Known the world over for their famous bearded baseball teams, the House of David was something America and the rest of the world had never seen the likes of before. These men travelled the country with their long hair and beards, heavy wool uniforms, and a truck full of laughter and talent. They went down in history for entertaining America with their uniqueness on the field, their absolute superb playing ability, their own invention of the Pepper Game, and their ability to break the color barrier as they travelled many years with the Negro League teams. You see, these bearded baseball players from Benton Harbor, Michigan were something very special. 

    The very first teams were made up of strictly members of the famous House of David religious colony, who lived a communal life, a life of Christianity, vegetarianism, celebacy, and love for mankind. But they had to find something to do with alot of extra energy, so they set out to play the game of baseball. Starting in 1914, they began to take on outside teams, and soon found out that they were better than most that they encountered, so they went outside even the local teams, playing the best talents of the State of Michigan, and then eventually by 1917 taking on talented teams around the country. They continued their winning ways, and began to be invited to play better and better teams across America, until they were actually playing semi-pro and pro teams everywhere. They actually beat over 70% of the teams they played year after year, and were invited to play so many teams around the country, (even into Mexico and Canada), that they had to soon build up a second, third, fourth and even fifth travelling team to fill in all of the demand. 

    So it goes that by the early 1930's, there were House of David teams scattered around the country, taking on anyone and everyone who wanted to play, beating most, and leaving the stadiums full of laughter and amazement everywhere they stopped. Almost anyone we have interviewed over the past 10+ years that remembered the House of David teams told us that it was the most amazing group of baseball players they had ever seen, and absolutely the most unique! We have had experts in Negro League Baseball spend literally days studying the House of David Museum files, only to tell us that they have been told by the old Negro League Players that the House of David Teams were to be given credit for breaking the color barrier that kept them out of the Major Leagues during those same years. 

    They told of the stories about how the House of David was the absolute most sought-after team in baseball during the mid 1920's thru the late 1940's, and that the House of David would book a doubleheader game with different teams across the country, and go unannounced across the country with certain Negro League Teams. As they arrived into each town for a particular doubleheader game, they would arrive early and announce to the host team that they had brought with them these certain Negro League Teams ,and that before the host team played the House of David, they had to play this unknown Negro Team. And then after that game, the House of David would play the host team. Then after the two games, the House of David planned to eat in the local restaurant and stay in the local motel, bringing the Negro Team with them the entire way. And you see, as baseball went during those days, it was ABSOLUTELY America's favorite pastime, with no televisions, few radios, and not much entertainment other than baseball. Towns from 50 miles around a baseball game of this calibur would close up shop, and all of the towns people would travel far to enjoy an afternoon of baseball. 

    So now that the House of David has confronted the host team with the fact that they HAVE to play this newly arrived Negro Team before they themselves will agree to play the host team, they must make a decision to either play this team that probably would have never even made it into the stadium, or cause whats most likely to become a town riot if NO GAME takes place. So reluctantly, the host team would agree to play the Negro Team, allow them to eat in the restaurant, and allow them to stay in the motel. But what happened all across America was AMAZING and GREAT.......the host team not only played these Negro players, but in the end, they loved them, they were entertained by their comedy and talent more than any team ever, and they invited them back year after year! Thus, a group of long haired, bearded ball players from Benton Harbor, Michigan made the rest of America realize that "Color" has nothing to do with anything when it comes to a human being, and that because of this, the Negro Leagues were soon vanished, as these players slowly were accepted into Major League Baseball. 

    The House of David would go on to become whats still referred to as "The Best Barnstorming Team in America", and one of the only white teams to play in the Negro Leagues. These House of David players knew how it was to be treated unfairly because of their looks, since they would never shave or cut their hair, they didn't fit into mainstream America. They were told they couldn't join the Major Leagues until they shaved, and that wasn't going to happen. So they continued to barnstorm around the country until they just got to old to travel anymore, and would just resort to telling their great stories of the way it used to be. Below are several photos of House of David Players in different settings. Some of the photos are of the "Original House of David", some are of Mary's House of David, and some are of hired House of David players. All make up an important piece of this wonderful story, and all are important to us here at the House of David Museum. We will continue to add photos and captions as time permits, as there are literally hundreds of baseball photos here at the museum, along with numerous posters, broadside, and uniforms. Chris Siriano.

In 1929 it is told by a Pennsylvania visitor that he and his father went to watch the House of David play their local semi-pro baseball team. Once at the packed stadium, who had all come from as far away as 100 miles to see the long haired, bearded team play, they found out that the House of David only had 3 healthy players that could take the field that afternoon. The House of David was willing to pack up and move on to the next town, giving all of their sick and injured players time to heal up. But the locals at that Pennsylvania stadium began to get very disruptive when it was announced that the House of David Team would have to forfeit because of this shortage of players. After a long discussion, the House of David agreed to play with only these three players, who were Percy Walker, their famous pitcher; George Anderson and Dutch Faust. And so the Pennsylvania boy watched as these three House of David players went on to win the game against a full team of semi-pro players, who were left in shock and mere disbelief!! The House of David was said to have been invited back for so many years that in the end, they had to ask the town not to request games anymore, as they were too old to play!

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The Pepper Game
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