Joe Reliford

Joe Louis Reliford (born November 29, 1939 in Fitzgerald, Georgia) ^[1] was an African-American Minor League Baseball batboy who became the youngest person to participate in a professional baseball game on July 19, 1952. He was inserted into a game for the Fitzgerald Pioneers of the Georgia State League at the age of 12 years and 234 days.^[2]

When the Pioneers fell behind to the Statesboro Pilots 13-0, heading into the eighth inning, the crowd started chanting for club manager Charley Ridgeway to "put in the batboy." He was sent to the plate against pitcher Curtis White and grounded out to third base. He then continued to play in the game as the center fielder. Reliford was released shortly after the incident, Ridgeway was suspended for five days and fined $50, and umpire Ed Kubrick was fired by the league.^[3] Reliford not only became the youngest person to play in professional baseball, he broke the color barrier in the Georgia State League.^[4]

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