Remembering Jackie Robinson and the Great Black Baseball Players
Jackie Robinson (image from Wikipedia)
I wanted to repeat this article in light of President Trump ordering the images of Black military heroes to be taken off the walls of the Pentagon. Jackie Robinson, a Veteran of World War II, was one of the pictures removed. It was not until some of the sports writers protested and pushed back that his photo was reinstated. The picture of the Tuskegee Airmen was also targeted. These Black pilots were some of the finest in World War II. However, their images have since been put back. President Trump is trying to rewrite history and leave the contributions of African Americans out of the history of this country. We must continue to tell our story and teach it to our youth. This article, and the hundreds of others that appear in this column, is dedicated to those who have achieved success despite the racism they faced. They must be remembered.
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947, playing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Branch Rickey, President and General Manager of the Dodgers, was looking for a way to integrate the team when Robinson caught his eye. Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. This columnist watched the film entitled The Jackie Robinson Story a few weeks ago, where Robinson played himself alongside Ruby Dee, who played the part of his wife. I saw it before, but I wanted to watch it again in light of the annual celebration of Jackie Robinson Day held each April 15th. On this day, the players, coaches, managers, and umpires of both teams wear the Robinson team uniform with the number 42 on it.
Robinson became the first African American baseball player to play in the Major League. It was not easy for him. In the film, the character of Branch Rickey told him that he would face racist taunts but that he could not fight back. This was the most difficult part of it all. White fans viewed baseball as a “white man’s sport.” Robinson endured racist insults from the crowds—some threw black cats and bottles onto the field and called him vile names. Even some of his own teammates did not want to play with him. But Robinson continued to play the game, and as long as he did not f ight back, he made history. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame twice in his career. In 1984, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Jackie Robinson died on October 24, 1972, in Stamford, Connecticut. The history of Black players in baseball should be remembered. It is part of our history. The men who played the game loved the sport of baseball. This article is a tribute to their courage and sacrifice to play the game that they loved.
The book The Negro Baseball Leagues by David K. Fremon records the following: “Black boys could also dream of becoming professional baseball players and playing the game they loved. But those who made it in Black baseball hardly led the life of royalty. Instead, Negro-League baseball usually offered long and tiring rides, second-rate sleeping accommodations, and exhausting games. White boys not only could play the game they loved, but they could live like kings. The best hotels, the fanciest restaurants, and the finest train cars awaited major leaguers.”
The long bus rides from game to game were tough for Black players. Often, they sang gospel songs on the way to keep their spirits up. The Black players could not stay in hotels in the South. Even in the North, white hotel owners would not allow Black baseball players to stay in their hotels. When they did find a hotel, it was less than desirable. The players often had to put newspaper down between the mattress and the sheets, and they had to fight the bugs all night long.
It was also hard to find a decent place to eat. The Black players often took sardines and a can of beans along with some crackers to eat. Conditions in the South were terrible. Everything was segregated. The Ku Klux Klan held open rallies to scare Black people. When the players wanted to go out and have a good time, they often could not do it, especially if there was a Klan rally. The pay for these players was awful compared to the pay of the white ballplayers.
Even with all of the problems, Black baseball players enjoyed a high status in the Black community. They were role models for the youth. Despite all of the racism that the Black players had to face, there were some outstanding stars in the Negro Leagues. This galaxy of stars included such players as Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, Buck Leonard, and Josh Gibson. Cool Papa Bell began playing baseball at the age of 15 in 1918. He excelled with the St. Louis Stars, Homestead Grays, and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Other players said that he looked “cool” out on the field. His manager added the name "Papa." That’s how he got his name.
Cool Papa Bell was a fast runner and could circle the bases in 12 seconds. When challenged to run against the great Olympic runner Jesse Owens, Owens reported that he did not take the challenge, saying that he “left his track shoes at home.” Cool Papa Bell was one of the greatest.