[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 29--ENCOURAGING THE RECOGNITION OF THE
NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUES AND THEIR PLAYERS ON MAY 20TH OF EACH YEAR
Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Specter,
Mr. Obama, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Brownback, and Mr. Martinez) submitted the
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary:
S. Con. Res. 29
Whereas even though African-Americans were excluded from
playing in the Major Leagues of their time with their white
counterparts, the desire of many African-Americans to play
baseball could not be repressed;
Whereas Major League Baseball did not fully integrate its
leagues until July 1959;
Whereas African-Americans began organizing their own
professional baseball teams in 1885;
Whereas the skills and abilities of Negro League players
eventually made Major League Baseball realize the need to
integrate the sport;
Whereas 7 separate baseball leagues, known collectively as
the ``Negro Baseball Leagues'', were organized by African-
Americans between 1920 and 1960;
Whereas the Negro Baseball Leagues included exceptionally
talented players who played the game at its highest level;
Whereas on May 20, 1920, the Negro National League, the
first successful Negro League, played its first game;
Whereas Andrew ``Rube'' Foster founded the Negro National
League on February 13, 1920, at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas
City, Missouri, and also managed and played for the Chicago
American Giants, and was later inducted into the Baseball
Hall of Fame;
Whereas Leroy ``Satchel'' Paige, who began his long career
in the Negro Leagues and did not make his Major League debut
until the age of 42, is considered one of the greatest
pitchers the game has ever seen, and during his long career
thrilled millions of baseball fans with his skill and
legendary showboating, helping the Cleveland Indians win the
pennant in his first big league victory beginning with his
first game on July 15, 1948, and was later inducted into the
Baseball Hall of Fame;
Whereas Josh Gibson, who was the greatest slugger of the
Negro Leagues, tragically died months before the integration
of baseball, and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of
Fame;
Whereas Jackie Robinson, whose career began with the Negro
League Kansas City Monarchs, became the first African-
American to play in the Major Leagues in April 1947, was
named Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year in 1947,
subsequently led the Brooklyn Dodgers to 6 National League
pennants and a World Series championship, and was later
inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame;
Whereas Larry Doby, whose career began with the Negro
League Newark Eagles, became the first African-American to
play in the American League in July 1947, was an All-Star 9
times in Negro League and Major League Baseball, and was
later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame;
Whereas John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil was a player and
manager of the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs, became the
first African-American coach in the Major Leagues with the
Chicago Cubs in 1962, served on the Veterans Committee of the
National Baseball Hall of Fame, chaired the Negro Leagues
Baseball Museum Board of Directors, and worked tirelessly to
promote the history of the Negro Leagues;
Whereas James ``Cool Papa'' Bell played, coached, and
managed in the Negro Leagues from 1922 to 1950, discovered,
trained, and assisted numerous Negro League players into the
Major Leagues, and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall
of Fame;
Whereas Minnie Minoso played in the Negro Leagues for
several years before being allowed to play in the Major
Leagues and was denied admission to the Hall of Fame, because
during his prime years, he was a victim of racial
discrimination;
Whereas the talents of such players as Josh Gibson, James
``Cool Papa'' Bell, and Oscar Charleston earned them
recognition in the Baseball Hall of Fame as well as the
Sporting News List of Baseball Greatest Players, but they
were denied admission to the Major Leagues due to the color
of their skin;
Whereas Autozone Park in Memphis, Tennessee, hosted the
inaugural Civil Rights Game between the defending World
Champion St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians in
commemoration of the civil rights movement, on March 31,
2007; and
Whereas by achieving success on the baseball field,
African-American baseball players helped break down color
barriers and integrate African-Americans into all aspects of
society in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes the teams and players of the Negro Baseball
Leagues for their achievements, dedication, sacrifices, and
contributions to both baseball and our Nation; and
(2) encourages the observation of Negro Leaguers
Recognition Day on May 20 of each year.
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I, along with Senators Reid,
Leahy, Specter, Obama, Clinton, Brownback, and Martinez, have proudly
submitted a concurrent resolution honoring the Negro Baseball Leagues
and their players by encouraging the recognition of Negro Leaguers
Recognition Day May 20 of each year. My relationship with the Negro
Leagues players began when I successfully worked to persuade Major
League Baseball to give pension benefits to former players. In 2004,
Major League Baseball agreed to put up $1 million for monthly payments
to 27 former Negro Leaguers. Last year, I worked with the families of
several of the most notable Negro Leaguers to pass a Senate resolution
designating May 20, 2006--the date on which the Negro National League
played its first game--as Negro Leaguers Recognition Day.
I am submitting a resolution honoring the Negro Leaguers again this
year--in cooperation with Representative Cohen in the House--to
demonstrate the support in both Chambers for recognizing Negro Leaguers
Recognition Day on May 20 of each year. I hope that this will be a day
when Negro Leaguers and their families will return to the ballpark to
be honored for their historic contributions to the game of baseball and
to bridging racial divisions in our country.
Since 1885, long before Major League Baseball was integrated in 1947,
African-Americans organized their own professional leagues. These
leagues did not succeed because of racial prejudice and lack of
adequate financial backing. However, this changed dramatically with the
inception of the first successful Negro league--the Negro National
League. Its creation was the result of the efforts of an African-
American player and manager named Andrew ``Rube'' Foster. Mr. Foster's
success inspired the formation of other leagues.
As a result, on October 3, 1924, the first Negro League World Series
game was played between the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro National
League and Hilldale of Philadelphia of the Eastern Colored League. This
historic and exhaustive first series lasted 10 games, covered a span of
almost 3 weeks, and was played in four different cities. In the end,
Kansas City claimed the championship.
Some of the names we know and some we don't. Among them are Jackie
Robinson, the first African-American to break the baseball color
barrier; Satchel Paige, who was considered one of the greatest pitchers
of all time; Josh Gibson, who was a prolific home-run hitter; Larry
Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League in July
1947; Buck O'Neil, who was the first African-American coach in the
Major Leagues and who went on to head the Negro Leagues Baseball
Museum; Cool Papa Bell, who was known as the fastest man in baseball;
and Minnie Minoso; the ``Cuban Comet,'' who played on the New York
Cubans when they won the Negro League World Series, and broke the color
barrier on the Chicago White Sox when he joined the team in 1951.
It is important that we remember and honor these players and their
teammates in the Negro Leagues. In breaking down baseball's color
barrier, these pioneers dealt a blow to hatred and prejudice across
America. Today, we can honor them by recognizing May 20 each year as
Negro Leaguers Recognition Day.
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