St. Paul Colored Gophers
Encyclopedia
The St. Paul Colored Gophers was a small club of black baseball
players formed in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1907. The club lasted only 4 years, as the market in St. Paul was too small. They were not a formal Negro League team, as the Negro League was not created until 1920. However, like other barnstorming
teams of the time, they had considerable impact on the desegregation
of baseball.
In 1909, the Colored Gophers defeated what was considered to be the most powerful Negro baseball team
, the Leland Giants
.
Today, the Colored Gophers are rarely mentioned in Negro baseball history, and statistics and rosters are hard to find. On three occasions, the Minnesota Twins
have honored the club by wearing replica throwback jerseys of the 1909 team. The Twins wore Gophers uniforms at home
against Cleveland
on July 13, 1997. They wore Gophers uniforms on July 10, 2005 in Kansas City
against the Royals
. And most recently, on August 7, 2010, the Twins featured the Gophers uniforms in a game against the Cleveland Indians
at Progressive Field Announcers carefully referred to the jerseys as the Saint Paul Gophers, Leaving out the word colored
, as the Indians wore the Negro League's Cleveland Buckeyes
1946 replica jerseys.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
players formed in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1907. The club lasted only 4 years, as the market in St. Paul was too small. They were not a formal Negro League team, as the Negro League was not created until 1920. However, like other barnstorming
Barnstorm (sports)
Barnstorming in athletics refers to sports teams or individuals that travel to various locations, usually small towns, to stage exhibition matches....
teams of the time, they had considerable impact on the desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
of baseball.
In 1909, the Colored Gophers defeated what was considered to be the most powerful Negro baseball team
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
, the Leland Giants
Leland Giants
The Chicago Union Giants, the top black baseball team in the Midwest or West in the first decade of the 20th century, changed its name in 1905 to the Leland Giants, after manager and owner Frank Leland....
.
Today, the Colored Gophers are rarely mentioned in Negro baseball history, and statistics and rosters are hard to find. On three occasions, the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
have honored the club by wearing replica throwback jerseys of the 1909 team. The Twins wore Gophers uniforms at home
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
against Cleveland
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
on July 13, 1997. They wore Gophers uniforms on July 10, 2005 in Kansas City
Kauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
against the Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. And most recently, on August 7, 2010, the Twins featured the Gophers uniforms in a game against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
at Progressive Field Announcers carefully referred to the jerseys as the Saint Paul Gophers, Leaving out the word colored
, as the Indians wore the Negro League's Cleveland Buckeyes
Cleveland Buckeyes
The Cleveland Buckeyes were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro Leagues. They were established in 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio . The following season, the team moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they played their games at League Park...
1946 replica jerseys.
Further reading
- Peterson, Todd, Early Black Baseball in Minnesota: The St. Paul Gophers, Minneapolis Keystones and Other Barnstorming Teams of the Deadball Era. McFarland & Company, 2010. ISBN-10: 0786438169; ISBN-13: 9780786438167