The Southern California Winter League was the first
United States professional baseball league in the 20th Century that allowed
competition between white and African-American teams. Starting in 1910, Negro League players would
form teams to play winter league baseball in California. Attempting to make extra money during the off
season, many white Major League players would play on teams in the California
League. The seasons were short, 10 – 20
games and some years there would be only one African-American team. Before the league folded in 1946, white Major
League stars such as Bob Feller, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Dizzy Dean, and
Stan Musial played against Negro League stars such as Buck Leonard, Satchel
Paige, “Bullet” Joe Rogan, “Cool Papa” Bell, and Hilton Smith; something Major
League Baseball would not allow them to do.
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