Poncey

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.