The picturesque state of New Hampshire is treasured for its idyllic scenery, charming small towns, and diverse New England setting. But there’s far more to our great state than our incredible natural beauty! From the first independent state constitution to the invention of the alarm clock to our unique position in election season, New Hampshire is a state of many American “firsts.” However, few people know that New Hampshire was also a pioneer of racial integration in the 1940s. In fact, it was the (then)-tiny town of Nashua, NH that led America’s greatest past-time into a new generation of desegregation by becoming the home of the country’s first integrated baseball team.
The 1940s were a time of major transition in the US. But for American baseball, Nashua's historic Holman Stadium is where the first steps toward overcoming the color barrier of professional sports were taken.
Prior to 1946, the country had never seen an integrated roster in the major leagues. But thanks to the progressive vision of Brooklyn Dodgers manager, Branch Rickey, New Hampshire became home to the first pro team to have African-Americans and whites sharing the field.
In 1946, Rickey signed on three African-American icons to two teams: Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, and Jackie Robinson. While Robinson began his eventual Hall of Fame career in Montreal, Newcombe and Campanella were invited to be a part of the Nashua Dodgers under the management of Walter Alston.
All three men were local legends in their respective Negro Leagues, but the racial hurdles of the time prevented them from stepping into the MLB. Fortunately, Nashua was a melting-pot of diversity and acceptance, and the men fit right in even as the industry as a whole struggled to make the same strides.
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At the time, the Nashua Dodgers were an offshoot minor league team. But the two new signees showcased talent that quickly made a big impression and caught the attention of the rest of the country.
New Hampshire's small-town Dodgers team challenged racial barriers with ease, and were quickly led to multiple New England League championships in a row. With the help of their new standout team members, the Nashua Dodgers effectively dominated the circuit: Newcombe, the powerhouse pitcher with an eventual career record of 149-90, and Campanella, the catcher whose multi-MVP batting seasons were well over .300 with a whopping 242 home runs in his career.
Their talent, attitude, and bravery led all three men (Robinson, Newcombe, and Campanella) to eventually play together on one team just a few years later in Brooklyn, having officially broken through the Major League's color barrier.
Today, Campanella and Newcombe both have their uniform numbers memorialized outside Holman Stadium in Nashua to commemorate their achievements - both as athletes and as pioneers in sports history.
American history often seems to be a distant memory, but home-grown stories like that of the Nashua Dodgers really bring New Hampshire’s past into the present! For more glimpses into NH state history, check out some of our favorite living history museums in New Hampshire.
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