| John W. "Bud" Fowler |
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| Perhaps the most important figure on the 1885 Western
league Keokuks was John W. "Bud" Fowler. He is the
first African-American to play professional baseball before the color
lines were drawn. Fowler changed his name from John W. Jackson after
he enter professional baseball, for unknown reasons. He spent one season
in Keokuk, 1885, as a second baseman. Fowler is pictured in the team
photo. This photo is very popular among baseball historians, and can
be seen quite frequently in this field. |
| The difference between Fowler’s accomplishment and
that of Jackie Robinson, is that Robinson is that Robinson was the first
African American in professional baseball in modern times, after
the color line was drawn. Color line or not, both players overcame the
challenge of playing baseball in a racist game and society. |
| Fowler could play every position, but was best at second base. He
played for twenty different teams in thirteen major and minor league
teams. The reason he played for so many different teams was not his
playing ability, but his race. Teams did not know what reaction the
players, fans or opponents would take. Generally he was not accepted
by the new team or fans. Keokuk was one of the teams to give him a chance. |
| Fowler managed, organized and played for Negro League teams after
baseball’s color line was drawn around the turn of the century.
As a result of the color barrier, he founded the Page Fence Giants in
the fall of 1894. The all-black team was sponsored by the Page Woven
Wire Fence Company of Adrian, Michigan. Fowler was also involved with
the following all-black baseball teams: the Smoky City Giants, the All-American
Black Tourists, and the Kansas City Stars. |
| Fowler died in 1913 at the age of 54. |
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