All of the sudden...

[Stacey]

When it came to racial matters, CIN was then considered very much of a southern city, attitude-wise. Kinda like BAL was, which is why the Browns didn't bring Satchel Paige with them to BAL. After he posted an ERA+ of 119 for a last place team, and was an AS for the 2nd straight year, they just cut him rather than put him in Baltimore uniform. Frank found out about BAL and racism when he showed up and tried to buy a house in BAL. ("Oh, Mrs. Robinson, um, er, you're not Mrs. Brooks Robinson, are you.") You are correct that some things are very different.

This is getting sort of off topic, but I recently read a book called After Jackie regarding black players who entered the league after Jackie Robinson and how they were treated. Frank Robinson was one of the stories, and he spoke of how when he was in the minors in some southern town (can't remember which now) he wasn't able to go to the movies because of his race and how awful it was, but eventually he got used to the fact, but once he got up to the bigs he was once again able to go to the movies. Then when he played for the Reds they used to play exhibition games on their way from Spring Training up to start the season in Cincinnati. They stopped in Baltimore for one of these games, and while he was there he thought he'd go to the movies. He didn't even think twice about it, and then they wouldn't sell him a ticket because he's black. So years later when he got traded to Baltimore, all he could think was how he got traded to a town where he can't even buy a movie ticket.

It was so heartbreaking for me to imagine this man who became a hero in Baltimore being treated that way. It's a very compelling book, although very depressing. Pretty much the entire time I read that book I felt like I was going to cry.

[BMoreJayMo]

...to all of the replies above re: FR and how the Os got so lucky. Makes my stomach sink when I think of the hardships someone of his talent and (from my perspective) integrity had to endure. Then I think of the folks who had nowhere close to the resources FR had at his disposal and it makes me want to hide from the embarrassment or crawl north and become a Canadian. Perhaps evolution will return to the species in time for us humans to last another century, or perhaps it will just run it's course and the planet will be free of us in short order. Either way, kudos again for the information, and may we all learn to enjoy the ride.

[BMoreJayMo]

This is getting sort of off topic, but I recently read a book called After Jackie regarding black players who entered the league after Jackie Robinson and how they were treated. Frank Robinson was one of the stories, and he spoke of how when he was in the minors in some southern town (can't remember which now) he wasn't able to go to the movies because of his race and how awful it was, but eventually he got used to the fact, but once he got up to the bigs he was once again able to go to the movies. Then when he played for the Reds they used to play exhibition games on their way from Spring Training up to start the season in Cincinnati. They stopped in Baltimore for one of these games, and while he was there he thought he'd go to the movies. He didn't even think twice about it, and then they wouldn't sell him a ticket because he's black. So years later when he got traded to Baltimore, all he could think was how he got traded to a town where he can't even buy a movie ticket.

It was so heartbreaking for me to imagine this man who became a hero in Baltimore being treated that way. It's a very compelling book, although very depressing. Pretty much the entire time I read that book I felt like I was going to cry.

Thanks for the recommendation on the read, will keep my eyes open in the local bookstores.

[Old Beta]

They stopped in Baltimore for one of these games, and while he was there he thought he'd go to the movies. He didn't even think twice about it, and then they wouldn't sell him a ticket because he's black. So years later when he got traded to Baltimore, all he could think was how he got traded to a town where he can't even buy a movie ticket.

The first year Memorial Stadium opened, there were separate restroom facilities. And I don't mean for men and women.

Thankfully, that ended after only one year.