Bob Trice

1953-1955

Pitcher Bob Trice debuted for the Philadelphia Athletics (now Oakland Athletics) on September 13, 1953, becoming the first African-American to play for the team. Prior to appearing in MLB, Trice had struggled in MiLB, but he excelled with the International League’s Ottawa A’s, and his brilliant performance earned him his place with the Athletics. Although his MLB career was short-lived, Trice’s work challenging racial intolerance as an early African-American professional baseball pioneer cannot be over-emphasized.