Sol White
| Birthdate | 6/12/1868 |
| Death Date | 8/26/1955 |
| Debut Year | 1887 |
| Year of Induction | 2006 |
| Teams | Negro Leagues |
| Positions | Coach, Executive, First Base, Manager, Outfield, Second Base, Shortstop, Third Base |
Born three years after the conclusion of the Civil War, Sol White was a professional player, manager, & executive & a pioneer of the Negro Leagues.
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Sol White wrote about Cap Anson's role in creating baseball's color barrier
Sol White wrote about Cap Anson's role in creating baseball's color barrier
Sol White’s professional baseball career started in the 1880s when he broke in as a player. For much of the rest of his life White remained in the game as a manager, executive, and writer.
White authored the first definitive history of black baseball in 1907. In History of Colored Base Ball he outlined Cap Anson’s role in erecting the color barrier. He specifically singles Anson out in a chapter called The Color Line White.
The signature is likely a non-malicious secretarial example.
Negro Leaguer Sol White was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006
Negro Leaguer Sol White was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006
Sol White had a prolific career in baseball. He began as a player in 1887 as a 19-year old second infielder for the Pittsburgh Keystones. Over the next four decades White continued contributing to baseball in the early days of the game.
White coached, managed and served as an executive. He was one of the most influential men of his time in early black baseball. Known for his blistering intensity as a player, White was also remembered for his calm level-headedness as a manager and front office man.
When White left the game he became a sportswriter and baseball historian. Largely forgotten after his death, White nonetheless was selected by the Committee on African-American Baseball to appear on the Veterans Committee ballot. He gained induction to the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Sol White served baseball as a player, manager, executive, and historian
Sol White served baseball as a player, manager, executive, and historian
In 2005, the Hall of Fame put together a special screening committee to find people associated with the Negro Leagues who were most deserving of induction.
An original list of 94 nominees was cut to 29 candidates and finally 17 new members of the Hall of Fame to be inducted in 2006. The cover of the 2006 Hall of Fame yearbook shows those 17 including Sol White.
White’s plaque in Cooperstown reads, “An outstanding player and manager who starred for five seasons in integrated minor leagues, before excelling with several prominent independent teams. Helped create dominant Philadelphia Giants in 1902 playing for and managing them through 1909. Before working with pre-Negro League teams in Brooklyn and New York, and Negro League teams in Columbus, Cleveland, and Newark. Authored Sol White’s Official Baseball Guide of early black baseball teams, players, and playing conditions.”
