Last Wednesday the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta held "Catalyst for Change: Atlanta and the Negro Leagues” a Q&A with three leaders in the field. A gathering of 70-80 were in attendance, including three Atlanta SABR members and me. Opening in 2014, the Center is located just north of Centennial Olympic Park at the corner of Ivan Allen Jr Blvd and Centennial Olympic Park Drive (formerly Techwood Drive). The unique building sits between the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca Cola.
An employee from the Center moderated the Q&A, introducing the three participants: Paul Crater from the Atlanta History Center, author of several books including “Baseball in Atlanta” (below left), Adrian Williams, the Atlanta Braves Senior Director of Diversity and Community Marketing (center), and filmmaker Lauren Meyer. Who recently completed a film about the Negro Leagues entitled “The Other Boys of Summer.”
The black teams would recruit college players. By the 1930’s there were two Negro major leagues: the National and American. The Black Crackers were considered a minor league team, playing at Morris Brown and Ponce de Leon Park. The Atlanta Constitution promoted the team, adding that a “special section was reserved for white people.”
Even ticket distribution was segregated. White people could buy Crackers tickets at the box office, though colored people had to get their tickets from local businessmen. Several Auburn Avenue businessmen took turns running the affairs of the Black Crackers. Jewish businessman Michael Shane owned a warehouse on Decatur Street that was used the stage boxing matches.
Williams discussed the modern era. The year before the Braves moved south from Milwaukee, team employee and former player Bill Lucas moved to Atlanta to build relationships with the community. In 1976 Lucas would become the first African-American General Manager in Major League Baseball. His term was short-lived, as Lucas passed away in 1979, just after Phil Niekro won his 200th game. Lucas’ sister was Hank Aaron’s first wife.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of MLK’s assassination in 2018, the Braves brought Joe Torre back to discuss what a tough time Aaron went through as he neared Babe Ruth’s record. Williams and the Braves are building relationships with the black community to rebuild baseball and develop black ballplayers, sponsoring little leagues. For one of the “Behind the Braves” podcast, Hank Aaron was brought in to talk about Jackie Robinson.
No other MLB team has a position like Williams'. Adrian reports to Derek Schiller, who is on MLB’s diversity committee. The Braves sponsor the Bill Lucas Apprenticeship Program, given young African-Americans a chance to work in the Braves front office.
Lauren grew up a baseball fan. She interviewed eight Negro League players, including Monte Irvin, Minnie Minoso, and former National League President Leonard Coleman. The film took twelve years to complete. It premiered last month in New York City on Jackie Robinson’s 100th birthday. With diversity and inclusion talked about so much in the media, the former player’s stories are quite relevant today.
Meyer found the players humble. She asked if all the injustices they faced had made them mad and bitter. They all said no, that it was a different time. They were thankful for the chance to play the game they loved, and to get paid playing it. No anger, just grace and humility. She showed a clip from her film, which included a shot of Macon’s Luther Williams Park. Lauren is traveling the country speaking and looking for places to show her film.
In the 1970’s the Atlanta History Center (AHC) taped oral histories about Atlanta, which included baseball. These are available on the AHC website. A former owner of the Atlanta Black Crackers (ABC) said the team didn’t generate him much money. The website also has footage of the 1938 Black Crackers, the only season they were members of the Negro National League.
Williams: every year during Hank Aaron week the Braves bring back former Negro Leaguers to town to talk to fans and sign autographs. This year the Braves are staging the Hank Aaron Invitational at SunTrust Park, a showcase tournament featuring the top hundred black players in the country. The team also brings back former black Braves players for community events.
Adrian created the Los Bravos event to celebrate Atlanta’s Hispanic population, with special uniforms and pre-game activities. Former Latino Braves are invited back to meet with fans. This year a special bobblehead is being given away for Los Bravos night.
Meyer quoted one of the players she interviewed: “It’s not just black history. It’s not just baseball history. This is AMERICAN history.”
The fourth panel member was introduced, former Negro League pitcher Robert Scott, who played for the New York Elite Giants from 1946-50. In 1950 Scott and other Negro Leaguers were recruited to barnstorm with the Jackie Robinson All-Stars, traveling town to town playing games against a team of white major leaguers. It was estimated that 75-85 Negro Leaguers are still alive. After the meeting I got to speak to Scott, a fellow Macon native. Scott told me the Macon Bacon summer college league team was honoring him this year.
Cracker Buck Riddle’s signing bonus was in the thousands – much more than a Negro Leaguer would ever see. Since Coca Cola once owned the Crackers, the AHC has many of their records in their files. Lauren estimated most Negro League salaries to be in the $175-400 range. But when Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers, his first salary was $15,000.00. Larry Doby, the first negro to sign with an American League club (the Indians), signed for a similar amount.
The diverse group numbered around 70 or 80 strong: young intown families with kids, teenagers with their parents, young professionals looking to network, and older baseball fans both white and black. At the end the audience was given the chance to comment. The daughter of a Negro Leaguer had brought her teenage son to learn. At a reunion in 1992 she had met Chico Renfro and Cool Papa Bell.
A young father wearing an Elite Giants jersey had played Little League in Adams Park in the 70’s. Now he’s gone back there to coach. The tiny teams take on names of former Negro League teams. They’ve had former Negro Leaguers make appearances – some stuck around to do more and help out. An older man sported a Negro League jacket.
Near the end an older gentleman stood up and introduced himself as Adrian’s father. He summed up the evening: “We can’t move forward unless we know our past. It’s our responsibility as parents and grandparents.” Well said.
...gaining momentum with the gatherings in Washington...
...to details about MLK’s assassination and funeral (below). On the lower level is an exhibit of some of MLK’s keepsakes: personal items, his briefcase, and handwritten and typed manuscripts of several of his most famous speeches, on loan from Morehouse College. Due to the fading ink, no photography was allowed in the exhibit.
sponsored by ESPN.
Athletes highlighted included transgender runner Chris Mosier, philanthropist and NFL Man of the Year Chris Long, former Atlanta Hawk Jason Collins, the first opening gay player in the NBA, Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Nancy Hogshead-Makar, who helps lead the fight against sexual abuse, humanitarian defensive lineman JJ Watt, who raised millions to help Houston’s hurricane relief, four-time NCAA basketball champion and tournament Most Outstanding Player Breanna Stewart, a leader in the #MeToo movement, and basketballer Bilgis Abdul-Gaadir, who founded “Muslim Girls Hoop Too” and challenged rules forbidding headcovering in the sport.
No comments:
Post a Comment