[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 58 (Thursday, May 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4111-S4112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE NEGRO LEAGUES

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, last week I learned of the 
death of three men. They lived apart from each other--one in Florida, 
one in Virginia, and one in Maryland--but they shared a special past.
  All three played in baseball's Negro Leagues. They did not receive 
million-dollar contracts. They did not get endorsement deals. They just 
played baseball.
  Sadly, these three men were part of a group of about 165 players who 
never received a pension for their time in the leagues.
  The Negro League was founded in 1920 by Andrew ``Rube'' Foster. With 
72 teams and more than 4,000 players, the Negro Leagues lasted until 
1960, when its last team folded.
  For half a century, most of the Negro League players were denied the 
opportunity to play in the Majors.
  Even though Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, it took 
another decade for Major League Baseball to really become integrated. 
All the while, baseball had its antitrust exemption to unfairly compete 
against the Negro Leagues, and systemically discriminated against most 
Negro League players for many years after 1947.
  That is the crux of the argument many of these old-timers have about 
not getting even a small pension.
  Though Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig sought to fix some of the 
problems of the past when, a few years ago, he awarded an annual 
$10,000 pension benefit to some of the Negro Leaguers, he left out 
those who played solely in the Negro Leagues from 1948 to 1960.
  Major League Baseball contends they were left out because the sport 
was integrated during that time. But an accurate reading of history 
shows it took the Big Leagues many years to integrate following Jackie 
Robinson's debut. In fact, the Boston Red Sox didn't have a single 
black on its team until 1959--more than a decade after Robinson's move 
to the Majors.
  The players still seeking a small retirement have been reaching out 
to Commissioner Selig now for 5 long years now. But their requests have 
been ignored. I joined them last year in trying to find some resolution 
to this dispute, but my efforts to meet with Commissioner Selig also 
have been ignored.
  Meantime, these ex-players are getting old. Three of them died late 
last month--two on the same day.
  On April 23, we lost James ``Pee Wee'' Jenkins, a native of Virginia. 
Jenkins pitched for the New York Black Cubans.
  Just last year, Jenkins threw out the first pitch at Shea stadium, as 
the 2001 Mets--dressed in Black Cuban uniforms--paid tribute to Jenkins 
and the rest of his fellow 1947 Negro League World Series champions.
  James Cohen, Sr., of Washington DC, also died on April 23. A World 
War II veteran, he pitched for the Indianapolis Clowns from 1946 to 
1952, earning the nickname ``Fireball.''
  In his last year with the Clowns, he played with the great, legendary 
Hank Aaron. Mr. Cohen went on to be a postal clerk for 35 years. And in 
1994, he was honored at the White House by Vice President Al Gore. Mr. 
Cohen was survived by two sons, seven grandchildren and five great-
grandchildren.
  Back in Florida, we lost Eugene White, of Jacksonville, on April 26. 
He was an infielder for the Chicago American Giants and the Kansas City 
Monarchs. As a retiree, he coached little league. On the playing field, 
he taught more than baseball.
  Rob Stafford, one of Mr. White's former players, recently recalled 
some of the lessons Mr. White taught the kids.
  Said Mr. Stafford:

       He taught me a lesson that I only learned to appreciate as 
     a man--the lesson of tolerance.
       He taught to never prejudge, minimalize or marginalize a 
     person. He taught me that every person deserves a chance to 
     participate, to be included. . . .
       He is now a star on God's level playing field.

  Mr. White, Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Cohen were some of baseball's living 
legends. But these legends are dying.
  And so today, to Mr. Selig and to Major League Baseball, I say this: 
time is running short for you to do the right

[[Page S4112]]

thing. Major League Baseball can choose to resolve this issue and, can 
give these players a small token for their achievements.
  I sincerely hope Major League Baseball will.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I thank my colleague from Florida for his very 
eloquent statement. Second, I thank the minority leader, Senator Lott 
from Mississippi, for his graciousness in letting me proceed. I will 
try to be brief.

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