[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO NEGRO LEAGUE HEROES FROM LINCOLN PARK

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                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 1997

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the community of 
Lincoln Park, which celebrates its 106th anniversary this year.
  Lincoln Park is a self-contained community within the city of 
Rockville, MD. As an African-American community, through the years it 
has managed to keep rich its traditions and history. Lincoln Park is 
unique not only for its heritage, but also for how the residents 
interact together. They have continued to work together as a community 
in the same manner that their ancestors did long ago. The effort to 
retain and continue the traditions of their history gives the community 
respect for their ancestors and a vision of hope for their descendants.
  With the month of February designated as a time to celebrate Black 
History, it is only fitting that a community so rich in its African-
American heritage would seek to share and explore its roots. Thanks to 
the hard work of founding president Anita Neal Powell and vice-
president Deacon Leroy Neal, the Lincoln Park Historical Society held 
their 20th Annual Black History Program at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church 
on February 28. I wish to pay special tribute to Mr. Russell Awkward 
and Mr. Gordon Hopkins. These former professional Negro League baseball 
players will be speaking at the presentation on the topic, ``Building 
Historical Dreams for Our Children.'' These two fine gentlemen are the 
only members of the Negro League living in Montgomery County, MD. I 
also wish to honor Mr. Elbert Israel and Mr. Clarence Israel, also two 
former Negro baseball players from Rockville. Clarence Israel died in 
April 1987, and Elbert Israel passed away just this past October. The 
story of these men says a great deal about our history and the hopes 
and dreams for our children.
  Russell Awkward grew up with the dream of one day playing for the New 
York Yankees. He got his professional baseball career started by 
playing for the Washington Royal Giants. As a player, Awkward had good 
speed and was a consistent hitter, usually batting first or second in 
the batting order. He went on to play for the New York Cubans and the 
Newark Eagles until he was called to military service with the U.S. 
Army.
  Gordon Hopkins played second base for the Clowns for 2 years. He was 
good at getting the ball in play and was known for his ability to 
stretch hits into extra bases as well as for his exceptional range in 
the field. After the 1954 season he was drafted into the armed 
services, but still played baseball for the U.S. Marines.
  Clarence Israel played in the Negro League in the 1940's. He was a 
decent hitter with good speed and what he lacked in power he made up in 
hustle. He was a second baseman with the Newark Eagles for 3 years from 
1940 to 1942. He then signed with the Homestead Grays to fill an empty 
spot at third base for the 1943 season. In 1946, he was back with the 
Eagles and helped them to win the Negro National League pennant for the 
first time in 9 years. He played three games of the World Series that 
year and had a pinch hit single off Satchel Paige to help the Eagles 
win the title. He returned the next season to the Grays for his last 
year in professional baseball.

  Elbert Israel, or Al, as he was called on the field, played with the 
Philadelphia Stars in the 1950's after the club joined the Negro 
League. His greatest contribution to the dream of black men in 
baseball, however, came in 1953 when he joined the class A minor league 
baseball team in Savannah, GA. Al Israel and four other black baseball 
players joined the South Atlantic League, the Sally League, as it was 
called. This league consisted of small towns in the deep South. These 
five players broke the color barrier in baseball in the most racially 
divided area of the country. The test for the racial integration of 
baseball rested on these five men in this class A baseball league.
  The courage of these men and determination to follow their dream 
helped to make it possible for the next generation of African-Americans 
to enjoy America's pastime at all levels of the game. I hope that 
everyone will join me in honoring these men and women and wishing the 
whole Lincoln Park community a most happy and successful 106th 
anniversary.

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