Well son, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Back then, minorities weren’t allowed to be on major sports teams, so some of them decided to form their own teams to prove what they were capable of.
Take the lad to Buck O’Neil’s Museum in KC. It is well worth the time and entertaining as well as very educational.
Excellent read for history buffs and baseball fans alike: “The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neil’s America” by Joe Posnanski.
I am so happy Buck finally got the call to Cooperstown! He is in good company with Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Oliva elected by the Golden Days Era Committee, and Bud Fowler joining Buck in being chosen by the Early Baseball Era. Man those are some icons getting inducted, many deserved this honor decades ago but all are now honored and Kaat and Oliva are still alive to be honored in person.
Robinson not only had to be good, he had to be mentally tough. Same with people like James Meredith (first black at the U of Mississippi, 1962) and similar pioneers like the Little Rock Nine who integrated Central High School in 1956.
Technically, Robinson wasn’t the first black player in MLB. Most historians believe the first was Moses Fleetwood Walker, who played for the Toledo Blue Stockings in the old American Association back in 1884. A handful of other black players followed, but none had a significant career in MLB, and baseball had been fully segregated for over half a century before Robinson’s debut. So while he wasn’t the first, he was the one who broke the color barrier, which is far more important.
As a southern born white male, I can’t say for sure where I learned about Jackie Robinson but as a fan of baseball I knew his story as well as that of Satchel Paige and other players from the old Negro Baseball League and as a Georgia native I admired Hank Aaron and couldn’t understand why he was being threatened when he was closing in on Babe Ruth’s record. I still have a Hank Aaron souvenir bat that I not only used but a memento that I still have and cherish to this day.As a left handed pitcher I also admired Vida Blue so contrary to your bias opinions of southerners we are not all racists, I was raised to respect everyone. Yes I have my biases like all of us have. Some of the biggest bigots I’ve known in my life have come from blue states.
Retiring his number was one thing (though he wasn’t the only 42 worthy, for some teams). Making everyone wear that number at the same time is just confusing.
allen@home over 2 years ago
Nice save dad.
mpguy2 over 2 years ago
You’d better tell him, Dad. If they live in a red state, he won’t be allowed to learn about it in school.
jagedlo over 2 years ago
Looks like Dad is going to have to give his son “the other talk”…
Ellis97 over 2 years ago
Well son, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Back then, minorities weren’t allowed to be on major sports teams, so some of them decided to form their own teams to prove what they were capable of.
MS72 over 2 years ago
Let’s switch to a different black, sports figure. Bill Cosby, Why is there Air?
JRobinson Premium Member over 2 years ago
Watch your step here, Dad… you might get cancelled in Florida!
TampaFanatic1 over 2 years ago
Take the lad to Buck O’Neil’s Museum in KC. It is well worth the time and entertaining as well as very educational.
Excellent read for history buffs and baseball fans alike: “The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neil’s America” by Joe Posnanski.
I am so happy Buck finally got the call to Cooperstown! He is in good company with Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Oliva elected by the Golden Days Era Committee, and Bud Fowler joining Buck in being chosen by the Early Baseball Era. Man those are some icons getting inducted, many deserved this honor decades ago but all are now honored and Kaat and Oliva are still alive to be honored in person.MC4802 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Is this Critical Race Theory or a conversation EVERY parent SHOULD have with their child?
ZBicyclist Premium Member over 2 years ago
Robinson not only had to be good, he had to be mentally tough. Same with people like James Meredith (first black at the U of Mississippi, 1962) and similar pioneers like the Little Rock Nine who integrated Central High School in 1956.
amaneaux over 2 years ago
Technically, Robinson wasn’t the first black player in MLB. Most historians believe the first was Moses Fleetwood Walker, who played for the Toledo Blue Stockings in the old American Association back in 1884. A handful of other black players followed, but none had a significant career in MLB, and baseball had been fully segregated for over half a century before Robinson’s debut. So while he wasn’t the first, he was the one who broke the color barrier, which is far more important.
Brent Rosenthal Premium Member over 2 years ago
Tell him the whole story dad. It must be told to every generation
RobinHood over 2 years ago
Let’s not forget Moses “Fleet” Fleetwood Walker.
braindead Premium Member over 2 years ago
This cartoon is not allowed to be shown in any classroom in Florida.
Because Law & Order.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member over 2 years ago
Yeah. Careful there, Dad.
Truth Seeker over 2 years ago
As a southern born white male, I can’t say for sure where I learned about Jackie Robinson but as a fan of baseball I knew his story as well as that of Satchel Paige and other players from the old Negro Baseball League and as a Georgia native I admired Hank Aaron and couldn’t understand why he was being threatened when he was closing in on Babe Ruth’s record. I still have a Hank Aaron souvenir bat that I not only used but a memento that I still have and cherish to this day.As a left handed pitcher I also admired Vida Blue so contrary to your bias opinions of southerners we are not all racists, I was raised to respect everyone. Yes I have my biases like all of us have. Some of the biggest bigots I’ve known in my life have come from blue states.
Warhaft over 2 years ago
Retiring his number was one thing (though he wasn’t the only 42 worthy, for some teams). Making everyone wear that number at the same time is just confusing.
198.23.5.11 over 2 years ago
Nobody remembers “Black Brooklyn” No.2,pitcher Dan Bankhead(who came along before Larry Doby)