Breaking Barriers: Harry Coursey

The headline quoted in the Brantford newspaper from the Guelph Mercury, The London Braves had a "dark horse" on the hill in 1926 a local gifted athlete by the name of Harry Coursey.

Londoner Harry Coursey who was a noted multiple-event winner in every local and provincial in the sprints had actually qualified for the 1924 Olympics, held in Paris, France in the 100 meters but was advised by the Canadian Olympic selection committee to stay home to work on his running style.  

In hindsight, the Canadians who did represent our nation at the games did not advance past the semi-finals and that final is of course documented in the film Chariots of Fire when British Sprinter Harold Abrahams claimed the gold with a then Olympic Record of 10.6 seconds.  


The "Dark Horse" Coursey would later make Intercounty History as the first Black player to play in the league pitching in relief for the London Braves on May 6th, 1926, against St. Thomas.  He finished the game with eight strikeouts, allowing two runs, on only four hits.

With files from author Paul E. Allen's book “Bright Lights Black Stars: Negro League Players and Canada’s Oldest Baseball League” which follows the journey of Negro League baseball players in the Intercounty Baseball League (The IBL) during the 1948-59 era.