CAPs # 2 History to Histories: Racism in Baseball

Back in 1884, if I told you that in the near future an African American man would be the most idolized man in the United States, would you believe me? I am not talking about just one person actually; I am talking about many African Americans. Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson; these are all professional athletes that have changed the way we look at things in terms of racism in sports. Histories (plural) helps us look at different time frames and the different cultures, groups, and subgroups involved in the start of racism in sports.  I think the best place to explore the first sport being involved with racism is baseball.

                                                                   www.bleacherreport.com

Most people, including myself, thought that Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play major league baseball. This statement is seen to be untrue. The man pictured above is Moses Fleetwood “Fleet” Walker. He was an American baseball player.  Most importantly, Fleet is the first African American to play Major League baseball, also known as “America’s Pastime". “The histories that are hidden from or forgotten by the mainstream representations of past events” (Martin and Nakayama, 2013 pg. 141). This definition of hidden histories is a vital term when dealing with Fleet. May 1, 1884, Fleet debuted as a professional baseball player for the Toledo Blue Stockings. This caused an outrage among both players and fans (www.timetoast.com).

 It was not until three years later on the 14^th of July 1887 when the first outward display of racism in baseball happened. Adrian “Cap” Anson was a famous white professional baseball player for the Chicago White Stockings. On that day Cap refused to play against his opponent, Toledo, because there was an African American on the team. Cap eventually started a trend around the major league, which eventually led to the Gentlemen’s Agreement. This was an agreement at the highest level of baseball organization that banned blacks from playing professional baseball.

                                                                www.reference-baseball.com

This went on for many years until a hero came along in baseball. In November 1945, the color line was broken when Jackie Robinson was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers. As we can see racism has come along way.  Yet, we are far from a solution. For example, there are many laws put in place that concern racial stigmas within the work environment. However, there have been many scenarios in which this was not implemented.  No, we cannot solve every situation regarding racism; many people already have a perceived idea regarding their beliefs and values about racism. We can however, collaborate within cultures, forming a common goal. 

References

"History of Racism in Baseball timeline | Timetoast timelines." Create timelines, share them on the web | Timetoast timelines. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2013. <http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/908

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural communication in contexts (6th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw Hill.