Charles Follis Goes Pro

As of 2022 just over 56% of players in the NFL were Black. CFL, XFL, and even USFL don’t publish their numbers, but I doubt they’re much different. That’s a lot of Black professional football players, but it wasn’t always that way. 

Charles Follis was the 3rd of 7 children born to his parents in Wooster Ohio. In 1901 he attended Wooster College while working at the local hardware store and playing football. In 1902 he played for the Shelby Blues professional team, becoming the first Black professional football player. In 1904 they gave him a contract guaranteeing payment to lock him down. Another 1st. 

Nobody ever talks about how he also played varsity baseball in college where the only competition was Branch Ricky, who he would occasionally play football with when Branch would play for the Shelby Blues. Branch would later sign Jackie Robinson for The Dodgers.  

When his pro football career ended due to injuries Follis started a pro baseball career that was cut short due to his death caused by pneumonia.  

First Black professional football player, 1st Black pro to get a contract and first Black catcher to go from college to Negro Leagues. He died at 31 but left one heck of a legacy.