The Fredericksburg Frogs, an African-American amateur baseball team, emerged in 1919 and became one of Virginia’s most competitive Black teams, playing until the 1940s. Despite a 25-year long history and immense popularity in Fredericksburg, little is known about the team today outside of a few mentions in newspaper articles and oral histories.

Known for their skill and dedication, the Frogs competed against teams from Richmond, Washington, D.C., and even as far away as Buffalo, New York and Charleston, South Carolina, occasionally defeating semi-professional squads like the Homestead Grays.

Despite being unpaid, they played for the love of the game, drawing large, integrated crowds at fields like Gouldman Park and Fairview Field, and later in fields further out of town including Sylvania Park south of the city.

Managed by Charles C. Bland, the team boasted standout players such as Kelsie Deane, Charley “Hickory” Lewis, Augustus “Gus” Watts and Dr. Jimmy Shields, a former Negro League pitcher. Their influence extended beyond the field, fostering community pride and paving the way for Black athletes in baseball.