Black History Month: Remembering Jimmy Claxton
"Everybody knows about Jackie Robinson, and he's credited with breaking the color barrier, but here we have Jimmy Claxton, the one who really does it decades before," Mukilteo historian Steven K. Bertrand said. "It was Jimmy's legacy." Claxton was born on December 14, 1892, in Wellington, British Columbia, to American
"Everybody knows about Jackie Robinson, and he's credited with breaking the color barrier, but here we have Jimmy Claxton, the one who really does it decades before," Mukilteo historian Steven K. Bertrand said. "It was Jimmy's legacy."
Claxton was born on December 14, 1892, in Wellington, British Columbia, to American parents. He came from a background that consisted of multiple races and nationalities: Black, Native American, English, Irish and French. According to his biography at the Society for American Baseball Research web site: “Claxton described his ethnic heritage as being Negro, French and Indian on his father’s side, and Irish and English on his mother’s.” Census-takers classified him under a variety of categories. When Claxton registered for the draft during World War I, his official registration card listed him as “Ethiopian.
"Everybody knows about Jackie Robinson, and he is credited with breaking the color barrier, but here we have Jimmy Claxton, the one who really does it decades before," Mukilteo historian Steven K. Bertrand said. "It was Jimmy's legacy."
Claxton was born on December 14, 1892, in Wellington, British Columbia, to American parents. He came from a background that consisted of multiple races and nationalities: Black, Native American, English, Irish and French. According to his biography at the Society for American Baseball Research web site: “Claxton described his ethnic heritage as being Negro, French and Indian on his father’s side, and Irish and English on his mother’s.” Census-takers classified him under a variety of categories. When Claxton registered for the draft during World War I, his official registration card listed him as “Ethiopian.
The Claxtons moved to Washington when Jimmy was three months old. He began playing baseball at age thirteen as a catcher for the town team of Roslyn, Washington. He later moved to pitcher. At age 18, he struck out eighteen players in a single game while pitching for a team from Chester, Washington.
Due to the color barrier, Claxton had few opportunities to play professionally, so he settled for playing time with independent barnstorming teams. By 1916, he had made his way to Oakland, where he played for an all-black team. While pitching for that squad, he drew the interest of the Oakland Oaks, one of the more successful franchises in the Pacific Coast League.
"A fellow named Hastings, a part-Indian from Oklahoma, I believe, followed every game we played. He was a baseball nut," Claxton recalled in a 1964 newspaper interview. "He introduced me to Herb McFarland, secretary of the Oakland Coast League club, and told him I was a fellow tribesman. I was signed to an organized baseball contract."
On May 28, 1916, Claxton broke the professional baseball color line when he played two games for the Oaks. Playing a doubleheader that day, he started the opener and came on in relief in the second game but did not pitch well. In just two-and-a-third innings, he allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks. Within a week, a friend of Claxton revealed that he had both African American and Native American ancestors, and Claxton was released on June 3.
In an interview in 1964, Claxton explained that no reason was given for his dismissal, but he believed it was due to his race. Oaks manager Rowdy Elliott claimed that Claxton was released because of his performance.
The minor league's loss became Snohomish County's gain when he played for the Mukilteo team from 1923-1924 and for the Edmonds team in 1925.
Though he never again played professionally, he claimed to have pitched in all but two of the 48 contiguous United States, having never played in Maine or Texas. He was a pitcher for such teams as the Washington Pilots, Chicago Union Giants, and Nebraska Indians. He played the sport for more than 50 years.
After retiring from baseball, he set down roots in Tacoma where he continued to work as a longshoreman. He played his last game for the South Tacoma Pines of the Valley League, throwing a few innings in an old-timer’s game in 1956 at age 63.
He was inducted to the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame in 1969 and died on March 3, 1970 in Tacoma.
ABOUT THE EVERETT AQUASOX: Celebrating 30 years as a Seattle Mariner affiliate in 2025, the Everett AquaSox (High-A) are a proud member of the Northwest League. For updates on the upcoming season, community initiatives, and Webbly appearances follow the Frogs on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, or visit our website, AquaSox.com.Season ticket packages, group outings, and picnics outings can be purchased by calling (425) 258-3673 or visiting the AquaSox Front Office at 3802 Broadway.
ABOUT MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Minor League Baseball consists of 120 teams across four classification levels (Single-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A) that are affiliated with Major League Baseball’s 30 teams. Fans flock to MiLB games to see baseball’s future stars and experience the affordable family-friendly entertainment that has been a staple of MiLB since 1901. For more information, visit MiLB.com and follow MiLB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.