alternatehistory.com

In 1901 during spring training future Hall of Famer John McGraw, the Manager of the Baltimore Orioles of the newly created American League signed a Cherokee 2nd Baseman named Chief Tokohama. In reality 'Tokohama' was Charlie Grant an African American who played with the Columbia Giants (who actually played in Chicago). However Charles Comiskey (owner of the Chicago White Sox) and members of the press discovered 'Tokohama's' identity. While McGraw would continue to insist Grant was Cherokee, he was not with the team when they arrived in Baltimore on April 4th, returning to the Columbia Giants on the 6th. So the scenario is what if 'Tokohama' remained undiscovered for at least a few games into the American League season. What would be the impact of an African-American playing in the first games of the American League. Would he be pressured out of the league as in OTL. What would be the future of an AL-NL partnership and integration in baseball.
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