Sign Negro League players to MLB contracts!

[OleMissCub]

GREAT IDEA!

 

http://www.theledger.com/article/20070624/NEWS/706240497/1002/SPORTS

 

Dave Winfield has such a good idea, Major League Baseball will surely find something wrong with it. Winfield, a Hall of Famer, wants baseball to take a huge symbolic step and sign living Negro leagues players to major league contracts.

 

"The only right thing to do for these men would be for Major League Baseball and the players association to make all the remaining living players major leaguers, if but for a day," Winfield said in remarks prepared for delivery at a luncheon in San Diego on Saturday honoring blacks and Hispanics who played in the Negro leagues.

 

"We have the opportunity to bring a close to an era of separation by law, mandate and choice of the industry. Baseball is now long past that era. We are now in the 21st century. Baseball has long ago put an end to the thought of separation and exclusion, as noted by the fact that MLB is now over one-third minority and people from other countries."

 

Sign them to MLB contracts so they can at least say that they were "Major Leaguers" before they pass away.

 

Love it.

 

What do y'all think?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It's a symbolic gesture. I don't see any harm in it.

[jersey cubs fan]

pointless gesture

 

it's like retiring in your original uniform

[Derwood]

seems about 60 years too late. Not sure how they would react to it. If I were a living Negro Leaguer, I might be inclined to tell MLB to piss off.

[illiniguy]

Or a nice gesture would have been to elect Buck Oneil to the hall of fame. But, per usual baseball screwed that one up.

[OleMissCub]

seems about 60 years too late. Not sure how they would react to it. If I were a living Negro Leaguer, I might be inclined to tell MLB to piss off.

 

Why? No one running the MLB today was involved in any way with the enforcement of segregation via the Negro Leagues.

 

I used to volunteer at a Vets Home and if there was ever a group of Americans that had more animosity toward another group of people, it'd probably be the Pacific veterans of WWII.

 

However, in their old age most of them have lightened up a good deal and it was rare to find a veteran who still held grudges.

[Derwood]

seems about 60 years too late. Not sure how they would react to it. If I were a living Negro Leaguer, I might be inclined to tell MLB to piss off.

 

Why? No one running the MLB today was involved in any way with the enforcement of segregation via the Negro Leagues.

 

I used to volunteer at a Vets Home and if there was ever a group of Americans that had more animosity toward another group of people, it'd probably be the Pacific veterans of WWII.

 

However, in their old age most of them have lightened up a good deal and it was rare to find a veteran who still held grudges.

 

i wouldn't be opposed to MLB offering it, but I wouldn't be surprised if some turned them down, that's all I'm saying.

 

Perhaps MLB should start by letting Rose in the HoF and work down from there

[TruffleShuffle]

slap in the face. They never were major leaguers, and making them a major leaguer for a day doesn't change that. They were Negro League players, and they should be proud of that.... and I'm sure many of them know in their hearts that if not for a racist policy, they'd have been major leaguers when they really were ballplayers.

 

If you really want to make amends, give them a big bag of money. I guess banning white people from the game for a generation would also even things up.

[Derwood]

Will they sign them to league minimum?

[OleMissCub]

If you really want to make amends, give them a big bag of money. I guess banning white people from the game for a generation would also even things up.

 

In 1974, 27 percent of major leaguers were black. According to the census records of 1973, 11 percent of Americans were black.

 

In 2006, 8 percent of major leaguers were black, while they made up 12 percent of the population.

 

There's no doubt that on the personal level, people suffered financially and emotionally due to the racial separation of the leagues. However, it doesn't seem to appear that the existence of the Negro League hurt black athletes in the long run. The Negro Leagues were a huge draw back in the 40's and 50's. The Washington Grays had twice the attendance that the Senators had.

 

The existence of the Negro Leagues has nothing to do with the state of black ballplayers today. Thus, I'm not sure anything needs to be "evened out" as regards the Negro Leagues.

[killthegoat06]

Do it if the players want to be included. If the players don't care, don't waste the time and effort.

[TruffleShuffle]

If you really want to make amends, give them a big bag of money. I guess banning white people from the game for a generation would also even things up.

 

In 1974, 27 percent of major leaguers were black. According to the census records of 1973, 11 percent of Americans were black.

 

In 2006, 8 percent of major leaguers were black, while they made up 12 percent of the population.

 

There's no doubt that on the personal level, people suffered financially and emotionally due to the racial separation of the leagues. However, it doesn't seem to appear that the existence of the Negro League hurt black athletes in the long run. The Negro Leagues were a huge draw back in the 40's and 50's. The Washington Grays had twice the attendance that the Senators had.

 

The existence of the Negro Leagues has nothing to do with the state of black ballplayers today. Thus, I'm not sure anything needs to be "evened out" as regards the Negro Leagues.

 

I'm just saying that giving them a big bag of money is more meaningful than giving them a pointless "big leaguer for a day" title. That's just condescending.

[OleMissCub]

Or a nice gesture would have been to elect Buck Oneil to the hall of fame. But, per usual baseball screwed that one up.

 

That was an ENORMOUS shame that he passed away without being a Hall of Famer.

 

Perhaps MLB should start by letting Rose in the HoF and work down from there

 

Hell Yes.

 

1st in Hits

1st in Games Played

1st in AB's

2nd in 2B's

5th in Runs

 

Considering the character of the guy who's records he beat....Pete should be in.

[OleMissCub]

 

I'm just saying that giving them a big bag of money is more meaningful than giving them a pointless "big leaguer for a day" title. That's just condescending.

 

If they want to accept, fine.

 

If they don't, fine.

 

I just don't see what harm could come from further exposure of the Negro Leagues.

[rawaction]

 

I'm just saying that giving them a big bag of money is more meaningful than giving them a pointless "big leaguer for a day" title. That's just condescending.

 

If they want to accept, fine.

 

If they don't, fine.

 

I just don't see what harm could come from further exposure of the Negro Leagues.

 

Yeah. That's how I feel. Who cares when or why it's done. It's a nice gesture. Jackie died before his number was retired.

 

I don't think anyone would feel like it was condescending if it was offered by the MLB.

 

BTW, Buck O'Neill was an amazing man. He was great enough on the field to be considered HOF worthy. He was 1 million times better as an ambassador.

[OleMissCub]

He was 1 million times better as an ambassador.

 

Word. In my opinion, He was the bridge between black America and the majors....not Jackie, not Doby, but O'Neill via his goodwill.

[Roast]

Considering the character of the guy who's records he beat....Pete should be in.

 

No kidding.

 

THere is no doubt that Rose is a Douchebag, but it's absolutely criminal that he is not in the HOF because of betting on baseball and yet Ty Cobb is in the HOF.

 

Cobb and Rose both deserve a place.

[TruffleShuffle]

Well, I watched ATH today and JA Adande thought it was a nice gesture. My instinct is that it's hollow, but if the living players want this, then MLB should do it. But I think there will be some who decline it.

[OleMissCub]

Considering the character of the guy who's records he beat....Pete should be in.

 

No kidding.

 

THere is no doubt that Rose is a Douchebag, but it's absolutely criminal that he is not in the HOF because of betting on baseball and yet Ty Cobb is in the HOF.

 

Cobb and Rose both deserve a place.

 

Cobb made Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson look like Mary-Kate & Ashley when he went on his rampages in the stands and against fellow players.

[snoodmonger]

 

I'm just saying that giving them a big bag of money is more meaningful than giving them a pointless "big leaguer for a day" title. That's just condescending.

 

If they want to accept, fine.

 

If they don't, fine.

 

I just don't see what harm could come from further exposure of the Negro Leagues.

 

I agree. It would be nice if some money was tied into it, too.

[DurbanJer]

Shoulda done it on Jackie Robinson Day this year.

 

Meanwhile, we have the arrogant Veteran's Committee refusing to add anyone to the HOF. No offense to Santo, but O'Neil should go first.

[Amazing_Grace]

slap in the face. They never were major leaguers, and making them a major leaguer for a day doesn't change that. They were Negro League players, and they should be proud of that.... and I'm sure many of them know in their hearts that if not for a racist policy, they'd have been major leaguers when they really were ballplayers.

 

If you really want to make amends, give them a big bag of money. I guess banning white people from the game for a generation would also even things up.

 

But then the MVP candidate David Eckstein couldn't play *gasp*.

[erik316wttn]

I'd say go for it. Maybe even for a series so they can hang out with the younger guys. I'm sure those guys have some wicked stories. Sell exclusive jerseys with the names of the players on them and what team they were activated on sold only for the day(s) the players are with the team, with all proceeds going to charity.

 

Each team should have at least one player for at least one game.

[Sammy Sofa]

I try to figure out what someone's motive could possibly be to not vote Buck into the HOF, and my brain threatens to implode from the sheer absurdity. I honestly teared up a little when I heard he died knowing that it was before he could voted in. One of the worst sins in the game's history.

[chuckywang]

Or a nice gesture would have been to elect Buck Oneil to the hall of fame. But, per usual baseball screwed that one up.

 

That one still makes me fume.