The most accomplished black baseball player of the 19th century, Grant joined Buffalo
(
International League) in 1886 and became the first black to play on the same team
in organized baseball for three consecutive seasons. With his extraordinary range
and strong arm, he was compared favorably with the best second basemen of his era.
One Buffalo writer asserted that Grant was the best all-around player Buffalo had
ever seen; four future Hall of Famers had played in
Buffalo prior to Grant. Though
just 5'7" 155-lb, he had surprising power at the plate; one-fourth of his hits in
the
International League were for extra bases. He led his team and/or league in various
offensive categories, including batting average, stolen bases, total bases, and home
runs. During the 1887 season, he hit for the cycle in one game and stole home twice
in another. By the late 1880s, black players were banished from organized baseball.
Grant went on to play for such strong independent Negro teams as the Cuban X Giants,
Big Gorhams, and Philadelphia Giants through 1903.
(JMa)
George Grant
1903-
;RHP 1923-25, 27-29, 31 Browns, Indians , Pirates ;346 ip, 15-20, 5.64.
Grant earned 10 of his 15 wins in 1928, when he led a weak Indians squad in winning
percentage (.556) despite an ERA of 5.04.
(ME)
Frank Grant
