[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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