Tribute to Willie Mays -- June 20, 2024

Major League Baseball had been planning to have a tribute to Willie Mays tonight at Rickwood Field, where he broke in with the Birmingham Black Barons. When he died this week, the tribute became even more important than it had been.  Before the game, a large group of Negro League veterans took the field. 99-year-old Reverend Bill Greason, a Black Barons teammate, threw out the first pitch. 

The Giants wore their San Francisco Sea Lions uniforms and the Cardinals wore Saint Louis Stars uniforms. 

Unfortunately, the Cardinals won 6-5. 

sfgiants.com

Under Auspices of Black Sox Baseball Club -- April 27, 2024

Baltimore Afro-American, 18-April-1924

The Baltimore Black Sox were a Negro League baseball team which played in various leagues from 1913 to 1936. The Get-Together Dance sounds like fun. 

Jackie Robinson to Appear in Marysville on Wednesday -- November 28, 2023

Redding Record-Searchlight, 01-November-1923

Former Negro League stars Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella visited Marysville, California with a Negro National League All-Star team. They played a team put together from the Sacramento Valley League's Yuba City Bears and Marysville Giants. 

House of David vs Joe Green's Chicago Giants -- October 28, 2023

Saint Joseph Herald-Press, 13-October-1923

The Chicago Giants were an original member of the Negro National League when it was founded in 1920. The team did not have a home field. Joe Green was owner, manager and outfielder. The House of David was a Michigan religious commune that raised money in various interesting ways, including a barnstorming baseball team. Male members of the sect, and players on the team, who were not always members of the sect, were required to wear long beards.

The two teams played a series of five games in Saint Joseph, Michigan, at the House of David Park. I can't find a box score for the fourth game. 

Lincoln Giants vs Hilldale -- September 23, 2023

New York Age, 22-September-1923

The Lincoln Giants of New York played from about 1910 to 1930 as a member of various Negro Leagues. In 1923, they were members of the Eastern Colored League. They played their home games at the New York Catholic Protectory's Oval. The Hilldale Club of Darby, Pennsylvania played from about 1910 to 1932. In 1923 they were also members of the Eastern Colored League.  Hilldale won the ECL pennant in 1923. 

Pacific Coast League is Integrated -- March 30, 2023

Pomona Progress-Bulletin, 30-March-1923

75 years ago today, San Diego Padres catcher John Ritchey, who was sometimes called Johnny, became the first person of color to play in a Pacific Coast League game. He grounded out and the Padres went on to lose to the Los Angeles Angels, 7-4. He did not make it to the majors, but there is a plaque commemorating his achievement in the park of the current San Diego Padres. 

Chicago Star, 13-March-1948

John Ritchey in 1947, when he played for the Chicago American Giants in the Negro Leagues.

Jackie Robinson 50 Years -- October 24, 2022

www.listal.com

I find it hard to believe that Jackie Robinson died 50 years ago today, on 24-October-1972.  He starred 

in many sports at UCLA.  He received a commission in the Army during World War Two.  Refusing to move to the back of the bus, he faced a court-martial for insubordination.  He was acquitted and spent the rest of his service coaching Army athletics.

After the war, Robinson joined the Kansas City Monarchs, a team in the Negro American League.  Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed him to play for the Montreal Royals in 1946.  Rickey had been looking for a player to break the baseball color line, which had been in effect since the late Nineteenth Century.  Robinson agreed to turn the other cheek when racists on and off the field taunted him. In 1947, Robinson came out of spring training with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

www.listal.com

In 1950, Robinson played himself in The Jackie Robinson Story.  Ruby Dee played his wife Rachel.
I remember a 1990 television movie called The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson.  I couldn't find any photos.  Andre Braugher played Robinson.

www.listal.com

In 2013, Chadwick Boseman played Robinson in 42.  Ruby Dee played his mother.

Ft. Worth Panthers vs. Dallas Black Giants -- July 29, 2022

Dallas Express, 15-July-1922

The Dallas Black Giants played from about 1908 to 1949 as a number of professional and semi-pro teams in various Texas-based African-American leagues. Ernie Banks played for the semi-pro version of the club. The Fort Worth Black Panthers and the Dallas Black Giants took their names from segregated teams in the same cities.

Dallas Express, 28-January-1922

The Dallas Express was African-American owned and a member of the National Negro Press Association.

Dallas Black Giants -- June 27, 2022

Dallas Express, 03-June-1922

The Dallas Black Giants played from about 1908 to 1949 as a number of professional and semi-pro teams in various Texas-based African-American leagues. Ernie Banks played for the semi-pro version of the club.

Gibson, Star Catcher, 'Ruth' of Negro Game, Stroke Victim at 35 -- January 20, 2022

Washington Evening Star, 21-January-1922

Josh Gibson, the great Negro Leagues slugger who never got to play in the major leagues because of the color line, died of a stroke 75 years ago today, on 20-January-1947. He was 35 years old.

 

Gibson, Star Catcher,

'Ruth' of Negro Game,

Stroke Victim at 35

The booming bat of Josh Gibson, famed Negro slugger who was rated by Hans Wagner as one of the greatest natural hitters in baseball history, has been silenced. The home-run king of the Negro National Baseball League and a crack catcher with the Washington Homestead Grays since 1938, died of a stroke at Pittsburgh on Sunday at the home of his mother.

Often called the Babe Ruth of colored baseball, Gibson several years ago was rated by Clark Griffith, president of the Nats, as worth $100,000 to any major league club. A right-handed hitter, he threw out opposing runners from a kneeling position and led the Negro National League in batting with a .393 mark in 1945.

Gibson broke into Negro professional baseball at the age of 13 with the Pittsburgh North Side Red Sox in 1927. He started playing with the Grays in 1930, later switched to the Pittsburgh Crawfords and rejoined the Grays in 1936.

Frequently a battery mate of the veteran Satchel Paige, noted Negro pitcher, Gibson blasted four home runs in a game against the Memphis Red Sox at Zanesville, Ohio, in 1936. He was a familiar figure to Negro fans at Griffith Stadium and smashed some of the longest hits ever to clear Forbes Field fences at Pittsburgh.

Thirty-five years old, Gibson played baseball throughout the year, traveling to Mexico, Cuba, Canada and South America, and was voted the most valuable player in the Mexican Winter League in 1942. Gibson is survived by his wife, two children, a sister and a brother.

Satchel Paige in the Hall, 50 Years -- February 9, 2021

 

Lincoln, Nebraska Voice, 26-August-1948

Fifty years ago today, on 09-February-1971, Satchel Paige, who may have been the greatest pitcher who ever lived, became the first Negro League player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The committee that had studied the question said that he had to be first. 

The Lincoln, Nebraska Voice was an African-American owned weekly newspaper. 

Negro Leagues are Major Leagues -- December 16, 2020

Phoenix Index, 15-August-1942

"This Diamond Quartette is as good as any in the big league." Well, today Major League Baseball announced today that it will consider the various Negro Leagues as major leagues, and will include their statistics with other post-1900 statistics. It is about time, although the statistics will be complicated. 

The Homestead Grays are one of the best-remembered teams of the Negro Leagues. Their 1942 roster included Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard,  and the men in the photo: Sam Bankhead, Howard Easterling, B Wilson (Jud Wilson?), L Williams (?) and Matthew Carlisle. Sam Bankhead and his 4 brothers all played in the Negro Leagues. 

Negro Base Ball League Enters Arena -- February 13, 2020

Tulsa Star, 14-February-1920

100 years ago today, on 13-February-1920, owners of several independent professional teams for African American players, who were barred from Major League Baseball, gathered in Kansas City to form the first Negro National League.  Rube Foster, founder and manager of the Chicago American Giants, led the group.  The first Negro National League lasted until 1931, when the Great Depression finished it off.

NEGRO BASE BALL

LEAGUE ENTERS ARENA.

Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit,

Kansas City and Dayton, O. to

Arrange Schedule.

(Star News Service.)
KANSAS CITY, Feb. 13. -- This city will be today and tomorrow the meeting place of a group of Colored base ball managers to organize a circuit, including Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Kansas City, and Dayton, O. Rube Foster plans to form a national league after this circuit has been perfected. The Cuban Stars will he the traveling team in the circuit, Foster, who is manager of the American Giants; Joe Green of the Chicago Giants, and Carey R. Lewis, sporting editor of the Chicago Defender, will leave next week for the conference.

Monte Irvin 100 -- February 25, 2019

Giants great Monte Irvin was born 100 years ago today, on 25-February-1919.  He played in the Negro Leagues for the Newark Eagles and was an All Star five times.  Newark won the Negro League World Series in 1946.  His Negro League career was interrupted by Army service during World War II.

In 1949, Irvin and Hank Thompson were the first two African American Giants players, if you don't count the men John McGraw tried to pass off as Native American.  Irvin was an outfielder who could hit, run, field and throw exceptionally well.  He was a Major League All Star once.

When Willie Mays joined the Giants in 1951, Irvin was his mentor.

Irvin played in the Major League World Series in 1951 and 1954.  He played for the Cubs in 1956 and retired in 1957 because of a back injury.

The Giants retired  his number in 2010.  He died in 2016.

Don Newcombe, Ken Nordine RIP

www.famousfix.com

Pitcher Don Newcombe has died.  He was a Dodger for much of his career, but I still respected him.  He played for the Newark Eagles in the Negro National League.  Then the Dodgers signed him and he became their first African-American pitcher.  He was a severe alcoholic bur had been sober since 1966.  He helped other people fight addiction.

Ken Nordine also died.  I remember hearing Word Jazz on KJAZ or somewhere.  He had a wonderful voice.

Jackie Robinson 100 -- January 31, 2019

www.listal.com

Jackie Robinson would have been 100 years old today.  He starred in many sports at UCLA.  He received a commission in the Army during World War Two.  Refusing to move to the back of the bus, he faced a court-martial for insubordination.  He was acquitted and spent the rest of his service coaching Army athletics.

After the war, Robinson joined the Kansas City Monarchs, a team in the Negro American League.  Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed him to play for the Montreal Royals in 1946.  Rickey had been looking for a player to break the baseball color line, which had been in effect since the late Nineteenth Century.  Robinson agreed to turn the other cheek when racists on and off the field taunted him. In 1947, Robinson came out of spring training with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

www.listal.com

In 1950,. Robinson played himself in The Jackie Robinson Story.  Ruby Dee played his wife Rachel.
I remember a 1990 television movie called The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson.  I couldn't find any photos.  Andre Braugher played Robinson.

www.listal.com

In 2013, Chadwick Boseman played Robinson in 42.  Ruby Dee played his mother.

Monte Irvin, RIP -- January 16, 2016

I was sad to learn of the passing of Giants great Monte Irvin.  He played in the Negro Leagues for the Newark Eagles and was an All Star five times.  Newark won the Negro League World Series in 1946.  His Negro League career was interrupted by Army service during World War II.

In 1949, Irvin and Hank Thompson were the first two African American Giants players, if you don't count the men John McGraw tried to pass off as Native American.  Irvin was an outfielder who could hit, run, field and throw exceptionally well.  He was a Major League All Star once.

When Willie Mays joined the Giants in 1951, Irvin was his mentor.

Irvin played in the Major League World Series in 1951 and 1954.  He played for the Cubs in 1956 and retired in 1957 because of a back injury. 

Willie Mays 80 #2 -- May 7, 2011

06-May-2011 was the 80th birthday of the greatest baseball player who ever lived, Willie Mays. Last night we went to see the Giants play the Colorado Rockies and honor Willie Mays. When I left the office, I was shocked by the power of the wind. My cap blew off as I crossed Harrison. I found a huge crowd waiting in line at the front gate. I also found that the statue of Mays was wearing an orange party hat. I took this photo.

I walked around the outside of the park, waiting for the booth that sells Muni tickets to open. The line for the main gate extended across the bridge and past the McCovey statue. The line for the gate by the bridge went to the marina. The line for the Second Street gate stretched off down the Embarcadero.

I bought the tickets and had a nice chat about Pacifica with the seller. I went across the bridge and found the end of the line near the gate to the little ball field by the McCovey statue. The line wrapped around the statue, back across the bridge, and up to the front gate. My wife and daughter tried to join me as we passed the Dugout store, but a security guard rudely threw them out. I stayed in line to be sure to get one of the statues the Giants were handing out.

I went up to the Club level and looked at the exhibits. I found our seats, out in the left field corner. When the family made it in, we bought sandwiches and took them to our seats. The cold and the papers blowing around reminded us of Candlestick.

Before the game, the Giants honored Willie Mays on his birthday. Two of his teammates from the Birmingham Black Barons, Jimmy Zapp and the Reverend William Greason, were on the field, along with Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie McCovey. Teammates Felipe Alou and Jimmy Davenport were also there. Lon Simmons read a letter from Monte Irvin. Jon Miller read a letter from President and Mrs Obama. Many people spoke on video, including Hank Aaron, President Bill Clinton, Barry Bonds, John Montefusco, and Bill Cosby, who led us all in a toast to his great friend Willy Brown. Willie Mays cried. I wanted to cry.

In the game, Matt Cain pitched against Ubaldo Jimenez. Cain gave up a home run in the first and two in the third. The Giants weren't hitting at all, scoring only one run through the 7th. They tied it in the 8th and won in the 9th. Brian Wilson got the win.

I felt bad, but we had to leave after the 8th. We took an N car to Powell, and drove home from Fifth and Mission.

Today is National Train Day.

Book: The Soul of Baseball - July 28, 2007

I finished reading Joe Posnanski's book The Soul of Baseball/A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America. The book is an account of a year that that he spent on the road with Buck O'Neil, who for many years worked hard to keep alive the memory of the Negro Leagues, where he played and managed the great Kansas City Monarchs.

Buck O'Neil had many of the attributes of a saint or a great soul. He always preached love. His favorite question to ask people was "What was your best day in baseball?" He was happiest when people remembered playing with their fathers.

The book covers a period, the last year of O'Neil's life, when he was working to get more Negro Leaguers into the Baseball Hall of Fame. A special committee selected 17 people, executives and players, but not O'Neil himself. I can't imagine their reasons for excluding him.

The book is short, but offers nice insights into a truly good man. Along with some good Satchel Paige stories.