Getting that Sports nerd Swag

1. Getting that Sports nerd Swag

2. This Day in History… Anne Frank and family get on a train to Auschwitz, 1944 The first professional football player, 1895 Frederick Douglass makes his escape from slavery, 1838 The signing of the Treaty of Paris, 1783

3. Askin’ All Them Questions • Ted Williams is an example of… • Changes to baseball in the 1920s • Game invented in Chicago by sportswriters • Effect of Great Depression on baseball • National Agreement • 1 original professional baseball team • Alexander Cartwright • Abner Doubleday • Rounders

4. What We’re Focusing On Today… • Identify individuals involved in the Negro League • Weigh baseball’s response to the color line issue in the 1940’s

5. The Environment We’re Operating In: Plessey v. Ferguson, 1896 • James Plessey, an African American was arrested for refusing to leave a whites-only car • Supreme Court says that separate but equal facilities are constitutional • Southern states and governments throughout the Deep South enforce Jim Crow laws

6. Assuming… • __________ was the first African American player in Major League history

7. Jackie Robinson Before Jackie Robinson • Moses Fleetwood Walker • Catcher • Son of a doctor in Ohio • College educated • Oberlin College • Faced resistance from fellow players, not owners

8. Dear Sir: • We the undersigned, do hereby warn you not to put up Walker, the Negro catcher, the days you play in Richmond, as we could mention the names of seventy-five determined men who have sworn to mob Walker, if he comes on the grounds in a suit. We hope you will listen to our words of warning, so there will be no trouble, and if you do not, there certainly will be. We only write this to prevent much bloodshed, as you alone can prevent.~Cap Anson, Chicago White Sox

9. The Color Barrier • After Anson’s letter baseball owners meet • All agree to not offer any future contracts to Negro baseball players • Color Line • Expulsion of African Americans from baseball • Lasts until 1947

10. What are African American Baseball Players Going to Do Now? • Minor professional leagues • Mostly barnstorming • Traveling teams that played in different places every night • Rube Foster • Idea for an all-black Major League • Owned by African American men • Postponed by World War 1

11. Askin’ All Them Questions • Who was the first African American major leaguer? • What was the color line? • What was Ted Williams an example of?

12. The Negro National League • Meeting in Kansas City, MO 1920 • 8 teams • Chicago American Giants • Chicago Giants • Cuban Stars • Dayton Marcos • Detroit Stars • Indianapolis ABC’s • Kansas City Monarchs • St. Louis Giants • Foster is named commissioner

13. Not the Real Major Leagues • We traveled by bus, you see. You’d be surprised at the conditions we played under. We would frequently play two and three games a day. We’d play a twilight game, ride 40 miles and play another game under the lights…Every night they’d have to find us places to stay if we weren’t in a big city up North. We went into a lot of small towns where they’d never seen a colored person in some of those places we couldn't’t find anyplace to sleep so we just slept on the bus. If we had to, we could convert the seats into beds. We’d just pull over to the side of the road ina cornfield or someplace and sleep until the break of day, and then we’d go into the next town, hoping we’d find a restaurant that would be willing to serve colored people. All those things we experienced, today people wouldn't’t believe it.~Cool Papa Bell

14. Not Just Hardship • A locus of power and a source of pride and support for African Americans • Much like HBC’s • Crowds were less segregated than at the Major League level • Not a lot of national coverage • White papers didn’t cover them • Black press didn’t really report it • Daily Worker was the only paper at first that covered it • What is the Daily Worker?

15. Not Just Hardship • Negro League a sense of inspiration for minorities in the time before Civil Rights • Black owned teams • Employed a ton African American professionals • Baseball • Accountants • Trainers • Groundskeepers • Foster’s hope was to have the NNL negotiate on even terms with the MLB to desegregate • Drives him crazy, literally

16. Primary Source • “Why we continue to flock to major league ball parks, spending our hard earned dough, screaming and hollerings, stamping our feet and clapping our hands, beggins and pleading for some white batter to knock some white pitcher’s ears off, almost having fits if the home team loses and crying for joy when they win, it a question that probably never will be answered satisfactorily. What in the world are we thinking about anyhow?”~Wendell Smith Pittsburgh Courier

17. Stars of the Negro Leagues • Satchel Paige • Pitcher • Kansas City Monarchs • Later became oldest rookie to play in the Major Leagues • Flamboyant • Josh Gibson • Negro Babe Ruth • They didn’t keep statistics so nobody knows how many HRs he actually hit • Baseball Hall of Fame says he “almost hit 800 homers”

18. Assuming • What do you think was the biggest factor in allowing African Americans to start playing in MLB?

19. Times They Are A-Changin • Kennesaw Mountain Landis • Strict supporter of the color line • He dies in 1944 • Happy Chandler • Next successor • Says he will integrate baseball even if it means he loses his job • World War 2

20. 42 Scene

21. Jack Roosevelt Robinson • World War 2 Veteran • Born in Georgia • Raised in Pasadena • Multi-sport star at UCLA • History of racial protest • Court martialed for refusing to give up his seat on a bus • Beat up a superior officer for speaking harshly to a fellow soldier • His brother charged with being provocative for wearing US Olympic jacket • Veteran of the Negro Leagues

22. Branch Rickey • Looking for a type of player • Ability to endure harassment • Threats • Articulate • College graduate • Army veteran • Not necessarily altruistic • Thought that integration was inevitable • Wanted to be on the ground floor

23. Jackie Robinson Debut • 1947 Season • Huge financial success for the Dodgers • Why? • Sets the stage for Larry Doby to also integrate

24. Death of the Negro Leagues • Once white owners got the go ahead they started taking everyone from the Negro Leagues • League crumbled instantly • A bittersweet feeling for African Americans • Why?

25. Big Picture • Negro Leagues were a source of black pride • Black business with black customers • Was a huge proving ground for talent • Josh Gibson • Satchel Paige • Indicative of separate but equal • Lays the groundwork to help integration of baseball after World War 2

26. Askin’ All Them Questions • Who was Rube Foster? • Why was Landis changing to Chandler a positive development? • Why were the Negro Leagues a source of pride for African Americans? • What environment were the Negro Leagues operating in? • Who was the first African American player in professional baseball?

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