Jim Wilson (Negro Leagues)

James William Wilson

• School Lincoln University (PA)

• Born March 2, 1861 in Talah Liberia
• Died November 20, 1940 in Suffolk, VA USA

BR register page

Biographical Information

Jim Wilson was the first professional baseball player from Africa.

Wilson's father was rescued from a slave ship by an American navy ship, sent to stop the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Wilson came to the US for college, then returned to teach theology at his alma mater (Lincoln University).

In 1887, he played in the first black professional league in the US, the League of Colored Baseball Clubs. He hit .296/.321/.444 (95 OPS+) in six games for the Baltimore Lord Baltimores according to Seamheads with 8 runs and 6 RBI; according to the BR register, he hit .242/?/.364 with seven runs in six games. While the loop was short-lived, it was enough action to make him the first pro baseball player born in Africa. He remained in the US as part of the faculty of Kittrell College.

Source: Agate Type Blog by Gary Ashwill