Gabe Patterson (September 9, 1919 – October 26, 1991) was an American professional multi-sport athlete who played Canadian football and Negro league baseball.

Patterson played high school football at Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, and his college football at Kentucky State and the University of Pittsburgh. He was signed by the Montreal Alouettes in 1947, but was released. He then signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, playing two seasons and was selected an all-star in both seasons. Patterson was the first African-American to play for the Roughriders, breaking the colour barrier, like Herb Trawick.

Gabe Patterson

Patterson also played professional baseball for the New York Black Yankees in 1941 and 1947, and for the Philadelphia Stars in 1947 and 1948. He had a wife and three daughters, and died in Pittsburgh in 1991 at age 72. His previously unmarked grave was marked by the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project in 2009.

Gabe Patterson

References

External links

Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Archives

and Seamheads

1919 births

1991 deaths

African-American players of Canadian football

New York Black Yankees players

Philadelphia Stars players

Saskatchewan Roughriders players

20th-century African-American sportspeople

Gabe Patterson