Students at Queen Elizabeth II Public School in Chatham have started a petition to get the Chatham Coloured All-Stars baseball team inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Terri Coatsworth's class came up with the idea.
The students were moved to start the petition after hosting the Chatham Coloured All-Stars travelling exhibit at their school this month during Black History Month and learning about the team and their history.
Many across Chatham-Kent and beyond feel the induction is long overdue after the team was again snubbed by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in early February.
The students at the school said many of them have family and friends whose relatives played on "this remarkable team."
"Our community has a deep-rooted connection to the Chatham Coloured All-Stars, a team that broke barriers and made history. These players not only showcased their talent but also courageously faced racial discrimination during an era of segregation," reads the petition.
The Chatham Coloured All-Stars were the first Black baseball team to win an Ontario Baseball Amateur Association championship in 1934, demonstrating their exceptional skill and dedication to the sport.
However, despite their significant contributions to Canadian sports history, the class noted the team has yet to receive recognition from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
"Their induction would not only honour these trailblazing athletes but also serve as a powerful reminder of our country's progress towards racial equality in sports. It is time for us to acknowledge their achievements and ensure that future generations learn about these local heroes who defied societal norms for love of the game," the class shared. "We urge you to support this petition for justice, recognition, and respect for these unsung heroes. Sign now to help get The Chatham Coloured All-Stars into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame!"
You can click here to see the students' petition.
The Chatham Coloured All-Stars were inducted into Chatham’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, into Baseball Ontario Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022, the team received the highest sporting honour in our nation by being inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in the Trailblazers category.
In 2017, the Chatham Sports Hall of Fame, with the support of family members and community groups, nominated the Chatham Coloured All-Stars for induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The team has been on the ballot ever since and will remain on the ballot for a maximum of two more years.
Family members, community members, along with baseball and history enthusiasts continue to encourage the Hall to induct the team through letters, petitions, social media movements, videos, declarations, and projects.
"The push continues to encourage the induction of this beyond deserving group of men and you can take any of the above steps mentioned to help the team’s induction," said the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society and Black Mecca Museum.