This site is dedicated to sports related content
Today marks the 77th anniversary when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball by signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Previously, like so many African-American ballplayers he was with the Negro Leagues. His team was the famed Kansas City Monarchs. Today’s games will feature all players, including umpires wearing Robinson’s noted number number 42.
Major League Baseball’s (MLB) preeminent event, the World Series just ended as the Texas Rangers achieved the 2023 crown. The typical road to winning the series is eleven victories but, in some instances, a wild card team will need another win. The Rangers triumphed over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who up until the word series were literally playing like “all world.” Unfortunately, the Rangers clipped off Arizona’s rattler and in dubious fashion got swept at home, and the final blow last night was being shut out. Congrats to all teams who earned the opportunity to play in the tournament.
Now that the games are over, some ask when will MLB come to its senses? I am an admitted baseball junkie and grew up on the premise that baseball is America’s pastime. But doesn’t the term World Series raise questions when in reality the tournament is comprised of MLB teams from the United States. Granted, MLB has done a great job in internationalizing the teams as of the over 700 players, there is representation from those from countries around the globe.
Who forgets the Wizard of Oz, when poor Toto inadvertently pulled the curtain off what was supposed to be Oz only to find a man standing behind the curtain? Thus, Oz’s reality of being a myth was uncovered.“
The World Series has become part of our culture. However, in fairness and keeping it real or being historically correct does the World Baseball Classic provide a better assessment of “World Champion?”
Indeed women are competing at a high level and just finished competing in the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Japan.
cover photo courtesy of TIM SHORTT/ FLORIDA TODAY
My friend Yusimi Rodgriuez who is a noted Cuban journalist just sent me her article on the topic. Here you go.
The biggest obstacle to women’s baseball in Cuba is machismo (alastensas.com)
Yesterday Major League Baseball started its annual playoff season. Perhaps coincidental, the nationally acclaimed documentary series – Frontline, presented a new piece “The Astros Edge” which focused on the cheating scandal in 2017. Bob Reiter did an excellent job in bringing you the details of the incident. Of course, some players as well as organizational staff did not participate in the interviews. One lad in particular was interesting. He was the staff responsible for setting up the TV in the locker room which aided the team as part of cheating. The Astros won the coveted World Series and while his salary was $45,000, the team granted him a cut of the series pool which in his case totaled $450,000.
It took a couple of years to document the cheating but the ire to many is the decision made by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred regarding the punishment rendered. While there were some who were terminated, suspended and/or fined Manfred apparently was snakebitten in the decision he made in allowing the Astros to maintain the crown of being the winner of the series. Instead of being true to the integrity he preached, he took the cowardly, if not political decision to claim, “no harm-no-foul.” despite the evidence being right in his face. What????? If you’re found guilty of something, like cheating how can you be rewarded by keeping the title you allegedly won?
Most agree, a more fair decision would have been to simply strip the Astros of the title and proclaim there was no winner for the year 2017. Manfred could not pull himself to do this and the rest is history.
Here is the full documentary
Why should you watch “The League?”
The League was released yesterday, and it is a must-watch. You don’t have to be a historian, a baseball nerd, a fan of The Negro Leagues or just an uninterested person to appreciate what this documentary presents.
The doc chronicles the life of the Negro League. From its glorious successful rise to its unfortunate demise. The lore is unmistakable as it became a seminal part of American culture.
Against all odds the Negro Leagues built an organization that debunked the notion African Americans were less than. It caught the eyes of the most critical naysayers and became the model in how baseball would be transformed. As the Negro Leagues were ascending in popularity the “White” game known as Major League Baseball (MLB) was floundering. The game lacked the energy fans were reading in newspapers about how exciting the Negro Leagues games were performed.
No doubt, Branch Rickey deserves credit for taking the lead and bringing Jackie Robinson into MLB. Indeed, but he was no saint or some social revolutionary! As a matter of fact, MLB had warned him and others who knew the benefits of players from the Negro Leagues to not mess with the Jim Crow standards the country had adopted. It’s a good thing he was a bit hard-headed as for him, it was about making money. As great a feat that moment was, it marked the eventually downfall of the Negro League.
The death knell
Back in those days there was no free-agency and owners literally owned players. In the Negro League there were gentlemen’s agreements regarding player movement and buying contracts. Owners were often outbid as well as other shenanigans that took place, all in the effort to field the best team that would yield financial success. The doc shines as it chronicles a critical part of history that is rarely, if ever spoken.
Former Chicago American Giants player/manager Dave Malarcher asked Newark Eagles co-owner Effa Manely when did integration happen,? “When the major leagues saw those 50,000 Negroes in the ball park at the East-West game, Branch Rickey had something else on his mind other than a little black boy. He had those crowds.”
In 1949 Tom Baird, still bitter about not being compensated for Robinson wrote, “I have been informed that Mr Rickey is a very religious man. If such is true, it appears his religion runs toward the almighty dollar.”
Once the Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson and the floodgates opened for other players in the Negro League, there was an all-out assault for the other MLB teams to join and grab top talent from well-known teams. The problem was, as players were brought into MLB, the teams they left rarely received fair compensation for all of the investment they made to create value in them. As you can imagine, as top talent departed the energy of the league declined. Further the millions of African American fans who flooded the stadiums to support the League turned their financial resources to MLB teams to see how the Black players were performing. The rest is history.
The doc shows the ruth fullness of Branch Rickey and those like him who marginalized the Negro League owners while downplaying their significance, as if the stars were born out of the sky!!!!! They raided the league during the late 40’s to the late 50’s until their eventual death in the early 60’s. Imagine if you had a business and created and developed talent, only to find another party grab your most critical assets while compensating you pennies on the dollars?
WATCH THE DOC!!!!!!
The doc can be seen on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and most popular streaming services.
photos courtesy of MLB
The 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star game was a thriller with unsung Puerto Rico hero Elias Diaz from the Colorado Rookies belting his way to nab MVP honors. Down by one run in the 8th inning, Diaz slapped a two-run bomb to give the National League the win.
Like many professional sport organizations, over the years has been a push to internationalize the game. Baseball in particular has seen the fruits of their labor pay-off. Known as “America’s sport”, throughout the last thirty years there has been a decline in African-American players. However there is a lot beneath what most see or understand of various programs being implemented to increase the numbers, so stay tuned. A stark improvement has been seen in players from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Historians will ponder the rise in numbers but some who truly understand the social impact of baseball will attribute the success from the legacy of the Negro Leagues. During the Jim Crow era the Negro Leagues were known to play regularly in the countries mentioned. Their style was embraced and left a lasting imprint while making the game entertaining. You can see the result TODAY by watching players from the various countries – the flashiness, the athleticism and other traits are often confused and labeled “show-offs” by those who only understand the American brand of the game. On this years squad a whooping 42% of players are represented having Black/Latin heritage. Here is a breakdown of countries represented (it does not represent greats such as Nolan Arenado and J. D. Martinez who were both born in the United States but parents immigrated from Cuba).
| TOTALS | AA | CUBA | CUR | DR | VEN | PR | |
| NATIONAL | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| AMERICAN | 19 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 33 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
The Negro League Museum does a great job in showcasing the players who barnstormed across the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Their play was revered by the locals and for many countries baseball became the national sport.
This year’s edition is late but once again we note professional baseball players who hail from Cuba and are now playing in Major League Baseball (MLB). The list is compiled from those making the 40 player roster of the thirty MLB teams. Like many professional sports in the United States the rosters have become more diversified representing players from all over the globe.
Cuba has a tremendous baseball legacy. It is the national sport. It became a key topic in my journey to explore the Negro League’s presence in a country where the teams were welcomed and a strong brotherhood was created. Before the U.S. imposed embargo players and many teams took great joy to make the trek to the Caribbean’s largest country. Even though key players have departed resulting in a sharp decline of their status in World Baseball Rankings, they still pose a threat to teams that take them lightly. In the last decade they were consistently in the top 5 and currently have jumped two spots to claim the 9th position.
A critical observation of my research is posing the question – will CUBA baseball go the way of the Negro Leagues? From my perspective the answer is no because while the talent has decimated during the last decade, baseball in Cuba is a national commodity whereas the Negro Leagues were part of the African-American culture making it much easier to transition into the broader society.
A couple of notes from this year’s edition
| TEAMS | 2021 | 2022 | Change 2022 v 2021 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Atlanta Braves | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Boston Red Sox | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chicago Cubs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chicago White Sox | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Cincinatti Reds | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Cleveland Indians | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Colorado Rockies | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Detroit Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Houston Astros | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Kansas City Royals | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Miami Marlins | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota Twins | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Mets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Yankees | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Oakland Athletics | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| San Diego Padres | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| San Francisco Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seattle Mariners | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Texas Rangers | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington Nationals | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 25 | 27 | 2 |
The Last Out (Doc)
Last Seasons in Havana: The Castro Revolution and the End of Professional Baseball in Cuba
Brioso, César
The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball
Gonzalez Echevarria, Roberto
Major League Cuban (Doc)
https://nhpbs.org/schedule/summary.aspx?progId=MajorLeagueCubanBaseball0
Island Baseball
Jailed for Smuggling Players
Whether you are a serious fan of Cuban baseball or the Negro Leagues you will find this documentary an outstanding piece to help you better understand the history. It came out in 2020 and I viewed it as part of my Amazon account.
Here is another good doc to give more perspective. The material is good but the authors appear somewhat bias towards to bitterness to the Castro regime. For me, of all the interviews and voices presented I did not count one from an Afro-Cuban perspective, but still good information to balance your thoughts. The doc is part of public broadcasting so you will need to match up your local channel and when it (if) will be shown.
For this year’s trek we decided to stretch things out. In addition to flying to our initial destination which was BWI (Baltimore-Washington International airport) our mode of getting around was Amtrak. Of course getting to/from Canada we rented a car. Once we got back to the states we opted for public transportation via metro (District of Columbia and New York City) and resorted to a lot, and I mean a lot of walking – based on our smartwatches in seven days we trekked 94.3 miles walking. Oh yeah, one confession but only due to several emergencies where time was not on our side – we opted for Uber on three occasions. Trekking is not for the weak or feeble or those who enjoy the usual comforts of travel. On the other hand our style allows us to experience many things most miss. As usual once we got back into the District of Columbia we were joined by our foodie extraordinare, Renie Hale. As we moved to New York we were joined by my sister Angela.
Countries Visited
United States
Canada
States Visited
Maryland
Connecticut
Vermont
Massachusetts
New York
Cities Visited
Springfield
Baltimore
New Haven
Colchester
Montreal
Plattsburgh
New York City
District of Columbia
Hanover
Highlights of the trek
We knew this trek would require more laser-focused planning. Our funds were limited as was our time but we were willing to move it from 5 days to 7 days. This allowed us to visit Canada, New York and some places we simply did not have time in previous treks. The highlights are goals of this trek was:
CitiField pays homage to Jackie Robinson and even though it is the home field for the New York Mets, the stadium resembles historic Ebbetts Field which is where the Dodgers played.
This venue just opened and luckily we timed our trek to be able to see the exterior. Luckily one of management staff saw us peering through the windows and came outside to tell us about the museum. It is easy to find and right off the “canal” street subway stop as the entrance is on Vartick Avenue.
This installation had been delayed for over a year due to the insurrectionist and Trump acolytes who damaged the Capitol after falling prey to Donald Trump’s hustle that the 2020 election was stolen. Anyway, there is a process to enter this sacred building. Your congressional rep must coordinate your visit and you will receive a letter (via email) granting entry. The statue of Dr. Bethune representing the state of Florida is magnificent and very historic as she replaces a confederate general (each state is allowed two statues).
TO SEE FULL CEREMONY CLICK HERE
Built in 1838 this historic cathedral is one of our must-stops when in DC. Due to Covid they recently started in-service worship so we were blessed to be able to be in attendance.
Arriving in 1972 this is the spot she called home and it had been years since she last saw the property.
The housing projects were removed four years ago but the spirit of the Goodman League remains. It is outdoor basketball at its finest and represents more than just a game played within the rectangular courts. The diversity of the community is on full display. Miles Rawls and his team bring a first-class operation for all who are bold enough to go “inside the gates” at the BF arena to take part in this cultural phenomenon.
PHOTOS these are some of the images captured – CLICK LINK
Our Foodie experience
As you can imagine burning 94 miles requires a lot of fuel so yes we did lots of eating and drinking. Some spots were our favs and of course part of trekking or globetrekking is experiencing new venues. Most are good and a few were just terrible so in fairness we attempt to communicate accuracy……..based on our perspective.
Rhode Island NE, District of Columbia
Rita’s was a great find by Renie. Even though they are franchised you will appreciate their consistency. We opted for their famous Gelati which is 1/2 Gelato & 1/2 shaved ice – refreshing and outstanding.
5933 Georgia Ave Washington, DC 20011
Oooh’s & Aaah’s specializes in soul food or down home southern – very tasty.
1213 U St. N.W. Washington, DC 20009
A DC institution and one of the best half-smokes to be found.
241 W 42nd Street New York, NY 10036
Known for tasty Q and amazing cocktails. Located in Times Square a great find by Angela.
6526 Holabird Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224
Jimmy’s is a Baltimore institution known for their great crab presentations.
Cheesecake Factory at the Live in Hanover
7002 Arundel Mills Circle Hanover, MD 21076
Located in the Live Casino complex, great selections at affordable prices.
K Coffee & Bagel – 7th Avenue & 34th Street – Times Square, NY
Located across the street from the Moxy, this is a great option versus the more fancy coffee shop located next door.
473 BERGEN STREET – Brooklyn, NY
Great options and muffins as big as your head. Plenty of variety at affordable prices.
328 Malcolm X Blvd New York, NY 10027
A Harlem institution, Sylvia’s has earned its reputation. Food is great and a nice variety of southern specialties.
41 Seaver Way – Flushing, NY 11368
We opted for the philly cheesesteak which was very tasty and topped it off with a Brooklyn lager.
50 Massachusetts Ave NE Union Station, L027, Washington, DC 20002
A great light lunch while waiting for the train.
485 7th Ave. (at 36th St.) New York, NY 10018
A bit pricey but great presentation. Now, the rolls are the best I’ve had in years.
Barry Farms Housing Project – Anacostia, District of Columbia
This is one of my favs for all of those hard-working folk who bring great food to those watching games at the Barry Farms arena. Slim only serves platters and you get bang for your buck and during this trek his homestyle mac and cheese complete with his country crust made for an unbelievable meal. What a bargin for $20 bucks.
1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560
This is a must-stop. I opted for the southern fried chicken, mac and cheese and greens.
Jab’s Ice Cream
A great change of pace. Shaved ice seemed a bit pricey but it was hot/muggy and this offering was very tasty while hitting the spot.
A very nice cafe in Montreal. Service was outstanding and fish and chips was tops as was the chilled wine. The cesar salad was very tasty as it came with bacon bits.
Their cafe is adequate but could use some creativity in their menu selections.
This is a historic venue but they are in desperate need of some find tuning. We opted for the pizza and chicken tenders and while tasty we were disappointed of the limited menu selections or everything being one dimensional of either being fried or baked in a pizza over.
Very tasty but a bit pricey.
1472 Peel St, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1S8, Canada
A great cafe and coffee bar. I was able to grab some Lily espresso sets.
The “Great Scully” retired from the Dodgers in 2016. Die-hards like me knew at the time he was a bit ill, if not up in age. Selfishly we held out hoping he would physically be here forever or up to the end of our lives. He passed yesterday as the news came while we were watching the Dodgers v Giants game at Oracle Park. Coincidently, it was Oracle (at the time A.T.T.) where he called his last game in 2016.
Vin Scully was a genius. You can peruse the internet for all type of tidbits and facts. I’m 70 and in 1959 I believe I attended my first Dodger game at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. I vaguely remember but I learned about Vin by listening to games with my grandmother. Over the years, I was guilty as charged as I took many transistor or portable radios to the games I attended, just to hear Scully. Today’s announcer’s have a lot to learn…..if they are serious about their craft and strive for excellence? Unlike today’s parody’s, he wasn’t “just” a cheerleader for the home team or some partisan hack – he called the game as he saw it. Specifically in baseball, he knew what fans wanted to hear and in listening to games there are critical elements that supersede normal chatter. With Scully you knew he was consistent in making sure you knew the inning, the count and the score. Incredible.
Scully at the Shell station
As my working career was winding down I went to work with a fortune 100 company that had a campus/office space in Calabasas. The year was 2013 or 2014 and it was either February of March. While grabbing lunch I decided to get some gas as well so I headed down to the Shell station on Las Virgenes just south of the 101. After pumping my gas I noticed a lad behind me who was wrapping up pumping his gas. Lo and behold, it was the “Great Scully.” We exchanged pleasantries and as bad as I wanted to ask him for a picture, I refrained because in my gut I knew he treasured his privacy. We briefly chatted about spring training and the prospects for the upcoming season. That brief encounter may appear nerdy or inconsequential to some but for me it was priceless and something I will never forget.
Today I wanted to pay my respect so I trekked down to the ravine and was pleased to see other fans doing to same. Also I hustled over to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and there was Vin’s start on the north side of Hollywood, JUST EAST OF 6678 Hollywood Blvd.
On August 5th, 2022 the Dodgers returned home to host the Padres who made noise earlier in the week as the trade-deadline ended and they grabbed some extra talent in their bid to catch the Dodgers or at a minimum make the playoffs. A sold-out crowd packed into the Ravine as the team honored Scully with pre-game festivities, capped by a spectacular fireworks show. As a fete to Vin, the Dodgers rolled past the Padres 8 – 1.
The 92nd Major League Baseball All-Star game pulled out of Los Angeles this past Wednesday morning and is now headed to Seattle Washington for next year’s summer classic.
The game this year had several significant twist for Dodgers fans like us. For the first time in 42 years the game was back at Chavez Ravine. The number 42 also represented the coveted number worn by Jackie Robinson. Just as important the game was played on July 19th which happened to coincide with Mrs. Rachel Robinson’s 100th birthday.
For us it was a great experience. We participated in several days at the CapitalOne Ballpark Experience which took over the Los Angeles Convention Center and adjoining L.A. Live complex. We also attended the Home Run derby which was a great exhibition, although as a die-hard baseball fan I must admit some of the duels appeared tainted with manipulation………ummm.
We kicked off the final event by attending the All-Star game. The representation of fans at the game wearing their favorite team gear was just as impressive as the simmering heat. Here are some pics of our experience.
CapitalOne Ballpark Experience
As a person who appreciates the history of the Negro Leagues it was great to attend a panel themed “The Life & Legacy of Jackie Robinson.” To truly understand the impact you would need to familiarize yourself with his stint as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs.
The world remembers Jackie breaking the color barrier in 1947 but another key reason why owners were reluctant to integrate was the huge sums they were making from the popular Negro Leagues who used major league stadiums to play while they were on the road. They were making money hand-over fist, for basically doing nothing but opening the gates. Once they let Jackie in and the other great players followed, the Negro Leagues waned and the owners lost that source of income they had enjoyed for all of the years.” Bob Kendrick, Executive Director Negro League Baseball Museum.
As mentioned we were able to attend the popular Home Run Derby thanks to Jackie from MLB who gifted us with tickets.
We contemplated on going to the game as for month’s we pondered if the tickets would be out of reach for our budget?It was decided the event was too important to pass up so we made adjustments to make sure we could witness the game, as if it took 42 years for the game to land back at the Ravine, more than likely we would not be here physically the next time it was awarded to the Dodgers. Normally we are in Loge 130 but we opted for the right field pavilion for a different experience.
The game was important but the one issue for us was whether Mrs. Robinson would be in attendance? We have seen her numerous times at the Ravine as over the years she has consistently appeared. Even at 99, looking glamorous and regal she was present this past April 15th. Here is a special clip prepared by MLB “Celebrating Rachel”
CELEBRATING RACHEL – CLICK HERE
Understandingly she did not make it but Mookie Betts summoned all players to the home plate area and asked the 54,000+ fans to join him in wishing her a Happy Birthday.
Another highlight was having Denzel Washington, who is no stranger to Dodger Stadium give a poignant presentation on Jackie Robinson.
Denzel tribute
Finally, I haven’t been able to locate the clip but as soon as I do it will be posted. MLB’s Harold Reynold’s featured a special about the Legacy of Jackie Robinson. It featured Spike Lee, President Bill Clinton, Bo Jackson and Bud Selig. IT IS A MUST SEE.
Thomas Reports 