Nine of the Most Significant Black Players in Syracuse Baseball History
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at some of the most significant Black players to suit up for their club. While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at some of the most significant Black players to suit up for their club.
While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as "a year for the ages."
In honor of Jackie Robinson’s number nine, which he wore in his lone minor league season with the Montreal Royals in 1946, here is a look at nine of the most significant Black baseball players ever to suit up for Syracuse.
Moses Fleetwood Walker
Moses Fleetwood Walker played for the Syracuse Stars in 1888 and 1889 and is known as the first Black man to play in the major leagues. Although research shows that William Edward White was the first Black man to play in the majors (playing as a substitute in one game), White passed as a white man, whereas Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first to be open about his heritage. Walker played one season in the majors with the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884, playing in 42 games, primarily as a catcher. After stops with other minor league teams, Walker finished his professional baseball career with Syracuse. He helped the Starts win the International Association pennant in 1888. The Stars were in the International League in 1889, and Walker played in 50 games before he was released from the team near the end of the season. Walker was the last Black player to play in the International League before Jackie Robinson did so in 1946 with Montreal.
Vic Power
Vic Power is the first Black player to play a full season with the Syracuse Chiefs. Power played for the Chiefs in 1951 as part of the New York Yankees organization, hitting .294 with 22 doubles and 56 RBI as a first baseman and outfielder. By some accounts, Power should’ve been the first Black Yankee player, but he wasn’t, and Elston Howard holds that title. Instead, Power combined for a .284 career batting average in 12 seasons in the majors between the Philadelphia Athletics, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, and California Angels. Power was inducted into the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame in 2008.
Willie Smith
Willie Smith pitched for the Syracuse Chiefs in 1963 and played two games in 1964 while he was a member of the Detroit Tigers system. Smith earned the nickname “Wonderful Willie” while putting together an outstanding 1963 season with Syracuse, going 14-2 on the mound with 14 complete games in 19 appearances and 145 innings pitched, including a franchise-record ten consecutive games with a win. Smith’s 2.11 ERA was the best in the league, as was his winning percentage. After his first eight wins, including seven complete games, Smith was called up and made his major league debut on June 18, 1963. After a few other appearances, Smith was sent back to Syracuse where he was named the starting pitcher for the league’s All-Star team in an exhibition against the defending champion New York Yankees. Smith threw three scoreless innings of no-hit baseball while allowing just one walk. Smith was named the International League’s best pitcher of the 1963 season and was also solid at the plate with a .380 batting average (30-for-89). Smith went on to be used primarily as a hitter in nine major league seasons, including a .301 batting average in 118 games with the Los Angeles Angels in 1964 while pitching nearly 32 innings with a 2.84 ERA. Smith was inducted into the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame in 2000.
Willie Horton
Willie Horton played briefly with the Syracuse Chiefs in 1963, but his breakout season happened in 1964. After starting the season with Detroit, Horton struggled and was sent down to Syracuse where he flourished, hitting .288 in 135 games with 28 home runs and 99 RBIs. His production in Syracuse earned him a late-season call up to Detroit. Horton remained in the majors from 1964-1980, earning four All-Star Game selections with the Tigers and winning the 1968 World Series with Detroit. Horton finished his career with a .273 career batting average and 325 career home runs in 18 seasons between the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners. Horton is also a member of the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame Class of 2000.
Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders is one of the best athletes of all time and is possibly the greatest multi-sport athlete ever. Sanders played 14 NFL seasons while playing 11 seasons of professional baseball, including nine years in the Major Leagues. Sanders played part of just one season with Syracuse, but it was where he ended his professional baseball career, playing 25 games with the Syracuse SkyChiefs in 2001. In his final professional baseball game, Sanders hit a home run and had an RBI single for Syracuse in a 12-6 win against Toledo. Sanders is the only person to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
Terry Whitfield
Terry Whitfield played three seasons with the Syracuse Chiefs from 1974 to 1976 and was named an International League Mid-Season All-Star all three seasons. Whitfield worked his way up to Syracuse, the New York Yankees’ top minor league affiliate at the time, after he was drafted by the Yankees in the first round of 1971 MLB June amateur draft. Whitfield played briefly in three seasons with the Yankees from 1974 to 1976, but his best Major League seasons came from 1977 to 1980 with the San Francisco Giants where he played 514 games and had a .289 batting average in his four seasons with the Giants. After three years in the Japan Pacific League, Whitfield played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1984 to 1986. Whitfield is a 2008 inductee of the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame.
Greg “Boomer” Wells
Boomer Wells was a team leader and fan favorite while he played for the Syracuse Chiefs from 1978 to 1981. In those four seasons, Wells combined for a .274 batting average, 50 home runs, 64 doubles, and 226 RBIs in 379 games. Wells was a 1979 Minor-League Gold Glove winner at first base and a 1981 International League Post-Season All-Star. Despite his solid stats, Wells only played parts of two seasons in the Majors: 32 games in 1981 with Toronto and 15 games in 1982 with Minnesota. In 1983, Wells went to the Japan Pacific League where he played ten seasons. Wells is a member of the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame Class of 2008.
Clarence “Choo-Choo” Coleman
Choo-Choo Coleman played one season in Syracuse but was a member of the New York Mets in their inaugural season in 1962. Coleman hit the first home run in Mets history, albeit during an exhibition game, on Match 11, 1962 against the Cardinals. Despite this, Coleman did not make New York’s Opening Day roster and instead was sent to Triple-A Syracuse where injuries limited him to a .195 batting average in 71 games. Coleman did get an opportunity later in the season with the Mets where he hit .250 in 55 games as New York’s catcher. Coleman went on to play with the Mets in 1963 but then did not play in the majors again until 1966 where he played just six games with New York.
Bobby Mitchell
Bobby Mitchell played three seasons with Syracuse from 1969 to 1971 as a member of the New York Yankees organization. Mitchell played 69 games with the Chiefs in 1969 where he had a .328 batting average with 13 home runs, 18 doubles, 8 triples, 57 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases. Mitchell’s 1969 season included a five-hit game on July 16, 1969 at Louisville. He is one of 45 Syracuse players to have at least five hits in a game since 1961. In 1970, Mitchell played 107 games with Syracuse and ten games with the New York Yankees where he made his Major League debut. Then, Mitchell played 73 games with Syracuse in 1971 before he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Mitchell played parts of four seasons with the Brewers before he played the rest of his career in the Japan Pacific League with the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Tidwell strikes out 11 batters as Syracuse blasts Iowa, 12-3, on Thursday night
Des Moines, IA - The Syracuse Mets combined to score 11 runs in the first two innings on Thursday night, and Blade Tidwell pitched five and two-thirds hitless innings as the Mets beat the Iowa Cubs, 12-3, at Principal Park. Every Syracuse batter in the starting lineup reached base, eight
Syracuse Mets sweep Wednesday afternoon doubleheader against Iowa Cubs
Des Moines, IA - The Syracuse Mets began their six-game series against the Iowa Cubs with a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park. The Mets won the first game, 3-2, before winning the second game, 4-2. Syracuse combined to go 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position in both
Syracuse and Iowa postponed on Tuesday, doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday at 1:08 p.m. ET
Des Moines, IA - Tuesday night's game between the Syracuse Mets and the Iowa Cubs has been postponed because of rain at Principal Park. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday with the first game scheduled for 1:08 p.m. ET. The second game will
Mets fall to Red Wings, 9-5, in 11 innings on Sunday night
Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse Mets fell to the Rochester Red Wings, 9-5, in 11 innings, wrapping up the final game of a two-week homestand on Sunday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Syracuse splits doubleheader with Rochester, Mets win Duel of the Dishes
Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse Mets exploded for 14 runs in game two of a doubleheader to split the pair of games with the Rochester Red Wings on a windy Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Rochester took game one, 7-4, and Syracuse came out on top, 14-3, in game
Syracuse Mets Offering $5 Off Tickets for Memorial Day Sunday Game at NBT Bank Stadium
SYRACUSE, NY – The Syracuse Mets are offering a one-time special Memorial Day Sunday deal for $5 off tickets for Syracuse’s 6:35 p.m. game on Sunday, May 25th at NBT Bank Stadium against the Rochester Red Wings. The $5 off flash sale will begin on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and
Syracuse and Rochester postponed on Friday, doubleheader to be played Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
Syracuse, NY – Friday night's game between the Syracuse Mets and the Rochester Red Wings has been postponed because of inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Saturday, May 24th beginning at 4:05 p.m. Game two will begin approximately 40 minutes after
McLean tosses gem, Mets fall to Red Wings, 6-4, on Thursday night
Syracuse, NY – With a chance at a comeback victory in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Syracuse Mets stranded the bases loaded and fell just short in a 6-4 loss to the Rochester Red Wings on a rainy Thursday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Blackburn shines, Mauricio homers again, and Mets beat Red Wings, 5-2, on Wednesday
Syracuse, NY – Behind a fantastic Major League rehab outing by starting pitcher Paul Blackburn, the Syracuse Mets beat the Rochester Red Wings, 5-2, in front of a raucous Wednesday afternoon crowd at NBT Bank Stadium for Education Day. Blackburn tossed seven shutout innings and only allowed one hit with
Mauricio homers but Syracuse falls to Rochester, 9-4, on Tuesday night
Syracuse, NY – Although the Syracuse Mets outhit the Rochester Red Wings, a nine-run top of the fifth inning was the difference in a 9-4 Mets loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Despite the loss, Ronny Mauricio had three hits and two RBIs for
Syracuse comeback falls short in 8-6 loss to Lehigh Valley on Sunday afternoon
Syracuse, NY – Even with a productive day from the lineup, the Syracuse Mets fell to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 8-6, on a windy Sunday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium. Despite the loss, Ronny Mauricio had two hits in his return to Syracuse after missing all of 2024 and the
Syracuse beats Lehigh Valley, 7-6, on Saturday night
Syracuse, NY – Behind an offensive surge and a stellar start from Joander Suarez, the Syracuse Mets beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 7-6, on a rainy Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Senger and Singleton homer as Syracuse beats Lehigh Valley, 8-5, on Friday night
Syracuse, NY – With a pair of three-run homers, the Syracuse Mets’ offense powered them to an 8-5 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Syracuse hit two three-run home runs in the game en route to the win.
Meneses homers, Mets fall to IronPigs, 7-3, on Thursday night
Syracuse, NY – Although the Syracuse Mets pitching kept them in the game through the eighth inning, the offense didn't muster up enough runs in a 7-3 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Meneses homers but Mets fall to IronPigs, 18-8, in ten innings on Wednesday
Syracuse, NY – In a back-and-forth shootout, the Syracuse Mets fell to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 18-8, in ten innings in front of an electric crowd of 9,969 fans on Wednesday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium.
Young homers twice but Syracuse falls to Lehigh Valley, 7-3, on Tuesday night
Syracuse, NY – Jared Young homered twice but the Syracuse Mets squandered too many opportunities in a 7-3 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Tuesday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Syracuse allowed four unearned runs to score because of two errors on defense, and the Mets went 0-for-6 with
Syracuse splits series with Jacksonville after 5-2 loss on Sunday
Jacksonville, FL - The Syracuse Mets finished their week in Jacksonville with a series split after a 5-2 loss to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Sunday afternoon at VyStar ballpark. Both teams won three games during the six-game series. Drew Gilbert singled in the game, extending his on-base streak to
Mets fry Jumbo Shrimp, 9-2, on Saturday night
Jacksonville, FL - The Syracuse Mets used a pair of home runs, timely hitting, and strong pitching to beat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 9-2, on Saturday night at VyStar Ballpark. The game was delayed 90 minutes in the fourth inning, shortening Blade Tidwell's start on the mound for the Mets,
McLean masterclass leads Syracuse to 4-0 win over Jacksonville on Friday night
Jacksonville, FL - In his Triple-A debut, Syracuse Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean was masterful, throwing seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts as Syracuse beat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 4-0, on Friday night at VyStar Ballpark. The seven innings pitched is a career high for McLean and the longest outing
Bullpen stars but Mets fall to Jumbo Shrimp, 3-1, on Thursday night
Jacksonville, FL - Syracuse's bullpen was near-perfect, but the Mets' offense stagnated on Thursday night in a 3-1 lose to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at VyStar Ballpark. Despite the loss, Syracuse's bullpen pitched five scoreless and hitless innings to keep the game close.
Mets beat Jumbo Shrimp in 11 innings, 6-5, on Wednesday afternoon
Jacksonville, FL - The Syracuse Mets overcame multiple deficits and outlasted the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for a 6-5 Syracuse win in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon at VyStar Ballpark. Neither team led by more than two runs in the game with each team leading multiple times throughout the contest.
Mets fall in series-opener to Jumbo Shrimp, 4-3, in ten innings on Tuesday night
Jacksonville, FL - The Syracuse Mets returned to Jacksonville for the first time since 1968 but lost to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 4-3, in ten innings on Tuesday night at VyStar Ballpark. Luis De Los Santos had three hits and two RBIs for Syracuse in the game.
Felipe De La Cruz named International League Pitcher of the Week
SYRACUSE, NY – Felipe De La Cruz has been named International League Pitcher of the week for the week of April 28-May 4. De La Cruz made his Triple-A debut on May 2nd with the Syracuse Mets against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, throwing six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit,
Syracuse dominates Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 8-2, on Saturday night
Syracuse, NY – With two more fantastic Triple-A pitching debuts and a trio of long balls, the Syracuse Mets beat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 8-2, on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium.