Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1947-07-12

First Negro Player Enters Ameiean
League; Other Players Eyed by Clubs

clCeQ IMAM surprised.
The all around athletic said "Its
big jump from our league to
the majors, but | think / can
make it."
At Paterson, his friends heaped
congratulations upon him at his
home, but he took time out to say
that if he failed to make the
grade in the big leagues "itll not
be because l did not try"
"IM go wherever Cleveland
wants to send me" he sad although
of course, I would rather pay
with the Indians themselves. But,
if they think l should be farmed
out while to minor league club,
then I'll go where I'm sent and
try to convince them that I'm
ready for the real thing"
Being signed by the Indians,
Dody said is "the greatest thing
that ever happened to me. 1t al
ways has been my ambition to
play big league ball, but / never
thought | would make it. From
time to time Tn hear rumors that
| was being secuted, but no one
ever approached me directly urr
til last week"
! Dody said he was introduced to
"a Mr.. Louis Jones of the Cleve-
land public relations department
about two weeks ago. He went
with Jones to see a Cleveland
Yankee game, Dody said, and after
wards Jones told him Cleveland
had secuted him for two months
and that all reports were highly
favorable.
When Jones left him, Dody re-
lated, He said, You will probably
be in our organization in two or
three weeks but l thought he was
kidding. l did not hear any thing
further until this morning (July
81 Mrs. Effie Manley (owner of
the Newark Eagles) phoned me
to tell me to come to Newark and
that Cleveland was purchasing my
contract from her."
Dody said he heard again from
Jones last Thursday asking him
whether he wanted to fly or go
by train to Cleveland.
eff it's all the same to you
I'd rather go gy train" Dody said
he told Jones. "You see this is
a big opportunity fo rme and |
don't want to miss it."
He said he assured Jones he was
not afraid of flying but that Gust
this once let's take the train. I'm
excited enough as it is
Dody recalled that he and Rob
inson had often spoken of the pos
sibility of the Paterson youth
breaking into the major leagues.
Robinson gave him many good
tips, Dody said, and he encouraged
me a LOTT
l. Dody is not expected to run
! into much difficulty as Robinson
| faced as a pioneer major league
baseball. In Washington and ST.
Louis he probably will have to
stop else where than at the same
hotel as his teammates.
In the light of the fortnight
action Ford Prick, president of
the National League, took the bre
ak up the incipient strike St.
Louis players were fomenting ag-
ainst JACKIE. similar action will
hardly be plotted against Dody.
In Washington, Clark Griffith
president of the Nationals, made
the following comment on the
signing of Dody: j:
"The gate has always been open
to the Negro ball player. If any
body wants to sign a Negro player
| that's fine and dandy. | wish the
| player and the club good luck.
| If he turns out to be a credit to
the game, more power to hm."
The Cleveland Indians will open
a three CRANE series at Griffith
! Stadium July &c. Attendance at
Griffith Stadium is normally about
one third colored.
Griffith himself is no great lib
eral. For long number of years
he even refused to let white and
colored clubs play taganst each
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