Li'l Rastus (born c. 1892, real name Ulysses Harrison) was a black youth who was adopted as a mascot by the Detroit Tigers baseball team. Rastus was "adopted" by Ty Cobb. Although Cobb denied being a racist, he was often perceived as hostile to blacks. When Cobb brought Rastus to Bennett Park during the 1908 season, the team performed well, and performed less well when it went on a road trip without Rastus. Rastus was proclaimed to be a good luck charm, and was taken on the next road trip.

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  • Li'l Rastus (born c. 1892, real name Ulysses Harrison) was a black youth who was adopted as a mascot by the Detroit Tigers baseball team. Rastus was "adopted" by Ty Cobb. Although Cobb denied being a racist, he was often perceived as hostile to blacks. When Cobb brought Rastus to Bennett Park during the 1908 season, the team performed well, and performed less well when it went on a road trip without Rastus. Rastus was proclaimed to be a good luck charm, and was taken on the next road trip. Rastus was temporarily dismissed from the Tigers' employ in September 1908. Rastus was then hired by the Chicago Cubs, the Tigers' World Series opponents, and was apparently good for their luck, as the Cubs won their second and final World Series. The chagrined Tigers hired Rastus back for 1909, and Rastus traveled with the team. He often had to hide under Cobb's bunk or in his room to evade Jim Crow laws that imposed racial segregation in hotels. Cobb took Rastus back to Georgia with him, as a caddy and servant, but eventually fired him.
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  • Li'l Rastus (born c. 1892, real name Ulysses Harrison) was a black youth who was adopted as a mascot by the Detroit Tigers baseball team. Rastus was "adopted" by Ty Cobb. Although Cobb denied being a racist, he was often perceived as hostile to blacks. When Cobb brought Rastus to Bennett Park during the 1908 season, the team performed well, and performed less well when it went on a road trip without Rastus. Rastus was proclaimed to be a good luck charm, and was taken on the next road trip.
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  • Li'l Rastus
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