[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 77 (Thursday, May 10, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6000-S6001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ENCOURAGING THE RECOGNITION OF THE NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUES

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Con. 
Res. 29, and that the Senate then proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the concurrent resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 29) encouraging the 
     recognition of the Negro Baseball Leagues and their players 
     on May 20th of each year.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to; that the amendment to the preamble, 
which is at the desk, be agreed to; that the preamble, as amended, be 
agreed to; that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table; and 
that any statements relating to the concurrent resolution be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 29) was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 1082) was agreed to, as follows:
       On page 3, strike the 4th whereas and insert ``Whereas 
     Minnie Minoso, the ``Cuban Comet,'' played on the New York 
     Cubans when they won the Negro League World Series, broke the 
     color barrier on the Chicago White Sox when he joined the 
     team in 1951, and was the first black Latino to play in the 
     Major Leagues;''
       On page 3, in the 5th ``Whereas'' strike ``but'' and all 
     that follows to the end of the whereas and insert ``;''

  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, as amended, reads as 
follows:

                            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, the ``Cuban Comet,'' played on the 
     New York Cubans when they won the Negro League World Series, 
     broke the color barrier on the Chicago White Sox when he 
     joined the team in 1951, and was the first black Latino to 
     play in the Major Leagues;
       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;
       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

[[Page S6001]]

     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.

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