Baseball.
Known as America's pastime, grew and changed with its country over time. Time is what led to many social changes, however, the change took too long.
Many of us will recognize famous baseball players like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. Many of us will recognize Jackie Robinson for being the first African-American major league player. But sometimes we forget or don't realize the teams that allowed Jackie to get to his position.
They were known as the Negro Leagues. They were professional baseball leagues made up of mostly African-Americans players but also some Latin American players. One of the teams in the league was the Kansas City Monarchs, who sent Jackie Robinson an offer to play with them in early 1945. While he played 47 games with the Monarchs, Robinson tried to pursue his interest in playing the major league. But, not many teams were looking to take on a black player. That is, until Branch Rickey, the club president, and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers comes along. He began to scout Negro leagues in the mid-1940s, looking for additions to the Dodger's roster. He was especially interested in those who could withstand the racial backlash he would receive. Robinson officially signed on November 1, 1945. He had an amazing 10-year MLB career but his strength and his character are most remembered. He challenged segregation through his character, nonviolence, and his talent. All of which led to his contribution to the Civil Rights movement. He received the inaugural MLB Rookie of the Year Award in 1947 and he became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He was one of the most deserving of these accomplishments but others had to wait for their glory.
February 4, 1971. The Commissioner of Major League Baseball Bowie Kuhn announced that a separate wing for the former Negro League would be added to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, due to the announcement's "separate but equal" sense, controversy rang out from fans and players, insisting that any member of the former Negro League considered for this separate Hall of Fame, should be considered for the full-fledged regular Hall of Fame. And their voices were heard. In 1971, Satchel Paige became the first elected player by the Committee on Negro Baseball Leagues to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
This is just one example of the power of our voices. While it took a very long time for our nation to finally relieve us of segregation, we have taken those opportunities to make up for wrongs that were done. We are still making up for them. Today, we are more inclusive but some of those ideas from long ago still linger. They sometimes come out in the open and hurt many. We are still recovering from the mistakes of the past but we are a nation that has seen many, many changes in our short history. We are a country made up of many different people from many different backgrounds and experience. We can do many things together, it just takes a few voices to get the conversation started. Jackie Robinson said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." Whether that is in baseball or in life, there will always be someone who has an impact on our lives. These people can inspire us to do important things, small or big. It just takes courage to get us to home plate.
