Chatham Coloured All-Stars facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chatham Coloured All-Stars |
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1935 team photo
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| Information | |
| League | Ontario Baseball Amateur Association (Intermediate B) |
| Location | Chatham, Ontario |
| Year founded | 1932 |
| Year folded | 1939 |
| Division championships | 1934 |
| Manager | Joe "Happy" Parker |
The Chatham Coloured All-Stars were a Canadian amateur baseball team from the 1930s. This team was very important because they helped break down barriers in sports. They showed that Black athletes could compete and win at high levels.
Some famous players on the team included Earl "Flat" Chase, Wilfred "Boomer" Harding, Ferguson Jenkins Sr., and Willie Shaugnosh. In 1934, the team made history. They became the first Black team to win a championship in the Ontario Baseball Association. This league was then called the Ontario Baseball Amateur Association.
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A Team That Made History
The Chatham Coloured All-Stars started in 1932. They were just a group of friends who loved playing baseball. They played in Stirling Park in Chatham, Ontario. In 1933, a local business owner named Archie Stirling noticed them. He was also a representative for the Ontario Baseball Amateur Association (OBAA).
At that time, Black players faced many challenges. They were not allowed in major league baseball until the late 1940s. Also, they were often not welcome on white teams in amateur leagues in Canada. The All-Stars were already playing exhibition games in southern Ontario. Stirling helped them join the city league. This meant they could play against white teams.
The team quickly became very popular. Local reporters wrote about them often. In their second year in the league, they won the provincial championship. This was in the Intermediate B division. This win made them the first Black team to ever win an OBAA title. It was a huge step forward for equality in sports.
In 1935, the team won the city title. They also won the Western Counties Baseball Association Championship. This was in the Intermediate A division. In 1939, the Chatham Coloured All-Stars almost reached the all-Ontario finals. But there was a disagreement about where the game should be played. So, no title was given that year. After this, the team stopped playing. Many players went to serve in World War II. These included Wilfred "Boomer" Harding and Andy Harding. Their coach Lou Pryor also served.
Even though the team played for many years, none of the players got to play in the major leagues. This was before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947.
Facing Challenges
Being an African-Canadian team in the 1930s was tough. They often faced unfair treatment. This happened both during games and when they traveled. Sometimes, umpire decisions seemed unfair. Other times, they were not allowed to stay in hotels. They had to find places in nearby towns instead. The team members also faced mean comments and unfair play during games. Despite these challenges, they kept playing and winning.
What Happened Next
After the Chatham Coloured All-Stars stopped playing, many former players joined other local teams. In 1946, a new team called the Taylor ACs was formed. Wilfred "Boomer" Harding managed this team. It included former All-Stars like Andy Harding and Earl "Flat" Chase. Years later, some sons of the original All-Stars also joined the Taylor ACs. These included Earl "Flat" Chase's sons, Earl Jr. and Horace.
Awards and Special Recognition
The Chatham Coloured All-Stars have been honored many times for their achievements.
1984: It was 50 years since their big 1934 OBAA win. The City of Chatham gave special plaques to the players who were still alive. These included Wilfred "Boomer" Harding and Don Tabron.
2001: The team was honored at a Toronto Blue Jays game. The Blue Jays players even wore special jerseys that looked like the All-Stars' uniforms. Two surviving members, Don Tabron and Sagasta Harding, threw the first pitch. Earl "Flat" Chase's son also threw a pitch.
2016: The Ontario Trillium Foundation gave a grant to the University of Windsor. This money helped them create a project about the team. It is called "Breaking the Colour Barrier: Wilfred “Boomer” Harding and the Chatham Coloured All-Stars (1932-1939)". The project collects stories and resources to share the team's history.
In early 2022, some people felt the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame should have already included the Chatham Coloured All-Stars.
Team Roster
Here are the players and staff from the 1934 team:
Players
- Earl "Flat" Chase (Windsor): He was a pitcher. He hit many home runs in southern Ontario.
- Andy Harding (Chatham): He played in the outfield.
- Len Harding (Chatham): He was the center-fielder. He later managed the team.
- Sagasta Harding (Buxton): He was a left-handed batter.
- Wilfred "Boomer" Harding (Chatham): He played first-base. He also became the first Black hockey player in the International Hockey League in 1946.
- Ferguson Jenkins Sr. (Windsor): He was the center-fielder. He was the father of Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins.
- Gouy Ladd (Chatham): He played in the outfield.
- Cliff Olbey (Chatham): He played in the outfield.
- Hyle Robbins (Buxton): He played in the outfield.
- Stanton Robbins (Buxton): He was a left-handed pitcher.
- Wellington "Willie" Shaugnosh (Walpole Island): He was a pitcher.
- Don Tabron (Detroit): He played shortstop.
- Ross Talbot (Chatham): He played first-base.
- King Terrell (Chatham): He was a left-handed third-baseman.
- Don Washington (Detroit): He was the catcher.
Staff
- Joe "Happy" Parker (manager)
- Percy Parker (third-base coach)
- Lou Pryor (coach)
- Jack Robinson (mascot and batboy)
