Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1943-09-04

sv DON DELEIcHBuR

>.4 By DON DELElCHBUR
NEW YORK-Mavbe in 1860 if they are still playing
seba as national American pastme and if the Jim Grow
rety the sport is still being carried as today one
ght reasonably expect basic changes IN the setup
Organized Negro Baseball But right now the prospect
ks dark and dreary fraught with peris OF dsinegraon
ought on by misconceptions and wrong viewpoints OF
ose entrusted with what amounts to public trust.
There is no need of kidding ourselves Negro Baseball
but poor shadow of the major leagues-the real thing
is queer situation which finds even need for Negro
sebal when Americans should know distinctions based
color or socaled racial differences However, the differ
ces are given credence by the folks who the majors
there has been little choice the part of the coored
orators but to set up system based on the real thing
ii to attempt to carry within the framework.
It becomes increasingly apparent that IL carbon copy
the major leagues is to exist and prosper 1t snoud De III
rv way possible carbon copy Otherwise the adopted
mes Of various coored ball clubs such the New York
ack Yankees the Birmingham Black Barons the Atlanta
ack Crackers the Tulsa Black Oilers the New orleans
c Pelicans and other back outfits, can be viewed as
mplete msnomers and acquired mainly because the own
have little imagination with which to think ND striking
"a effective names for their clubs
ack' outfits be viewed as comp etc msnomers anu
buried mainly because the owners have little lagnaton
tn which to think up striking and effective names Tor the
BIS.
The major leagues are tightly organized; they reach
nm sucn mammoth ernporums of swat as Yankee Sta
n Briggs Stadium and others to every sandlot IN the
on farfung kingdom of minor, seml-pro and amateur
that maintains major baseball year in and year out
or season and good The l5-year-old gh schooi
cher with effective has his name and record III te
ok of the big league scouts long before he reaches the
pro stage if he intends professional career; and
he plans on some other line such law, chemistry IL
nce medicine whatnot the majors are prepared TO bo
his services to change his mind according to plans al
adv mapped out and written down. That is why the majors
m IN every year with new and better players to take the
ace of the old But Babe Ruth today still being honored
ked about in the sports columns given banquets' etc.
spite the fact that he has been out of action for quite
v summers Other ex-bg eaguers are in similar cate
Suffice here to point out little has been done by
gro Baseball to create the hope that such
ed effort may to pass. That is Why mentioned
as possible date when the coored operators might see
light and do something tangible according to plan and
0gram.
Right now the colored leagues are suffering from a
k of player material This about through lack
planning well as vision Up TO 1881 and whereabouts
gro colleges high schools and unvertes throughout the
18th maintained baseball regular part of their ath
curriculurs. From their teams of the stars
the early efforts of organized Negro Baseball Phan-
Smith College in Arkansas Rust College in Mississippi
ingtone College in North Carolina Howard University
hop College, TOugaoo and many others produced such
yers as the late Pythias Russ Grady Orange and many
my others who today still playing vrous clubs in
Negro National and American League their career
play on some coored college nine.
But time went on, the colored colleges found that
eba didn't support itself and they forced to drop
from their currcuums Sunday School Leagues without
side help had to fold up and that is the why
pred fans are seeing players year in and year out who
e been before the baseball public for much 20 and
some instances 80 years. in the of Newt Allen
the Monarchs Larry Brown of the Memphis Red Sox,
rge Scales of the Baltimore Elite Giants Jud Wilson,
Harris and Judy Johnson of the Homestead Grays,
wboat Thomas of the Cuban Stars John Neck Stanley
the New York Black Yankees, and many others one
ght recall.
An enlightened leadership among the colored leagues
ld subsldze baseball if necessary, in the colored col
to keep of PLAYER supply 1t would he seen
that Sunday School Leagues established and main
ned IN Chicago Detroit Philadelphia, Baltimore Indian
ills, New Orleans, Houston Texas, Los Angeles Cleve-
and st. Louis A fund for this purpose would be set
and added to each year that equipment was avail
for these amateur organizations in the churches which
most cases. would welcome something hold the young
group to their flocks.