She was the first woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a reflection of her commitment to baseball and civil rights, serving as a tribute to her leadership, vision and her dedication to creating respect for Negro leagues baseball.

2001 Topps

The color barrier/line excluded blacks from Major League Baseball until 1947 (with a few exceptions as noted above before the color line was firmly established). The line was broken for good when Jackie Robinson played with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Larry Doby with the Cleveland Indians in 1947. By the late 1950s, the percentage of black players on Major League teams matched or exceeded that of the general population.

1965 Topps

Mason Murakami is notable for being the first Japanese player to play for a MLB team. Formerly of the Nankai Hawks, Murakami worked as a reliever for the San Francisco Giants at age 20 in 1964. He went 5 - 1 with a 3.43 ERA, 89 innings, 100 K's, and a .985 WHIP - pretty impressive for a 20-year old! The next season he went back to his Japanese club due to contractual obligations, where he played for another 17 years.

Personally, I cannot imagine MLB without people from Africa, Caribbean Islands, the Americas, Asia, Europe, etc. in the game today.

1994 Upper Deck The Ken Burns Special

I'm sure most of you are familiar with the public part of Curt Flood's journey, in that he became one of the pivotal figures in the sport's labor history when he refused to accept a trade following the 1969 season, ultimately appealing his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Although his legal challenge was unsuccessful, it brought about additional solidarity among players as they fought against baseball's reserve clause and sought free agency.

Flood was a center fielder who played 15 seasons in the major leagues for Cincinnati (very briefly - and how did they let him get away?), St. Louis Cardinals, and the Washington Senators (very briefly). He was a Gold Glove winner for seven consecutive seasons, batted over .300 in six seasons and retired with the third most games in center field (1683) in NL history, trailing only Willie Mays and Richie Ashburn.

1987 Donruss Leaf (Perez-Steele Galleries)

Anyone that has a type of surgery named after them HAS to make this page! John had a very impressive MLB career, leading the league in won-loss percentage twice, three 20-win seasons, and 288 career wins.

1994 Upper Deck The Ken Burns Special

Wikipedia: Marvin Miller served as the Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) from 1966 to 1982. Under Miller's direction, the players' union was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the United States. In 1992, Red Barber said, "Marvin Miller, along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, is one of the two or three most important men in baseball history." Miller was selected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in December 2019, for induction in 2020."

1976 Topps

It happened before my baseball consciousness, but Frank Robinson was traded FROM the Cincinnati Reds to the Baltimore Orioles while he was a contemporary of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente - in their prime (Grrr!). He went on (the very next season) to having a Triple Crown winning season. He is the ONLY person to be named MVP in BOTH leagues. And in 1975 became the first black manager in MLB history. Nuff said.

1987 Fleer

Anyone that has a movie (Moneyball) based on their MLB role HAS to make this page! After being a first round draft pick by the Mets, and a nondescript MLB outfielder from 1984 - 1989, Billy Beane eventually became the Oakland A's General Manager where he applied statistical analysis/sabermetrics to much success, and which has led other teams incorporate advanced statistics.. He is the subject of Michael Lewis's 2003 book on baseball economics, Moneyball, which was made into a 2011 film starring Brad Pitt as Beane.

Can you think of others (and which cards) I should add?

Thanks for visiting!
CinciCuse Bill