Andrew “Rube” Foster; born on September 17,
1879 in Calvert, Texas, is considered by many “the father” of Negro League
baseball. The son of a Methodist minister, Foster formed the first
official Negro professional baseball league in 1920; the Negro National League
(NNL). Foster also was owner and manager of the Chicago American Giants
one of the most successful black teams during the pre-NNL era
(1911-1919).
But Foster’s success as a league organizer and team manager
overshadows his career as a dominant pitcher. He was the best pitcher on
first the Cuban X Giants and then the Philadelphia Giants, two of the best
black baseball teams in the early 20th Century. Foster
received the nickname “Rube” after defeating the Philadelphia A’s future Hall
of Fame pitcher “Rube” Waddell in an exhibition game.
Andrew “Rube” Foster was inducted into the National
Baseball hall of Fame in 1981.
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