First established in 1912, the Kansas City All Nations were one of the first truly integrated teams of any league. The name “All Nations” was coined based on the different nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures of the team’s players. Black and White, Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders, as well as Hispanic and Latin American players all took a spot on the, aptly named, All Nations roster.
Notable Negro Leagues players such as John Donaldson, Bullet Rogan, and Desiderio Hernandez all spent time with the All Nations team. Even J.L. Wilkinson played for and managed the All Nations before going on to own and operate the Kansas City Monarchs.
At the onset of World War 1, the All Nations lost several of their most integral players as a result of the draft and would eventually disband in 1918. The All Nations would briefly reassemble to play from 1920 to 1921, and again from 1923 to 1925 under the management of John Donaldson.
To learn more about the Kansas City All Nations, and other impactful contributions to baseball made by the Negro Leagues’ teams, be sure to play Storylines: The Negro Leagues – Season One only available in MLB® The Show™ 23
