Most Influential African American Baseball Figure Besides Jackie Robinson

[oldjudge]

Pumpsie Green. Firsts and lasts are always important. While the Dodgers were the first team to integrate, the Red Sox were the last, in 1959. Apparently, team owner Tom Yawkey fought the process. In fact, Jackie Robinson called Yawkey "one of the most bigoted guys in baseball."

[Exhibitman]

Pre-war, Satchel Paige.

[Jason19th]

Sam Lacy, Wendell Smith, Frank A. Young, Joe Bostic, Chester L. Washington, W. Rollo Wilson, Dan Burley, Ed Harris, A.S. "Doc" Young and Romeo Dougherty

The players may have been performing the feats but without these guys no one hears about them. They also were very active in trying to set up tryouts and get mainstream support.

Along the same lines, but not black, Shirley Povich (yes Maury's dad) wrote some incredible editorials about integration in the 1930 and 40's

[gnaz01]

Hank Aaron

[shelly]

Willie Mays, might have been a great ball player but he sure does not represent a good man.
My choice which everyone seems not to remember is Larry Doby who had to suffer as much as Jackie.
The other play I would pick Is Don Newcomb who has represented like no one else.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Pumpsie Green. Firsts and lasts are always important. While the Dodgers were the first team to integrate, the Red Sox were the last, in 1959. Apparently, team owner Tom Yawkey fought the process. In fact, Jackie Robinson called Yawkey "one of the most bigoted guys in baseball."

http://www.wbur.org/2013/04/12/jacki...-movie-red-sox

[Econteachert205]

My rationale behind Paige is that while Foster was important, another capitalist african american would have likely replaced him in founding a league because of it's financial potential. Paige had no equal in terms of skill and personality and was a big force in driving integration. People wanted to know how good he really was. Then, at such an advanced age, performing so well and in the process capturing people's hearts with his unique style, and also the tragedy of what might have been in terms of major league numbers.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

My rationale behind Paige is that while Foster was important, another capitalist african american would have likely replaced him in founding a league because of it's financial potential. Paige had no equal in terms of skill and personality and was a big force in driving integration. People wanted to know how good he really was. Then, at such an advanced age, performing so well and in the process capturing people's hearts with his unique style, and also the tragedy of what might have been in terms of major league numbers.

You should read up on Foster's life, and the various people and difficulties involved in getting a league started. There were plenty of capitalist african americans who were involved in trying to bring black baseball mainstream - it wasn't just a matter of there being a black african american capitalist available to do it.

I wouldn't have responded to this post, as I think most baseball historians are aware of what Foster went through and I'm not interested in arguing about documented history, but I would hate for others to think it was as simple as you make it sound.

[Econteachert205]

Originally Posted by Runscott

You should read up on Foster's life, and the various people and difficulties involved in getting a league started. There were plenty of capitalist african americans who were involved in trying to bring black baseball mainstream - it wasn't just a matter of there being a black african american capitalist available to do it.

I wouldn't have responded to this post, as I think most baseball historians are aware of what Foster went through and I'm not interested in arguing about documented history, but I would hate for others to think it was as simple as you make it sound.

I didn't mean to make it sound simple or belittle it, though I see it is easily perceived that way. I am aware of the process of securing financing such an undertaking. Merely I was saying I believe in all likelihood given the potential for profit that someone else would likely have done it, though not necessarily with the skill foster did. There is no one who had the combination of talent and charisma to be satchel paige other than the man. That was my only point

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

I didn't mean to make it sound simple or belittle it, though I see it is easily perceived that way. I am aware of the process of securing financing such an undertaking. Merely I was saying I believe in all likelihood given the potential for profit that someone else would likely have done it, though not necessarily with the skill foster did. There is no one who had the combination of talent and charisma to be satchel paige other than the man. That was my only point

The following page contains an article that I wrote a couple of years ago about black baseball in Chicago and Kansas City that discusses some of what Foster was involved with. It also describes other African Americans who were instrumental in pushing black baseball forward in the early 1900's: http://www.t206themonster.com/Articles.html

[Econteachert205]

Thanks Scott, and very well written and explained.