Charles Follis facts for kids
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| Position: | Halfback |
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| Personal information | |
| Born: | February 3, 1879 Cloverdale, Virginia |
| Died: | April 15, 1910 (aged 31) Cleveland, Ohio |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) |
| College: | Wooster |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Charles W. Follis, known as "The Black Cyclone," was a groundbreaking athlete. Born on February 3, 1879, he became the first Black professional American football player. From 1902 to 1906, he played for the Shelby Blues in the "Ohio League". On September 16, 1904, Follis signed a contract with Shelby. This made him the first Black player to sign a professional football contract on a team with both Black and white athletes. He also made history in baseball. He was the first Black catcher to move from college baseball into the Negro Leagues.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to Ohio
Charles W. Follis was born in Cloverdale, Virginia, on February 3, 1879. His parents were James Henry and Catherine Matilda Anderson Follis. His father worked as a farm laborer.
In 1885, when Charles was about six years old, his family moved to Wooster, Ohio. This is where he would later become a famous athlete.
Football Career
In 1901, Follis attended Wooster College. However, he chose to play football for the amateur Wooster Athletic Association. He did not play for the college team. It was with the Wooster Athletic Association that he earned his famous nickname, "The Black Cyclone."
At the end of the 1901 season, Wooster played against the Shelby Blues. Follis played so well that the Shelby team manager, Frank C. Schiffer, wanted him for his team. Schiffer signed Follis and helped him get a job at a local hardware store. Charles' work hours were set so he could practice and play football.
Playing for the Shelby Blues
Follis played for the Shelby Blues during the 1902 and 1903 seasons. In one game, a 58–0 win against a team from Fremont, Follis ran for an amazing 60-yard touchdown.
In 1904, he helped the Blues achieve a great record of 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. Their only loss was to the Massillon Tigers. The Tigers were the champions of the 1904 Ohio League.
In 1906, the Shelby Blues became a fully professional team. Charles missed the start of that season due to an injury. However, he returned to play in the second half. His football career ended on Thanksgiving Day 1906. While playing against the Franklin Athletic Club of Cleveland, he suffered another injury. He won many trophies during his time playing football.
Baseball Career
Follis was also a talented baseball player. He was the first Black catcher to move from college baseball into the Negro Leagues. While playing for Wooster University in 1901 and 1902, Follis became well known in Ohio college baseball. A famous player named Branch Rickey from nearby Ohio Wesleyan University was his closest competitor at catcher.
In 1902, Follis left Wooster University. By 1909, he was catching for the Cuban Giants. He became the Giants' star catcher and their best hitter. He was also their most popular player. Follis was known for many stolen bases, double plays, and even two triple plays in his career. However, he was most famous for being a power hitter.
On May 16, 1906, a pitcher named Buttons Briggs was brought in to play against the Wooster Giants. Briggs used to play for the National League's Chicago Cubs. He had won 20 games in 1905. This move was meant to scare the Wooster team. But Follis, as the first batter, hit a home run off Briggs' very first pitch! He ended the day with four hits out of six tries against the former major league star.
Death
Charles Follis developed pneumonia after playing a game with the Cuban Giants. He passed away in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 5, 1910. He was 31 years old. He is buried in Wooster Cemetery in Wooster, Ohio.
Legacy and Impact
First Black Professional Football Player
For many years, sports historians did not know that Follis was the first Black professional football player. His professionalism was reported by local newspapers at the time. But his important role was only rediscovered much later.
In 1975, researchers were looking through old copies of the Shelby Daily Globe. They wanted to find proof that Follis had played as a professional. After many hours, they found an article in the September 16, 1904, edition. It announced that Follis had signed a contract for the upcoming season. This proved his place in history.
Influence on Branch Rickey
One of Follis' teammates on the Shelby Blues in 1902 and 1903 was Branch Rickey. Rickey later became a very important person in baseball. He was the general manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Rickey often played for Shelby while he was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Rickey also played against Follis in a football game on October 17, 1903. In that game, Follis ran for a 70-yard touchdown against Rickey's Ohio Wesleyan team. It is very likely that seeing Follis play firsthand influenced Rickey's decision. In 1947, Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to a Major League Baseball contract. This broke baseball's color barrier.
Honoring Charles Follis
In 1998, the football field and outdoor track at Wooster High School were named Follis Field. This was done to honor him.
The town of Shelby, Ohio, also named a street after Follis in September 2020.
The Black Cyclone Play
In August 2013, a play called "The Black Cyclone" was performed. It took place at the Malabar Farm State Park in Lucas, Ohio. A local writer, Jim Stoner, wrote the script. The play tells the story of Follis' life, his football career, and his family.
Hall of Fame
In 2013, Charles Follis was inducted into the College of Wooster Hall of Fame. However, even with his big impact on American sports, he has not yet been inducted into or honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
See also
- Bud Fowler - the first black baseball player.
