Happy Jimmy Claxton Day

[bbpostcards]

It was 99 years ago Thursday, May 28, that Jimmy Claxton broke the color barrier in organized baseball in the 20th century. Jimmy's at the lower right in this postcard.

[Leon]

Neat postcard....

Love that PC! HAPPY JIMMY CLAXTON DAY! I'm all for a more formal commemoration of this event by one of the many cities Claxton was among the first to integrate; Oakland (1916), Portland (Sellwood Dingbats 1915), Tacoma (Tacoma Longshoreman 1924), Seattle (Seattle Waterfront 1924), or Reno (Scott Motors, 1933) . Too many achievements to list over his 40 year career. I believe Toronto featured his image on tickets for a game a few years back (he was born in Wellington, BC, Canada), but that's all I can recall...

Here's a ticket from Scott Motors v. Round Mountain, August 4, 1935. Three African Americans played for the Scott Motors semi-professional team 1932-35; Jimmy Claxton, Smiley Clayton, and Foy Scott. Claxton, Clayton and Scott were teammates until 1938. Clayton and Scott were teammates until 1947 Oakland Larks. Just not many items from Claxton's past out there.



Here's the 1937 Susanville/Lassen Lumber & Box Company team with Smiley Clayton...