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Last night, the final segment of the 4-part series, "A Field of Dreams...Deferred" aired during the Astros/Rays post-game.
It is definitely a must-watch if you missed it, and, I think, the most important segment of the series. I'll explain why.
It is definitely a must-watch if you missed it, and, I think, the most important segment of the series. I'll explain why.
The typical Negro Leagues narrative sounds like this:
Black players couldn't play in the Majors (drats!) despite their immense talent. But thanks to the efforts of Jackie Robinson (hero!) and Branch Rickey (savior!!!) baseball's color line was erased and all was well!
Black players couldn't play in the Majors (drats!) despite their immense talent. But thanks to the efforts of Jackie Robinson (hero!) and Branch Rickey (savior!!!) baseball's color line was erased and all was well!
The truth:
Jackie Robinson's signing had a *devastating* effect on Black teams/leagues AND Black players.
The Majors did *just enough* in signing a *literal handful* of Black players to earn the admiration, respect, and monetary support of the Black community.
Jackie Robinson's signing had a *devastating* effect on Black teams/leagues AND Black players.
The Majors did *just enough* in signing a *literal handful* of Black players to earn the admiration, respect, and monetary support of the Black community.
Meanwhile, Black fans AND THE BLACK PRESS completely abandoned the Negro Leagues. Coverage dissipated overnight while whole pages of Black newspapers were dedicated to Jackie's minor league exploits.
Also: ticket sales—the only real source of revenue for Black teams—plummeted.
Also: ticket sales—the only real source of revenue for Black teams—plummeted.
Example:
In '46, Effa's Eagles drew 120,293 fans to Ruppert Stadium; by '47, total attendance was a paltry 57,100.
And that's AFTER winning the '46 Negro World Series and starting the '47 season with a record-breaking opening day crowd of 12k+.
In '46, Effa's Eagles drew 120,293 fans to Ruppert Stadium; by '47, total attendance was a paltry 57,100.
And that's AFTER winning the '46 Negro World Series and starting the '47 season with a record-breaking opening day crowd of 12k+.
But maybe you're thinking that the failure of the Negro Leagues was a necessary sacrifice for the good of the whole, or even a justifiable death in light of integration's birth.
This is, after all, how most white writers/historian have framed this story FOR GENERATIONS.
This is, after all, how most white writers/historian have framed this story FOR GENERATIONS.
Like, integration is *always* awesome (we're all the same!!!!)
And we should PuRsUe iT At AnY cOsT.
And we should PuRsUe iT At AnY cOsT.
BUT, it took 12 years for every MLB team to sign at least ONE Black player and even then, as was mentioned in the video, the quota system kept the vast majority of Black players out of the Majors.
Worse: With the death of the Negro Leagues, they didn't have another option.
Worse: With the death of the Negro Leagues, they didn't have another option.
Like, if a pitcher was 3rd or 4th in his team's rotation (he's got solid stuff but not the best) no WAY is he getting called to the Bigs.
BUT he can't land a steady gig in Black baseball either, cause now there is no Black baseball. Dude is now working in a factory for a living
BUT he can't land a steady gig in Black baseball either, cause now there is no Black baseball. Dude is now working in a factory for a living
No one tells you that Branch Rickey didn't pay for Jackie Robinson's contract.
OR Johnny Wright's
OR Roy Campanella's
OR Don Newcombe's
(Like, consider, for a moment, the financial impact to a Black team that has a key player STOLEN—AND STILL HAS TO REPLACE HIM)
OR Johnny Wright's
OR Roy Campanella's
OR Don Newcombe's
(Like, consider, for a moment, the financial impact to a Black team that has a key player STOLEN—AND STILL HAS TO REPLACE HIM)
No one tells you that it took until '75 for a Black full-time manager to be hired in the Majors because the Black men who'd BEEN managing and developing players were COMPLETELY shut out.
Like, Newk was Newk bc of Biz Mackey, PERIOD, and he never had a shot to coach in the Majors
Like, Newk was Newk bc of Biz Mackey, PERIOD, and he never had a shot to coach in the Majors
In short: Major League Baseball took the best of the Black baseball and gave nothing in return, and if y'all wanna talk about why there are so few Black players now and even fewer managers and execs, but y'all not going all the way back to Jackie's signing:
YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG
YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG
Anyway, I must give the biggest of props to @NBATorrence, producer of this series, for understanding the full story of the Negro Leagues and ensuring that it was properly told.
This is what happens when WE get to tell OUR stories.
This is what happens when WE get to tell OUR stories.
