MPP Percy Hatfield Urges Inclusion Of Chatham Coloured All-Stars in Hall of Fame

Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Percy Hatfield spoke in provincial legislature Monday in favour of including the Chatham Coloured All-Stars into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

“….it’s never too late to correct an injustice,” Hatfield read from his statement.

In February, the Chatham Coloured All-Stars, who were the first all-Black baseball team in Canada to win a provincial championship were denied entry into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame for a fifth consecutive year.

“It wasn’t uncommon for the Chatham All-Stars to have to fight their way out of another town when they won a game – or be ridiculed if they lost,” Hatfield said.

“Despite the racism, the prejudice and the bigotry, those players loved the game and not only were they good at it, they excelled.”

“There’s no reason now that they couldn’t be named to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.”

Hatfield concluded his statement by urging all provincial leaders to support the inclusion of the All-Stars, who competed between 1932 and 1939 when WWII broke out.