Fleet Walker, baseball player, 1884-1884

Fleet Walker

Born: 10/7/1856 in Mount Pleasant, OH, USA

Died: 5/11/1924 in Cleveland, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1884-05-01 | Final Game: 1884-09-04

Bats: R | Throws: RWeight: 159 lbs

Full name: Moses Fleetwood Walker

📊 Compare This Player 📈 View Career Timeline

Biography

Fleet Walker was a pioneering figure in Major League Baseball, recognized as one of the first African American players to step onto a Major League field. Born in 1856, Walker's professional baseball career unfolded in the late 19th century, a time when the sport was beginning to establish its modern identity. He played from May 1, 1884, to September 4, 1884, participating in 42 games as a position player. During his brief career, Walker recorded 40 hits, achieving a batting average of .263. While he did not hit any home runs or drive in runs, his presence on the field represented a significant milestone in the integration of baseball, occurring just a few decades before the more recognized contributions of players like Jackie Robinson. Although his time in the league was short, Fleet Walker's legacy as a trailblazer in baseball history remains noteworthy, symbolizing the early struggles and triumphs of African American athletes in an era that was often marked by discrimination and segregation.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
42 152 23 40 2 3 0 0 0 8 0 0.263 0.325 0.316 0.641 202.2

Career AVG .263 vs. league average .243 across their career seasons — +8.2% above league average.

Career OBP .325 vs. league average .279 across their career seasons — +16.6% above league average.

Career SLG .316 vs. league average .327 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.641 vs. league average 0.606 across their career seasons — +5.8% above league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1884 TL1 AA 42 152 23 40 2 3 0 0 0 8 0 0.263 .243 (+8%) .278 (+17%) .327 (-3%) .606 (+6%) 202.2

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
C 41 0 220 70 37 4
OF 1 0 1 0 0 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1884 TL1 C 41 0 220 70 37 4
1884 TL1 OF 1 0 1 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 41
Left Field 1

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI 1882
Oberlin College Oberlin OH 1881