The guardian., 1941-07-12
COLOR BAR IN THE
MAJOR LEAGUES


magazine has refused to publish a
short article by THE GUARDIAN
associate sports editor which attacks
the major league color bar against col
Ored Americans. THE GUARDIAN
presents the censored article in three
parts, beginning today.
BY MABE KOUNTZE
In 1898, the then Washington Tri-
bune Sports editor, Sam Lacey, con-
Quoted a sensationally revealing poll
entitled: Pro and Con on "The Negro
in Organized Baseball"
Among the numerous sportswrlters
who wrote in favor of colored players
were such acknowledged leaders as
John Herman IN. Y. Times and In
formation Please"); Jimmy Powers
IN. Y. Daily News); Bob Considine,
Universal News Service); Vim Fla
herty, washington Herald), and a
good many theirs. / nave seen similar
favorable comment written at various
times by Dan Parker DAILY Mirror) /;
Bill Cunningham Boston Herald) /;
Austin Lake, Hearst papers); writers
for the Daily Worker, and others of
almost every race, creed and color from
Boston to Frisco.
BIG LEAGUES KNOW
But we have come to the place in
American Democracy today where
both the weekly and daily press have
joined hands in presenting the truth
behind the color bar. This is the time
for it.
Thousands of white and colored
troops have joined hands to defend
our Democracy and we have all got
Tending. 1t is not, when Americans are
barred in America because of race,
creed, or color. One can be just as
conveniently barred in Berlin.
/ can not emphasize enough the
greatness of colored American sports
writers who have continued to stress
loyalty in spite of years of discourage
ment. Nobody has handled the vari-
Gus set-backs with such remarkable
patience. No other sportswriter
meets such handicaps.
1t was with such tact and patience
that Sam Lacey of the Washington
Tribune approached the veteran Clark
Griffith, president of the Washington
the American League.
President Griffith admitted the
proven class of colored ball players
just as did Bob Quinn of the Boston
Braves in an interview l personally
had here at Braves Field.
Both the Commissioner and | know
that cOlOred baseball is deserving of
some recognition in the organized
game" Mr.. Griffith is reported to have
told Mr.. Lacey, "In fact, there are few
big league owners who are not aware
of the fact that the time is not far off
when cOlOred players will take their
place beside those of other races in
the major leagues :"
WOULDN'T QUIT
However, Frank A. Young dean of
colored sportswriters, now with the
Chicago Defender, takes caustic issue
with Mr.. Griffith and others who put
up the "scare story" about the hell
colored ball players would go through
on major league ball club.
1t is the same kind of story that said
Joe Louis would never become heavy
weight champion of the world. It is
the kind of story that does not meas
ure accurately the true sportsmanship
Of the American public.
Speaking to colored athletes about
the subject find they just laugh it
off, saying, at wouldn't be no more
hell than we meet every day in some
other fields. Reckon we're use to it
by now. We wouldn't quit"
And, come to think of it, have you
ever asked the colored boys in football,
boxing, and track, just what they went
through to reach the top?
Do you know what the average COL
ored man and woman goes through
each day of racially Disseminated
life?
Do you know what certain colored
American soldiers have to go through
today in certain American camps?
Well, brother, it amt heaven!
Yes, as any sane person knows, the
scare story" is just one more big
league "stall."
don't believe a good colored
player would have to quit any major
league club. His team mates and his
manager wouldn't let him go.
Let's take, for example, the Boston
Red Sox. They need pitching. Now,
If by some magic stroke, 1 could give
the Red Sox the one and only Leroy
"Satchel" Paige at his peak; Rifle Ray
Brown of the Homestead Grays, Pop
Ruiz of the Cubans, Chet Brewer of
the Philadelphia Stars, and catcher
Josh Gibson, now playing in Mexico,
well-the Sox would walk away in the
American League pennant race.
And do you mean to tell me that
any Red Sox player would make it un-
pleasant for these colored stars?
Not if Tom Yawkey knew about it!
Indeed, not if fighting Joe" Cronin
knew about it.
And Yawkee and Cronin would make
1T their business to know!
And . now for colored stars who
HAVE played in so called white organ
lied baseball.
GRANT WITH McGRAW
That Leroy Grant, colored in
fielder, played for McGraw's N. Y
club years ago is now an oft repeated
fact. 1t also has its humor.
Grant, a close friend and former
team mate of the famed Matthews of
Harvard was palmed off as an Indian.
~ lauww Il M