Almost 70 years before Jackie Robinson is credited with breaking the color barrier in baseball, there was Moses Walker. Walker played for the University of Michigan in 1882 and was signed by the minor league Toledo Blue Stockings the following year. The team joined the newly formed American Association in 1984, a professional league that would become the modern day American League. On opening day, May 1, 1884, catcher Moses Walker took to the field and became the first player of African descent in major league baseball. Walker only played one season. He was subject to death threats and abuse, many of which were hurled by his own team mates. In 1889, both leagues officially banned blacks from playing baseball. Moses Walker was the True First in baseball, and his story is one of courage, resilience and tragedy.