Carlos Paula- celebration of black history in DC baseball
By Editorial Staff
Many may remember Jackie Robinson as the man who on April 15th, 1947 broke through baseballs color barrier but it is was not until 7 years later on September 6th, 1954 that the Washington Senators finally integrated.
Who was the man that broke the Senators color barrier? That’s a question that many people may not know the answer to but today we here at TNW pay tribute to Carlos Conill Paula the man that broke the Senators color barrier.
Paula started the 1954 season playing the Charlotte Hornets a then Class A affiliate of the Washington Senators where he was batting .290 at the time of his call up. Paula played in just 9 unimpressive games for the Senators that season batting .167 with a .231 on base percentage.
Paula got a second chance with the Senators in 1955 playing in 115 games for the Senators that year while putting up a .299 batting average with a .332 on base percentage. His .299 batting average was first among all rookies and second on the Senators behind only Mickey Vernon who batted .301 that season for the Senators. Paula’s biggest undoing that season was his glove having led all American League right fielders that season in errors.
In total Paula played in games for the Senators in 3 different seasons (54, 55 and 56) combining for a career stat line of
157 games- 124 hits, 44 runs, 23 doubles, 8 triples, 9 home runs, 60 rbis and a .271 batting average
The Senators traded to the Minneapolis Millers prior to the 1957 season and he was never seen from again in the major leagues.
Although his major league career was short and far from spectacular he will forever be part of history for having integrated the Washington Senators.
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