The Chatham Coloured All-Stars have been officially inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
On Thursday night in Toronto, the barrier-breaking team received the Order of Sport, Canada’s highest sporting honour, in the first-ever induction into the Trailblazers category.
Blake Harding, son of team member "Boomer" Harding, spoke at the ceremony on behalf of the team and thanked the Hall of Fame for the honour.
"I believe the members of the team would be overwhelmed to be standing here today in presence of all these fantastic athletes from now and from the past, it's such a great honour," said Harding.
Harding said this induction continues the legacy of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars.
"These athletes, superb athletes, they just wanted to be seen as men and recognized. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame has not only seen them, they recognized them and they're known from east coast to west coast now," Harding said.
Executive Director and Curator of the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society and Black Mecca Museum Samantha Meredith attended the ceremony and told CK News Today the night was "absolutely amazing."
"A phenomenal once in a lifetime opportunity being able to sit there and witness the team’s induction. Surrounded by family members of those men made it even more of an experience. Watching Blake accept the award on behalf of the families and the community was heartwarming," Meredith said. "Honestly it’s going to take a while to sink in that the team just received the highest sporting honour in our nation, but I am absolutely elated for them, the families, the community, and everyone who has come together over the years to bring awareness and share the Chatham Coloured All-Stars important place in Canadian history."
While the team is in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the push continues to get the players into Canada's Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Chatham Coloured All-Stars was one of two teams in the new Trailblazers category, which recognizes individuals or teams who are notable for their contributions to sports, their impact on the broader culture, and who have paved the way for the next generation of athletes and builders.
The team was formed in 1932 and challenged discriminatory perceptions of black athletes more than a decade before Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947.
To learn more about the Chatham Coloured All-Stars, you can listen below to an episode of the 519 Podcast that examined the history of the team and its championship season.
