Frank Grant
| Birthdate | 8/1/1865 |
| Death Date | 5/27/1937 |
| Debut Year | 1887 |
| Year of Induction | 2006 |
| Teams | Negro Leagues |
| Position | Second Base |
Considered the greatest African-American player of the 19th century, Frank Grant has the second earliest debut of any Negro League player in the Hall.
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Frank Grant played in the minors before baseball's color barrier was erected
Frank Grant played in the minors before baseball's color barrier was erected
Born in 1865, Frank Grant was the one of the 19th century’s greatest players. A top-flight defender and outstanding hitter, Grant played integrated minor league baseball until 1891 before later turning to the Negro Leagues.
Before the color barrier was erected, Grant played for the Buffalo Bisons in the International League. A versatile infielder, Grant played at second, third, and shortstop in Buffalo from 1886-1888.
Reliable statistics are hard to find. According to Baseball Reference, Grant hit .344 as a 20-year old for Buffalo in 1886. Two years later his average was .346 when he was still more than four years younger than the average age in the league.
Contemporary reports agree that his slick fielding and hot hitting combined to make him one of the best players of his time.
Grant died nearly seven decades before his induction into the baseball Hall of Fame. His autograph remains elusive for even the most advanced collectors.
Grant was elected to the Hall of Fame more than 140 years after his birth
Grant was elected to the Hall of Fame more than 140 years after his birth
In 2005, the Hall of Fame put together a special screening committee to find people associated with the Negro Leagues who were most deserving of induction. An original list of 94 nominees was cut to 29 candidates and finally 17 new members of the Hall of Fame to be inducted in 2006.
The cover of the 2006 Hall of Fame yearbook shows those 17 including Frank Grant.
