Remembering Frank Grant Who played for the Buffalo Bisons in the 1800’s
Frank Grant (ai)
The baseball season is here, and the Buffalo Bisons are now in full swing. Few people remember that Frank Grant was the first Black to play for the Bisons. The history of his role in the Bisons is still not recognized by most people. Frank Grant faced a lot of racism when he played for the Bisons. Like other Black ball players during his time in the late 1800s, Grant was given a hard time by his teammates. The pitchers deliberately tried to hit him. One of the pitchers told the Sporting News that he threw at Grant’s head every time he faced him on the field. This was common practice of many of the pitchers against the Black players.
It was dangerous for Grant when he played second base because the base runners ran into him, trying to break his legs. Many runners slid at him with spikes, so he had to use a set of wooden shin guards for protection. It was reported that when Grant started to wear the wooden armor on his legs, the White players filed their spikes and tried to split the shin guards. Grant had to be moved to the outfield in 1888, for safety against these attacks.
In Robert W. Peterson’s book “Only the Ball Was White,” he noted that the “Haughty Caucasians of the association were willing to permit darkies to carry water for them or guard the bat bag, but it made them sore to have the name of a Black man on the batting list.” Despite the attacks, Grant was the most accomplished Black baseball player of the 19th century. He played on the same team in organized baseball for three consecutive seasons.
Prejudice was so widespread that a resolution was passed at the International League meeting held in Buffalo in July 1887, which directed the league secretary not to draw up any more contracts with Black players. It was rumored that if Grant were rehired at the end of 1888, the Bisons would strike. The sentiment was that Blacks should never play ball with White men. As a result, Grant never signed another Buffalo contract.
He later toured the South with the Cuban Giants – the first Black professional baseball team in the United States. It was unfortunate that Frank Grant was treated so badly. He was a good baseball player. Despite his small stature (Grant was 5 feet seven inches tall and weighed 155 pounds), he was the leading slugger in the league with 27 doubles, 10 triples, and 11 home runs in 105 games. He also led the Bisons with base-stealing with 40 thefts. Grant’s speed and impressive plays were outstanding. But, instead of receiving credit for his own skill as a ballplayer, he was referred to as the “Black Dunlap” in comparison to Fred Dunlap, a White second baseman in the 1880s.
Grant was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1865. His full name was Ulysses Franklin Grant. Grant died without the fanfare usually reserved for a champion. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Clifton, New Jersey. Finally, after more than 100 years, he was inducted into the National Baseball of Fame in Cooperstown. Solomon White, who wrote the official baseball guide of early Black players and teams, stated that “Grant was the best of his age. He was a born ballplayer.” If you visit the Freedom Wall located on Michigan and East Ferry, you will see his name listed on the right-hand side among Buffalo’s great citizens!!