| Position | Shortstop |
|---|---|
| Birth date | November 13, 1904 |
| Birth place | Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Death date | April 1, 1967 (aged 62) |
| Death place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Bats | Both |
| Throws | Right |
| Debutleague | Negro league baseball |
| Debutyear | 1926 |
| Debutteam | Indianapolis ABCs |
| Finalyear | 1937 |
| Finalteam | Philadelphia Stars |
| Teams |
|
William Claire Halley Harding (November 13, 1904 – April 1, 1967) was an American Negro league baseball shortstop from 1926 to 1937.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Harding attended Knox College and Wilberforce University, where he was a standout football quarterback and punter.[1] He played professional basketball for the Harlem Rens,[2] and made his Negro league baseball debut in 1926 for the Indianapolis ABCs.[3]
Following his baseball career, Harding worked as a sportswriter and editor for the Los Angeles Tribune and the Los Angeles Sentinel, and was a leading voice in advocating for the integration of the Los Angeles Rams and the National Football League.[4][5][6] He died in Chicago, Illinois in 1967 at age 62.
References
- ^ Gary Ashwill (February 12, 2013). "Halley Harding". Agate Type. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "Halley Harding". African American Registry. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "Halley Harding". seamheads.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ Charles Hallman (March 8, 2017). "Halley Harding, a trailblazing sportswriter". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ Nathan Fenno (January 28, 2017). "How the media helped overturn the NFL's unwritten ban on black players". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ Barney Brantingham (February 18, 2016). "The Man Who Integrated the Rams: Before Baseball, Halley Harding Pushed the NFL to Break the Color Barrier". independent.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.