Racial discrimination was ever present when John “Bud” Fowler made his mark on professional baseball in the 19th century.

Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week.

Baseball was in his blood,” said his great-nephew, Ray Mackey III. “He and his siblings grew up playing ball on the sandlots ...