Coloured All-Stars to be honoured at Stirling Park

Stirling Park

A plaque being unveiled next week at Chatham’s Stirling Park, will recognize the Chatham Coloured All-Stars and its place in local and provincial history.

The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum is organizing erecting a plaque at the park to honour the Chatham Coloured All-Stars, a team of mostly black players, who faced discrimination on and off the field. The team achieved acclaim for breaking colour barriers and being the first Black team to win a provincial baseball title.

The Chatham Coloured All-Stars plaque unveiling will take place on Tuesday, November 21 at 1:30 p.m. at Stirling Park.

The team gained popularity, drawing large crowds at Stirling Park in the 1930s. .
Wedged into a residential neighbourhood in east-end Chatham, Stirling Park is surrounded by dead-end streets.

The park was named after local businessman Archie Stirling was was heavily involved in baseball in the local and provincial levels. Stirling urged the All-Stars to compete in the Chatham city league.

The park’s address is 236 Park Street, however, entrances can be found on Scane Street and off of the Imperial Club’s parking lot at 22 Payne Street.

A small reception will take place back at the Black Mecca Museum following the unveiling.