The Michigan chronicle., 1943-12-11
Baseball
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Pittsburgh Courier. advisory men,
bers
The publishers asked the major
league operators 10 apply the same
process by which players are grad
ua,ed from Glass c. B. A and "A
teams TO positions on Major League
teams without prejudice or dis
elimination TO Negroes They re-
qucs,ed the magnates 10 use the
same system by which players are
selected from schools. sandlots
seni-pro and other clubs. in re-
lecting and grading colored play
ers.
The recommendation were
rounded out with request by the
Publishers that a joint statement be
issued by the Major Leagues de-
claring that Negroes are eligible for
trials and permanent places on their
rcspective teams Spokesman for
the group were Sengstacke. Lewis
and Murphy.
Eliminate Jim Crow
Sengstacke opened the campaign
OF the Negro Press on behalf Of the
Negroes. with a stirring speech de-
randing tolerance and a complete
elimination Of Jim-Crow in baseball
and other sports as a recognition
by Americans Of the Negro's place
in democracy engaged in a war
TO perpetuate the democratic ideal.
I'VE have a good starting point
in Judge Lands' statement that.
there is not now, nor has there
ever been, any baseball rule-writ-
ten or unwritten. prohibiting the
use OF Negro players in organized
baseball" Sengstacke declared,
adding. that fundamentally cer-
tain practices which now exist. set
the Negro apart as different and
inferior type of citizen. This is
not only unjust so far as the Negro
American is concerned. but as you
can easily see. the practice estab.
fishes dangerous and insidious
precedent respecting the status OF
any Of our citizens. :. We believe
the Negro should be used in base
ball on exactly the same basis as
any other American citizen"
Pointing out that baseball's re-
strictions in the past places a deep
sense OF Illustration on the Negro
youth and skaters his morale,
Sengstacke declared that "organ.
lied basebalrs unyritten. but ef-
fective practice OF exclusion against
some players because OF their color
helps to spread the master race
theory among Americans on a mass
basis"
Ira Lewis insisted that the Amer
lean public would not be disturbed
by Negroes playing in organized
baseball. He felt that the public is
ready for the change. and spoke OF
the changed attitude Of the sport
ing public and the general public
towards the Negro athlete in track.
football. basketball and boxing. He
pointed TO Joe Louis as an example
OF how the color line in boxing has
been erased. and said that inter-
views with big league managers and
players had revealed they had moth
ing against using Negro players.
Mr.. Lewis also pointed out. that,
insofar as the economics Of the sit
uation were concerned. It Is a mat
ter OF record that the public has
definitely accepted the Negro ath-
lete; and, that the record shows
that the largest gate in Chicago. an
outstanding baseball town, was the
game Of August /. between two Ne
gro baseball teams. And, that the
largest football crowd to attend a
football game in America during
the past season. was the $4,000
crowd at Soldiers Field. Chicago.
last Saturday. between Negro and
white high school teams.
Then. too. Mr.. Lewis continued,
"there Is the record to show that
at Madison Square Garden during
the past season the largest crowds
and biggest gates were when Negro
athletes were either one or two of
the participants. This is a concrete
evidence that the public has ac-
cepted the Negro athlete"
Howard Murphy read the recon-
mendations OF the publishers which
were turned over to Judge Lands.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We. the Negro Newspaper Pub
fishers Association. speaking In be-
half Of the Negro people Of America
and all fair minded Americans, re-
spectfulIy request that you embark
on the following course Of action:
1. That immediate steps be taken
to accept qualified Negroes into
the framework Of organized base
ball.
2. That the process by which play
ers are graduated from Class c, b.
A and "A teams to positions on
major league teams be applied,
without prejudice or discrimination,
TO Negroes.
3. That the same system by which
players are selected from schools.
sandlots, semi-pro and other clubs,
be used in selecting colored players.