The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-05-19

the GOd-Efven Characteristics OF
Negro ball players, who play the
game for the fun there Is in It,"
THE ABOVE REMARKS ap-
peared in a letter John r. Will
liams. editor of the Detroit edition
of the Pittsburgh Courier, sent 10
H. G.. Salsinger, sports editor OF
the Detroit News, who used the
letter with comments. in his col
umn. The Umpire" May 8.
Salsinger. in commenting on
Williams letter, said: Williams
offers the soundest argument for
all-Negro baseball that we have
encountered.
Negro players would gain moth
ing, financially, by joining white
teams; they can do much better
for themselves playing in Negro
leagues.
ole Satchel Paige. for in
stance, has made more than
twice as much money pitching
for Negro clubs as he could
ever have made pitching for q
white team and Paige can be ia
vOrably com pared with any
white pitcher Of the last Is
years and more.
He could never be subjected
10 the rules and regulations gov
erninE white players. Ole
Satch does what he pleases, goes
where he pleases. An incurabIe
nOmad. he Is ever on the move.
He jumps contracts. misses en-
gagements. recognizes no train
ing rules or jurisdiction Of any
kind"
Let's take the paragraphs about
Paige. First, Paige called in his
outfielders with the bases loaded"
once, ald then il was against a
white semi-pro team.
FURTHERMORE. PAIGE is as
willing as RUDE Waddell and Bar
on Poffenberger 10 conform 10 the
rules and regulations OF baseball.
and Waddell was one of the great
est pitchers ever 10 face a batter
IN the white leagues. Poffenberge-
played with the Detroit Tigers, be-
coming famous for his antics on
and off the diamond.
When Paige was performing for
the Birmingham Black Barons.
back IN the l920s. he abided by
the rules and regulations govern
ing baseball. Ii was only after he
had joined the Pittsburgh Craw-
fordS and the public relation man
OF that club. John Clark, began
billing him as an eccentric OF the
diamond that Ole Satch began VI
olailng the rules. This has been
enlarged upon since ne joined the
Kansas City MonarchS. where ne
has remained for the past five
years.
PERHAPS WILLIAMS has for
gotten about the time Babe Ruth
called his shot against the Chi
cago Cubs, pointing 10 the center
field bleachers, and then driving
the ball within a few feet OF a
spot ne had designated.
Certainly, Gibson (who doesn't
weigh $50 pounds, would be al
lowed that privilege. The only re-
quiremenS would be that he de-
liver.
Williams has confused Syd Pol
locks Cincinnati Clowns with the
Cuban Stars. The Clowns resort
10 comedy on the field before
SameS, and not the CuoanS. one of
me Strong est sticklers for follow
lnS the rules and regulations OF
baseball.
SO it seems that Williams has
placed Horsiin MARITIME, steady
and CONSCIENTIOUS player, in the
wrong light by accusing him OF
running the bases backward.
Having seen teams in the Amer
lean and National leagues play
over q period OF 30 years, and Ne
gro teams for the same period OF
time, the only distinct difference
I've been able 10 see between
white and Negro ball PLAYERS IS
that Negro players are more COL
orful
The Michigan Chronicle has
been waging q relentless battle
10 knock down the racial bar
riers against qualified Negro ball
PLAYERS In the major leagues.
and will continue TO wage the
fight.
Il IS the Michigan Chronicles
belief that II Negroes are capable
performers IN boxing, track and
football. certainly they can attain
the same heights IN baseball.
FRITZ POLLARD, Paul Robe
son. Kenny Washington. Duke
Slater. Jackie Robinson. Bernard
Jefferson. Willis Ward. Julius
Franks and many others have
won fame on the football field.
Howard Drew. Sol Butler. John
Borican. Ben Johnson. Eulace Pea
cock. Cornelius Johnson. Charles
Walker. Jesse Owens. Claude
I RuddV1 Young John Woodruff