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Henry Thompson

© Harold Friend

Who was the first black player to have played in both major leagues? Who was the first black batter to face a black pitcher? Who were the first two opposing black players to appear on the field at the same time? Which three black players comprised the first all-black outfield---in the World Series no less? One player is part of all of the above.

Henry Thompson joined the New York Giants on July 5, 1949 and made his National League debut three days later against the Brooklyn Dodgers, making him the first black player to play in both leagues. Thompson had previously played in the American League in 1947 for the St. Louis Browns to become the major leagues' third black player behind Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby, but Thompson spent only a little more than a month with St. Louis before being released.

In his first game as a New York Giant, Thompson faced Brooklyn's big right handed ace, Don Newcombe. "Big Newk" held Thompson hitless but it was the first time a black pitcher faced a black batter in the major leagues.

On August 9, while still a member of the Browns, Henry Thompson played second base in the second game of a double header against the Cleveland Indians. In the seventh inning, history was made when Larry Doby pinch hit for Indians' catcher Al Lopez and drew a base on balls, marking the first time two black players appeared in the same game on opposing teams.

Thompson was a versatile performer who played the infield and outfield fairly well. He played second base with the Browns but he had been an outstanding right fielder with the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs before being allowed to exhibit his skills in the majors. With the Giants, Thompson played second base, third base, and the outfield, which brings us to the 1951 World Series.

The Giants overcame a 13 ½ Brooklyn lead to wind up in a tie with the Dodgers for the 1951 pennant, necessitating a best of three playoff. The Giants won the first game, the Dodgers won the second game and led the final game, 4-1 going to the bottom of the ninth inning. Bobby Thomson's home run brought the Giants the pennant but usually overlooked is the fact that in that inning, Giants' right fielder Don Mueller broke his ankle sliding into third on Whitey Lockman's double that drove home Alvin Dark with the second Giants' run.