California Winter League
California Winter League is a former baseball Winter League. It is the first integrated league in the 20th century as players from Major League Baseball and Negro League Baseball played each other in training games. The league existed for almost 50 years during the first half of the 20th century across Southern California. The league showed that players can play together regardless of skin color.
The California Winter League (officially the Southern California Winter League originally before shortening the name) began play in the late 19th century. By 1910, Negro League teams would go west for the winter and play top white teams. While the teams were not integrated, this made the California Winter League the first integrated league in the USA in the 20th century. Among the Hall of Famers to appear in the California Winter League were Walter Johnson, Satchel Paige, Stan Musial, Turkey Stearnes, Arky Vaughan, Smokey Joe Williams, Bob Feller, Bullet Joe Rogan, Kiki Cuyler, Rube Foster, Dizzy Dean, Buck Leonard, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Dave Bancroft, Willie Foster, Earl Averill Sr., Bob Lemon, Cool Papa Bell, Ralph Kiner, Heinie Manush, Hilton Smith, Red Ruffing and Max Carey. Other stars included Dobie Moore, Babe Herman, Chet Brewer, Mule Suttles, Bob Meusel, Wild Bill Wright, Dazzy Vance, Wally Berger, Biz Mackey, Sammy T. Hughes, Newt Allen, Sammy Bankhead, John Beckwith, Tank Carr and Gavvy Cravath. The most prominent individual in the league's history was Joe Pirrone. Schedules were short, usually about 10-20 games, with white teams often taking turns against the black team. Some years the league consisted only of one black team and one white team. At its peak, the league talent level has been estimated to be between AA and AAA. The league finished its run in 1946; the integration of Major League Baseball, increased exhibition contests between black and white players and limiting rules by long-time league opponent Kenesaw Mountain Landis helped end its long history.[1]
[edit] All-time leaders
- Batting Average - Dobie Moore - .385
- Home Runs - Mule Suttles - 64
- Wins - Satchel Paige - 56
- Strikeouts - Satchel Paige - 766
[edit] Notes and references
- Source: "The California Winter League" by William McNeil
