George Williams (Negro Leagues)

George Williams

BR Minors page

George Williams was one of the initial members of the 1885 Argyle Hotel Athletics, the first All-black professional baseball team. He remained with the team when it became the Cuban Giants, manning second base from 1886-1888 and moving to first base in 1889. That year, the team played in the Middle States League. In 1890, Williams hit .386 and slugged .582 in the Eastern Interstate League, with 61 runs in 43 games. The third baseman led the league in average and also managed the team. He moved to the New York Gorhams as a first baseman in 1891. He was on the preliminary ballot in the 2006 Special Committee on the Negro Leagues Election but didn't make it to the second round of voting. He was likely the last black player to lead an integrated minor league in average until Jackie Robinson in the 1946 International League.