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#1
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Jackie Robinson Day: Could be Much More
First off, let me just state that Jackie Robinson was a simply phenomenal player and outstanding person. I love reading stories about him this time of year.
But lately every year when "Jackie Robinson Day" rolls around, I feel a little annoyed. The players and press people gush about Jackie all day. Just about everything they say about him is true. But not a single mention is made all year of some of the other guys that had it just as hard, or at least almost as hard, as Jackie. What about some of the great players that tried to make it into the big leagues but failed, simply because of racism? We've created this myth that Jackie was a player so outstanding in talent and personality, he simply walked on water and as a result white baseball simply had to accept him. Well, Jackie was outstanding in talent, but so were many players before him that got screwed because of the racism of the time. As a result, everybody knows Jackie broke the color barrier. They gush about Jackie all day every year on Jackie day. They interview his great grand-kids and second-cousins. But people hardly know anything about anyone else. The average fan doesn't know Rube Foster, Oscar Charleston, or the story behind "Chief Tokohama." Who's this guy? Nobody seems interested. What I would do, if I was commissioner, is keep "Jackie Robinson Day." But on every Jackie Day, I would select a player that would also be honored: a great player from the Negro leagues that never got the chance to play in the big leagues, or even some of the players that broke through around the same time as Jackie, like Satchell Paige and Larry Doby. I think Jackie would have wanted it this way. Thoughts? |
#2
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Agreed
I completely agree. I don't see much harm in choosing another player to recognize his accomplishments (or think of what could have been) and also remind everyone of what he had to endure in baseball...and in life - even if his name is only in the headlines for a day or two.
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Jimmy jimm1341@hotmail.com My Sale/Trade Page: http://picasaweb.google.com/thegasho.../ForSaleTrade# |
#3
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All excellent ideas, but myths are part not only of baseball but of our culture at large. Jackie is a great symbol of a major shift in American acceptance; Oscar Charleston was a great player but is not well known to most baseball fans. Nothing wrong with telling his story, and the stories of other great black ballplayers who toiled in obscurity. But the myth is still very important.
And let's tip our hat to all of the baseball announcers who yesterday had to broadcast games and identify the players when every last one of them was wearing #42. That was no easy task. |
#4
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Couldnt agree more...
While it is great to see 42 on everyone's back, I agree we should forget the other pioneers. It was very nice to hear on ESPN radio today, one of the commentators praise Larry Doby and his accomplishments.
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#5
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Forget the pioneers? Just kidding - I know what you meant in that last post.
I think it would be great to see Jackie Robinson day include other Negro League pioneers that played well before Jackie. What would have happened if it were Larry Doby to break the color barrier? I guess it would be Larry Doby day and everyone would be wearing number 14.
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fr3d c0wl3s - always looking for OJs and other 19th century stuff. PM or email me if you have something cool you're looking to find a new home for. |
#6
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Great post!
Here's my Billiken Charleston
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#7
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I also agree Jackie Robinson Day could be so much more. However I don't like it that they stretched it across two days this year, it kind of dilutes the whole thing to me. Anyway, here is a card I did for Robinson on my website, showing him with Montreal in 1946.
[IMG][/IMG] My Baseball Card Project: www.infinitecardset.blogspot.com |
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