Joe Black

Joe Black broke new ground as the first Black pitcher to win a World Series game, doing so in dominant fashion during Game 1 of the 1952 Fall Classic for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Black, a former standout in the Negro Leagues with the Baltimore Elite Giants, burst onto the MLB scene that season as a 28-year-old rookie and took the league by storm. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award with a 15,4 record, a 2.15 ERA, and 15 saves, becoming the Dodgers’ most reliable arm out of the bullpen and a key figure in the team's pennant run.

Black’s transition to the Major Leagues was not without hardship. As one of the early Black pitchers in the game, he faced intense racial animosity from fans and opposing teams alike. Like Jackie Robinson before him, he was often barred from team hotels and restaurants and bore the psychological weight of having to be twice as good just to be accepted. Yet he carried himself with immense poise, dignity, and intellect.

Off the field, Black was known as a scholar and a gentleman. He held a degree from Morgan State University and later worked as a writer, educator, and executive with Greyhound. He became a national speaker on race, sports, and perseverance, earning admiration far beyond baseball. Joe Black’s life was a testament to the power of character, resilience, and seizing the moment when history came calling.