pmeares17
07-27-2001, 11:48 AM
November 1, 1945
By DAN DANIEL
NEW YORK -- Branch Rickey's action in signing Jack Roosevelt (Jackie) Robinson, age 26, Negro, born in Georgia, all-round athlete at UCLA and shortstop of some promise, for the Montreal farm of the Brooklyn club, has developed a vast number of repercussions.
Robinson was signed at Montreal, October 23, by Hector Racine, president of the International League club; Lt. Col. Romeo Gauvreau, vice-president of the Royals; and Branch Rickey Jr., in charge of Brooklyn farms, in the office of the Royals.
It is quite conceivable that the story has received far more attention than it is worth. Robinson is not the first Negro to be hired by a club in Organized Ball. John J. McGraw had one at Baltimore many years back and, after a very short use of the player, had to let him go.
Robinson has not been signed by the Dodgers and insofar as can be discerned, never will play for the Brooklyn club in the National League.
"He is not now major-league stuff and there is not a single Negro player in this country who could qualify for the National or American leagues," Rickey admitted to this writer.
However, a start has been made toward an effort to solve a problem which has been agitated by high-pressure groups more than Negro baseball circles themselves.
One of the early questions related to the legal aspects of the situation. Tom Baird, co-owner of the Kansas City Monarchs, was at first quoted to the effect that Robinson was the property of his club, for whom Jackie played last season. He was said to have indicated an intention to appeal to Commissioner Chandler.
However, on October 25, Baird and J.L. Wilkinson, owners of the Monarchs, declared they would not try to prevent Robinson from playing with the Montreal team.
"For many years we have urged Organized Ball to accept Negro players," Wilkinson declared. "Whether we get any recompense for Robinson may be considered beside the point. We want Jackie to have a chance."
Baird wired the Pittsburgh Courier, Negro newspaper, October 25, that
his original statement about Robinson had been misinterpreted. "We would not do anything to impede the advancement of any Negro ballplayer, nor would we do anything to keep any Negro player out of the white major leagues," Baird said.
However, even if the owners of the Monarchs waive any claim to Robinson, the contract issue remains a possibility in future cases of the kind. Most of the worthwhile colored players are tied up with Negro leagues.
Meantime, Dr. A.B. Martin, president of the Negro American Baseball League, said he may confer this week with President Ford Frick of the National League about the Robinson case. "I admire Branch Rickey for his courage," said Martin, "but the method of signing Robinson raises some problems."
In his report to the Mayor's Committee on the Negro problem . . . Col. Larry MacPhail of the Yankees said it was not for the best interests of all concerned for the majors to raid the Negro leagues for the few good players possessed by those organizations.
Larry pointed out that, as landlords of Negro leagues, those owning major-league parks could not afford to break up the Negro organizations. He said that the Yankees got $100,000 a year in rentals from Negro ball clubs, in New York, Newark, Kansas City and Norfolk.
It has been said that Rickey has a list of 25 other Negro players who are to be gathered for tryouts in the spring.
"What about that, Branch?" the writer asked.
"Erroneous, all erroneous," the Deacon replied. "There isn't a single Negro player of major-league class."
Question -- "Branch, why didn't you sign Robinson for the Brooklyn club?"
Answer -- "He is not Dodger quality. Not yet. Usually you send a player of his baseball rating to a Class B or C club. But Robinson is 26 and I did not want to thrown him in with a lot of kids."
Q -- "Why did you sign a Negro now?"
A -- "Why not now? I want to win."
Q -- "Why didn't you sign a Negro when you were running the front office of the Cardinals?"
A -- "Formerly, Negroes were not permitted to sit in the grandstand at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. (Note: Negroes are now permitted in the grandstand there.) I would have changed that had it been up to me."
Q -- "Then your interest in the Negro player dates only from your connection with Brooklyn?"
A -- "Yes, that is correct. On my arrival in Brooklyn, I found Negro clubs playing at Ebbets Field. I watched them. I decided that something would have to be done about the Negro player in relationship to the major leagues in general and those in New York in particular. I signed Robinson despite the misguided labors of pressure groups."
Q -- Won't Robinson be embarrassed? Won't he run into hotel, Pullman and restaurant troubles? Won't there be trouble with Southern players?"
A -- "Robinson said, 'If I am hurt, I won't stay. I do not want to be where I am not wanted.'"
Already there has been trouble. Players from the South have squawked. Rogers Hornsby, a Texan no longer in baseball, says it won't work. Others say, "OK, so long as there are no Negro players on our club."
Rickey says, "The time is nearing fast when every professional baseball club operating in the state of New York will have to hire Negro players."
Branch refers to the Anti-Discrimination Law, which became effective in New York State on July 1.
However, Rickey cannot say how the Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Buffalo, Albany, Elmira, Binghamton, Olean and other Organized Ball clubs in the state are going to find Negro players with the ability to stick.
The Deacon added, "I did not sign Robinson for fear of legal penalties."
According to Rickey, when he told Robinson that signing with Montreal might entail making less money than he would receive from the Kansas City Monarchs, the player replied, "That's OK. I have to think of the other fellows."
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By DAN DANIEL
NEW YORK -- Branch Rickey's action in signing Jack Roosevelt (Jackie) Robinson, age 26, Negro, born in Georgia, all-round athlete at UCLA and shortstop of some promise, for the Montreal farm of the Brooklyn club, has developed a vast number of repercussions.
Robinson was signed at Montreal, October 23, by Hector Racine, president of the International League club; Lt. Col. Romeo Gauvreau, vice-president of the Royals; and Branch Rickey Jr., in charge of Brooklyn farms, in the office of the Royals.
It is quite conceivable that the story has received far more attention than it is worth. Robinson is not the first Negro to be hired by a club in Organized Ball. John J. McGraw had one at Baltimore many years back and, after a very short use of the player, had to let him go.
Robinson has not been signed by the Dodgers and insofar as can be discerned, never will play for the Brooklyn club in the National League.
"He is not now major-league stuff and there is not a single Negro player in this country who could qualify for the National or American leagues," Rickey admitted to this writer.
However, a start has been made toward an effort to solve a problem which has been agitated by high-pressure groups more than Negro baseball circles themselves.
One of the early questions related to the legal aspects of the situation. Tom Baird, co-owner of the Kansas City Monarchs, was at first quoted to the effect that Robinson was the property of his club, for whom Jackie played last season. He was said to have indicated an intention to appeal to Commissioner Chandler.
However, on October 25, Baird and J.L. Wilkinson, owners of the Monarchs, declared they would not try to prevent Robinson from playing with the Montreal team.
"For many years we have urged Organized Ball to accept Negro players," Wilkinson declared. "Whether we get any recompense for Robinson may be considered beside the point. We want Jackie to have a chance."
Baird wired the Pittsburgh Courier, Negro newspaper, October 25, that
his original statement about Robinson had been misinterpreted. "We would not do anything to impede the advancement of any Negro ballplayer, nor would we do anything to keep any Negro player out of the white major leagues," Baird said.
However, even if the owners of the Monarchs waive any claim to Robinson, the contract issue remains a possibility in future cases of the kind. Most of the worthwhile colored players are tied up with Negro leagues.
Meantime, Dr. A.B. Martin, president of the Negro American Baseball League, said he may confer this week with President Ford Frick of the National League about the Robinson case. "I admire Branch Rickey for his courage," said Martin, "but the method of signing Robinson raises some problems."
In his report to the Mayor's Committee on the Negro problem . . . Col. Larry MacPhail of the Yankees said it was not for the best interests of all concerned for the majors to raid the Negro leagues for the few good players possessed by those organizations.
Larry pointed out that, as landlords of Negro leagues, those owning major-league parks could not afford to break up the Negro organizations. He said that the Yankees got $100,000 a year in rentals from Negro ball clubs, in New York, Newark, Kansas City and Norfolk.
It has been said that Rickey has a list of 25 other Negro players who are to be gathered for tryouts in the spring.
"What about that, Branch?" the writer asked.
"Erroneous, all erroneous," the Deacon replied. "There isn't a single Negro player of major-league class."
Question -- "Branch, why didn't you sign Robinson for the Brooklyn club?"
Answer -- "He is not Dodger quality. Not yet. Usually you send a player of his baseball rating to a Class B or C club. But Robinson is 26 and I did not want to thrown him in with a lot of kids."
Q -- "Why did you sign a Negro now?"
A -- "Why not now? I want to win."
Q -- "Why didn't you sign a Negro when you were running the front office of the Cardinals?"
A -- "Formerly, Negroes were not permitted to sit in the grandstand at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. (Note: Negroes are now permitted in the grandstand there.) I would have changed that had it been up to me."
Q -- "Then your interest in the Negro player dates only from your connection with Brooklyn?"
A -- "Yes, that is correct. On my arrival in Brooklyn, I found Negro clubs playing at Ebbets Field. I watched them. I decided that something would have to be done about the Negro player in relationship to the major leagues in general and those in New York in particular. I signed Robinson despite the misguided labors of pressure groups."
Q -- Won't Robinson be embarrassed? Won't he run into hotel, Pullman and restaurant troubles? Won't there be trouble with Southern players?"
A -- "Robinson said, 'If I am hurt, I won't stay. I do not want to be where I am not wanted.'"
Already there has been trouble. Players from the South have squawked. Rogers Hornsby, a Texan no longer in baseball, says it won't work. Others say, "OK, so long as there are no Negro players on our club."
Rickey says, "The time is nearing fast when every professional baseball club operating in the state of New York will have to hire Negro players."
Branch refers to the Anti-Discrimination Law, which became effective in New York State on July 1.
However, Rickey cannot say how the Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Buffalo, Albany, Elmira, Binghamton, Olean and other Organized Ball clubs in the state are going to find Negro players with the ability to stick.
The Deacon added, "I did not sign Robinson for fear of legal penalties."
According to Rickey, when he told Robinson that signing with Montreal might entail making less money than he would receive from the Kansas City Monarchs, the player replied, "That's OK. I have to think of the other fellows."
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