Sam Hairston, the first Black American to play for MLB's Chicago White Sox. Later became the patriarch of MLB's "first family", with sons and grandsons playing in the major leagues spanning three generations.
By Sports In Education Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Sam Hairston, the first Black American to play for MLB's Chicago White Sox. Later became the patriarch of MLB's "first family", with sons and grandsons playing in the major leagues spanning three generations.
By Sports In Education Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Sports In Education Charitable Foundation, Inc., a 501c3 public charity.
By Sports In Education Charitable Foundation, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sam Hairston Educational Scholarship has been established by the Sports In Education Charitable Foundation, Inc. (SIECF.org) to honor the life and legacy of Sam Hairston, the first Black American baseball player for the Chicago White Sox, and to expand access to continuing and higher education for student-athletes and academically motivated students. The first three awards will be given to deserving students in May 2026.
Hairston's career stands as a testament to perseverance and excellence amid many racial barriers. While he achieved historic success in professional baseball, he was unable to pursue higher education due to the systemic inequities of the 1940s, an experience that shaped his lifelong belief in education as the foundation of opportunity.
