Here’s hoping that Ohio–and the rest of United States for that matter–produce more men like Branch Rickey and less of the Kenesaw Mountain Landis.~Me
Although Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first actual African American to play in the Big Leagues and not Jackie Robinson during the Reconstruction Period, a gentlemen’s agreement stunted the growth of African Americans in mainstream professional baseball until Robinson. But the love of the game of baseball never left the African American community. Instead, that gentlemen’s agreement gave birth to the Negro Leagues.
Source: Satie GossettAfter barnstorming around the country, the first of the Negro Leagues–Negro National League–was formed. It was a pillar of pride for the African American community with its well dressed men, Black ownership and great athletes. Unfortunately, it became a casualty of the Great Depression. While both the MLB and the Negro League faced a drop in attendance, the two leagues held barnstorm games between each other for several years. Barnstorming kept both afloat for a time before Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis decided that the games should end.
Commissioner Landis was a staunch enforcer of segregation and the theory of superiority and inferiority was diminished by the barnstorming games. The barnstorming games were won by both the all-White teams and the all-Black teams, and that did not sit well with Landis. But Landis’ restrictions on his league’s players did not diminish the African American community’s thirst for baseball and the Negro Leagues continue to persevere and grow.
Some of the best players and showmen came from the Negro Leagues–Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Smoky Joe Williams, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron–giving young African American children hope to reach new aspirations watching heroes who looked like them. Teams like the Kansas City Monarchs, New York Black Yankees, and Indianapolis Clowns helped grow the game of baseball by holding night games, having female players, being the Globetrotters of baseball and integrating White players into its ranks.
The Negro Leagues persevered until it no longer could finally dying in 1973 with the end of barnstorming games. That same perseverance and pride that helped the Negro Leagues form and transform from the 1880s until its death in 1973 is the same perseverance and pride that has been exhibited by the African American community in its survival from slavery until today. It is the same perseverance and pride that will continue for now and forever.
To watch the Pride and Perseverance produced by Major League Baseball, click here.