Joe Relford becomes the first black player in the history of the Class-D league.
On July 19, 1952, The visiting Fitzgerald club (Georgia State Class D League) sends up 12-year-old batboy Joe Reliford to bat as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning of a game with Statesboro. The black batboy, who thereby breaks the league’s color barrier, grounds out, but makes a fine catch in the outfield when he…
