Baseball History: Minor Leagues Refuse to Use Black Players in Series

Integration was a major part of baseball history, and had come to almost every team and league by this day in 1958. That is, except the Southern Association, which was set to play the Dixie Series against the Texas League.

Over the course of baseball history, few moments were as important as integration. In allowing black players to be a part of the major leagues, and the associated minor league franchises, the talent in the game was greatly improved. By this date in 1958, over a decade after Jackie Robinson had changed the game forever, majority of the teams and leagues were integrated.

There were, however, notable exceptions. The Boston Red Sox, due to the efforts of noted racist Tom Yawkey, did not integrate until Pumpsie Green made an appearance in 1959. And then, there was the Southern Association, whose one black player, Nat Peeples, was forced out after two games.

That legacy of racism continued through 1958. The Southern Association had traditionally had a seven game series with the Texas League, with the league champions facing off in the Dixie Series. The problem was, the Texas League was integrated. In fact, Peeples himself moved on to the Texas League after his brief stint in the Southern Association.

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Unfortunately, neither Peeples, nor any other black player in the Texas League, would get to prove the Southern Association wrong. In order to have the Dixie Series happen, the Texas League agreed to leave their black players at home. That may have proved to be the difference, as the Birmingham Barons won the series for the Southern Association in six games.

This would be the final year that series would be played. The Texas League would begin playing against the Mexican League in 1959, creating the Pan-Am Series. It did return for one last hurrah in 1967, although, by that time, the Southern Association was no longer in business.

That refusal to adapt to the times and integrate proved to be the Association’s downfall. The league ceased operations after 1961, with the quality of play having deteriorated dramatically. Political shifts led to dwindling attendance, and other, more progressive leagues, flourished. The Southern Association, one of the proudest and longest lasting minor leagues, had faded away into baseball history.

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Integration had reached virtually everywhere by this day in 1958. That is, aside from the Southern Association, who forced the Texas League to play the Dixie League without black players.