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Athletics History: Bob Trice First Black Player in Team History

By David Hill

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 25: A statue of former Connie Mack 'Mr. Baseball' is seen outside of Citizens Bank Park in the rain before game three of the 2008 MLB World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays on October 25, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 25: A statue of former Connie Mack 'Mr. Baseball' is seen outside of Citizens Bank Park in the rain before game three of the 2008 MLB World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays on October 25, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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Integration in baseball was well underway in the late 1940s and into the early 1950s. On this day in 1953, Bob Trice became the first black player in Philadelphia Athletics history.

During Connie Mack‘s heyday with the Philadelphia Athletics, he was a master at finding talent in different places. He built a truly dominant pitching staff several times, and was the architect of the $100,000 infield. Mack attempted to sign Japanese pitching sensation Eiji Sawamura as a teenager in the mid 1930s, recognizing the talent that he possessed. At the height of his powers, Mack was truly a brilliant baseball mind with an eye for talent.

However, by the time baseball integrated in the late 1940s, Mack had lost his fastball. He was still managing the A’s, and served as the general manager and president, but was no longer the dynamic assessor of personnel that he had been. As a result, the A’s had fallen down the standings, relegated to the lower half of the American League.

It took some time for the A’s to be integrated, contributing to their tumble down the standings. While teams like the Indians and Dodgers had been signing some of the top talent in the Negro Leagues, it took some time for Philadelphia to catch up. On this day in 1953, the first black player in Athletics history, Bob Trice, made his debut.

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The Athletics actually acquired Trice in 1952, signing him in an unknown transaction from the Farnham Pirates in the Provincial League. He remained in that league that season, pitching for the St. Hyacinthe A’s. In 1953, he spent most of the season with the AAA Ottawa A’s before being brought up to Philadelphia.

Trice got the start in the first game of the A’s doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns, and pitched relatively well. He allowed five runs on eight hits, striking out two batters without allowing a walk in his eight innings. Trice was in line for a quality start before tiring in the eighth, allowing a Don Larsen homer and an RBI double. He did win his other two outings, giving hope that he would be a key part of the A’s future.

Unfortunately, that would not happen. Trice struggled during his major league career, posting a lifetime 9-9 record with a 5.80 ERA and a 1.612 WHiP. That command he displayed in his first start was not there, as he issued 60 walks against 28 strikeouts in his 152 innings. He would spend only parts of three seasons in the majors before heading to the minors, and ending his career a year later in the Mexican League.

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Bob Trice became the first black player in Athletics history on this day in 1953. Despite a solid showing that season, he was unable to become a key part of their future.

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