Notes from two of Saturday's four SABR Day presentations.
Jackie
Robinson Integrates Southern Baseball,
by
author Ken Fenster – two time winner of the SABR research award.
On
January 14, 1949 Crackers president Earl Mann invited the Brooklyn Dodgers to
play a three game series at Ponce de Leon Park against the Crackers. In 15
years with the Crackers they’d won six pennants. Led Southern League in
attendance 14 of those years. In 1935 led all minor league teams in attendance,
also beating out 5 MLB teams. Plus the Crackers were profitable, except during
the great depression and WWII.
Dr.
Samuel Green, an Atlanta doctor, protested the series, not wishing to have
Jackie Robinson play in Atlanta. Green sported a Hitler moustache, and was the
leader of the KKK. He led the cross burning atop Stone Mountain, which could be
seen from 60 miles away. Green led KKK rallies in every county of Georgia.
The
city and state government supported the games, as did the local and national
media. The New Yok Times Arthur Dayley condemned Green. Green pledged to
boycott Cracker games, saying he had a petition with 10,000 signatures (he
didn’t). Instead after the Dodger series, Crackers attendance soared.
Coca
Cola owned the Crackers, but rarely interfered with day to day operations.
Robert Woodruff wanted to sell Cokes.
After
playing in Macon, the Dodgers played Friday Saturday Sunday April 8-9-10. Set
the attendance record for a 3 games series 49339, with a record 25221 on Sunday
– over 13000 blacks (photo above). PDL Park normally seated 14500. Friday night over 6000 of
the 15119 were black. The crowds were orderly despite the overflow, with fans
seated on the outfield grass in the field of play.
A
huge media presence as well: UPI, AP, Time, Life, etc. The press lauded
Atlanta, helping restore the tarnished image sullied by the earlier KKK
rallies.
Jackie
Robinson played all 27 innings, his RBI single in his first at bat earning a
standing ovation. Later he stole home on the front end of a double steal.
Jackie replaces Joe Louis as a sports hero in Atlanta. Baseball replaced boxing
as the city’s favorite sport. Roy Campanella played Friday night, but only
warmed up pitchers on Saturday and Sunday. Don Newcombe was not yet on the team.
Earl
Mann’s reputation was enhanced by the series, which cleared the path for
integrated baseball throughout the South. By 1954 all Southern Association
teams played integrated games. The Crackers became the most
powerful team in the minors. Mann bought the team from Coke, and continued to
thrive into the 1960’s.
Dr.
Green suffered a fatal heart attack on August 14, 1949 – perhaps of a broken
heart, if he had a heart at all.
In
1954 the plan was to integrate the Crackers. Hank Aaron was the first choice.
Hank had lef Jacksonville in every offensive category – except home runs. Aaron
had struggled in the infield, first at shortstop and later at second base. The
plan was for Hank to play outfield for the Crackers in 1954. But in spring
training Milwaukee Braves incumbent outfielder Bobby Thompson broke his ankle,
and Aaron took his place. The rest is history.
Felix
Mantia was the next choice to integrate the Crackers, but he refused, having
already integrated several other teams. Though he’d never played at such a high
level, Nat Peoples started the season on the Crackers roster. Atlanta started
the season on the road in Mobile. Peoples appeared in two games but struggled.
He was demoted to Jacksonville before the Crackers opened at home. By then the
Brown vs Board of Education decision segregated schools, and temporarily
restored the color line in Southern sports.
Hope
Springs Eternal at Ponce de Leon Park:
a History by
Paul Crater of the Atlanta History Center.
1870
residents traveled outside the city to drink water from the springs, and enjoy
nature along the railway. Water was carried back to The springs were named
after explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, who discovered the Fountain of Youth in
Florida.
1895
Ponce de Leon Springs is Atlanta’s most popular location. Eventually dance
halls were built, along with a bandstand, ferris wheel, pony rides, and an
artificial lake.
1901
Crackers play at Peters Park on what is now the Georgia Tech campus.
1902-1906
the team played at a 3000 seat stadium in Piedmont Park, next to the Cotton
States Exposition Building. The outfield was said to be rough.
1905
the artificial lake was filled in, and a new wood 6800 seat stadium was built
at Ponce de Leon Park, next to the trolley line.
1907
May 25 first game at PDL Park vs Shreveport.
1923
Ponce de Leon Park destroyed by fire. Then owner Rell Spiller built a new steel
& concrete stadium, seating 14000 with standing room for 6000 more. The
largest in the minors by 4000 seats. Built so an upper deck could be added,
though it never was. The stadium was named Spiller Park, after the owner. Today
a coffee shop in Ponce City Market pays tribute to the Spiller Park name.
1925
opening day attendance 16099. Lights were added in the late 1920’s or early
1930’s. The team’s board of directors included Bobby Jones, Arthur Montgomery,
and Chip Roberts, of Georgia Tech fame.
1933
Coca-Cola bought the team. The stadium was renamed Ponce de Leon Park.
Attendance increased. Outdrew all teams except Birmingham and New Orleans.
Blacks sat in the left field bleachers.
1938
the Atlanta Black Crackers began play at PDL Park. Players drawn from Atlanta’s
historically black colleges: Morehouse, Morris Brown, etc. The Negro Southern
League often had financial problems, causing seasons to end early and abruptly.
The set schedule would often be interrupted when the opportunity to make more
money barnstorming arose. Film of ABC was donated from golfer Bobby Jones’
housekeeper. Search YouTube “James Richardson Jones film”
Earliest
dimensions were 365 in left, 465 to center, and 321 in right. Batters
complained, and in 1948 a hedge was planted, bringing in the left field fence
20 feet. Over the hedge = HR. Into the hedge: GR2B.
1951
– 18 year old Eddie Mathews hits a ball into the top of the magnolia tree in
centerfield, a feat achieved before only by Babe Ruth. The blast was said
to be not as far as Mickey Mantle’s titanic blast in Washington’s
Griffith Stadium.
1960
a fence in centerfield took the bank and magnolia out of play, to the chagrin
of fan Pearl Sandow. Over the years several balls were hit up onto the railroad
tracks, now Atlanta’s eastside beltline trail for walkers and bikers. Bob
Montag’s blast landed in a rail car headed to Nashville, later the conductor
returned the ball to Montag.
1965
Crackers move to the new Atlanta Stadium, their last season in Atlanta.
1966
Ponce de Leon Park was torn down. Crackers move to Richmond. Braves play their
first season in Atlanta.
At
some point Krystal stages a contest, hiding a baseball in Atlanta. Customers
could make a purchase to get a clue to the location. On the second day of the
contest the ball is found by a fan who hadn’t even bothered to go to Krystal
for a clue – in the most obvious location, under the old magnolia tree.
1990
the old Sears building was sold to the City of Atlanta, and was used as City
Hall East.
2011
city sells the old Sears building to developers, who eventually open it as
Ponce City Market, for shopping, entertainment, apartments, and condos.
Five
former Crackers later managed the Braves: Luman Harris, Eddie Mathews, Clyde
King, Connie Ryan, and Chuck Tanner.
