Gifford McDonald facts for kids

Gifford Van Horn McDonald (born August 16, 1890 – died November 30, 1976) was an important baseball player. He was a talented pitcher in the Negro leagues for many years. His career began before the first major Negro National League was even formed.

Who Was Gifford McDonald?

Gifford McDonald was a professional baseball player. He was known for his pitching skills. He played during a time when African American players were not allowed in Major League Baseball. This led to the creation of the Negro leagues.

Early Baseball Days

Gifford McDonald was born in Darlington, South Carolina. He started playing baseball around 1909. One of his first teams was the Pop Watkins Giants. This was a time when many independent Black baseball teams existed. They traveled around playing games.

Playing in the Negro Leagues

The Negro leagues were professional baseball leagues. They were created for African American players. These leagues gave talented players like Gifford a chance to play. They showed off their amazing skills. Gifford played for several teams in these leagues.

Teams Gifford Played For

Gifford McDonald played for many different teams. He started with the Brooklyn Royal Giants in 1911. He also played for them again in 1918. In 1913, he joined the Philadelphia Giants. The next year, he played for the New York Colored Giants.

He also spent time with the Bacharach Giants. He played for them in 1917 and again in 1921. During 1917 and 1918, he was with the Lincoln Giants. His final known team was the Detroit Stars in 1920. He finished his career with the Bacharach Giants in 1921.

Later Life

Gifford McDonald was born in 1890. He passed away in 1976 at the age of 86. He died in New York, New York. His career helped pave the way for future Black baseball players.