Luther Askin

Luther Benjamin Askin

• Born December 16, 1844 in Pittsfield, MA USA
• Died April 26, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY USA

Biographical Information

Luther Benjamin Askin was a first baseman who played for the Florence Eagles in 1865, and is credited as being the first African-American to play for an all-white ball club, even before Bud Fowler. He played his first game with them on August 1, 1865 and the Eagles won the game 30 - 3. After his baseball career ended, he became a fire fighter. He apparently began playing baseball as early as 1860 with a club in Florence, MA and was remembered by many as being an avid baseball fan until the day he died.