Andrew Foster, also known as Rube, was born in Texas in 1887.
He dropped out of school after the eighth grade in order to pursue a baseball career.
Foster had a notable career, the highlight being when he won 44 consecutive games as a pitcher with the 1902 Cuban X-Giants.
Foster played for many teams before settling with the Leland Giants in 1907 as a player and manager.
“I have smiled often with the bases full with two strikes and three balls on the batter. This seems to unnerve,” said Foster, as cited by the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1910, Foster created his own team called the Chicago American Giants. They became one of the best African-American teams in baseball history.
Foster gathered owners of the African-American teams at the Kansas City YMCA in 1920 to organize the Negro National League.
After working out the details of the new league, the owners appointed Foster as president and treasurer of the National Negro League. During this time he continued to be manager and owner of the American Giants.
Foster was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.
He is remembered as the “Father of Negro Baseball.”
It's Black History Month. Learn about other prominent African-Americans in the Kansas City area:
Black History Month: KC civil rights activist and journalist Lucile H. Bluford
KC's first African-American mayor Emanuel Cleaver II
KC jazz pioneer Charlie "Bird" Parker
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