Welday Walker
Encyclopedia
Welday Wilberforce Walker (July 27, 1860 – November 23, 1937) was an American
left fielder
in Major League Baseball
, born in Steubenville, Ohio
. He, along with his brother Moses Fleetwood Walker
, became the first black baseball players to play in the major leagues when they played for the Toledo Blue Stockings
of the American Association
. After the 1884 season, Toledo left the league, and the Walker brothers were no longer allowed to play in the majors. Both brothers continued to play in the higher levels of the minor leagues
. Welday played mostly in the Eastern League and the Southern New England League. In 1887 he joined the Pittsburgh club in the National Colored Base Ball League
but only a few league games were played in May..
Walker died in his hometown of Steubenville at the age of 77, and is interred at Union Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, born in Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He, along with his brother Moses Fleetwood Walker
Moses Fleetwood Walker
Moses Fleetwood Walker [″Fleet″] was an American Major League Baseball player and author who is credited with being the first African American to play professional baseball.-Baseball career:...
, became the first black baseball players to play in the major leagues when they played for the Toledo Blue Stockings
Toledo Blue Stockings
The Toledo Blue Stockings formed as a minor league baseball team in Toledo, Ohio in 1883. They won the Northwestern League championship in 1883. Their home ballpark was League Park....
of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
. After the 1884 season, Toledo left the league, and the Walker brothers were no longer allowed to play in the majors. Both brothers continued to play in the higher levels of the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. Welday played mostly in the Eastern League and the Southern New England League. In 1887 he joined the Pittsburgh club in the National Colored Base Ball League
National Colored Base Ball League
The National Colored Base Ball League or the League of Colored Baseball Clubs was the first attempt to have a league consisting of all-black teams, predating Rube Foster's Negro National League by over three decades. The league president was Walter S. Brown, who was also manager of the Pittsburgh...
but only a few league games were played in May..
Walker died in his hometown of Steubenville at the age of 77, and is interred at Union Cemetery.