Baseball pioneer played for Mukilteo team | From the achive/Weekend read

Classifieds Directory Photos About Contact Advertise Donate

Baseball pioneer played for Mukilteo team | From the achive/Weekend read

Before Jackie Robinson there was Jimmy Claxton

Last updated 7/17/2020 at 5:46pm

Photo courtesy of Steve Bertrand

Jimmy Claxton, who was of mixed race background, pitched for the Mukilteo Lighthouse Keepers from 1923-1924, where he had a 7-2 record.

Editor's note: The Beacon is republishing stories we think will be of interest to readers. This feature is on Jimmy Claxton, a Black baseball player, who broke the color barrier before Jackie Robinson. The story, written by former editor Sara Bruestle, was originally published Feb. 17, 2016.

Thirty years before Jackie Robinson, an African-American man who once played for a Mukilteo team broke professional baseball's color barrier.

Jimmy Claxton pitched a doubleheader for the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League in 1916. Robinson wasn't even born yet.

"Everybody knows about Jackie Robins...

For access to this article please sign in or subscribe.