20th Century African American Resources

Sports

Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Charles was born in Georgia in 1921 and came to Cincinnati at the age of nine. He began his amateur boxing career as a teen and later became Cincinnati's only World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. He won the title after a 15-round decision over Joe Louis on September 28, 1950. More information

Chuck Harmon
Following a brief career with the Negro Baseball League, Chuck Harmon was the first African American to join the Cincinnati Redlegs in April of 1954. Harmon played third base and the outfield for two seasons with the Reds until he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957. More information

William DeHart Hubbard
William DeHart Hubbard was born in Cincinnati on November 25, 1903. In 1924, he participated in the Olympic games in Paris. Hubbard won the gold medal for the running long jump, becoming the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event. More information

In the Shadows: Cincinnati's Black Baseball Players
By Lonnie Wheeler and John Baskin in Queen City Heritage, Vol. 46, No. 2, Summer 1988
General f906 H673
This article by Lonnie Wheeler and John Baskin covers the history of African American baseball clubs and players in Cincinnati. In particular, it discusses the Cincinnati Tigers, the Excelsiors, Chuck Harmon, Jim Wynn, and Dave Parker. Request this

Oscar Robertson
A native of Charlotte, Tennessee, Oscar Robertson became one of the greatest basketball players of all time. After leading his Indiana high school team to two state titles, he played for the University of Cincinnati from 1957 to 1960. Later he played in the NBA with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. More information