KCET: Baseball shaped the Japanese American identity

Baseball was an important part of shaping the Japanese American identity, according to a story by Ryan Reft on KCET. (photo by IMLS DCC)

The first Japanese American baseball team formed in 1903 in San Francisco by the Fuji Athletic Club.

Competition was multi-racial with Caucasians, Filipino, Portuguese, and Japanese laborers competing against each other.

Eventually due to segregation, Japanese leagues were formed alongside the Pacific Coast League.

Teams were created in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno, San Jose, Stockton, and elsewhere, including Portland and Seattle.

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The Japanese American media such as Rafu Shimpo and Nichi Bei Shimbun gave the teams extensive coverage.

You can read about the impact these teams had on Japanese American society on KCET.