It's the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues, the baseball league that began in 1920 to give many great players a chance to play professional baseball.
Long before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, many great (and I do mean GREAT) players were denied the opportunity to play in the Major Leagues.
Players like Buck O'Neil, Josh Gibson, Ted "Double-Duty" Radcliff, "Cool Papa" Bell, even Satchel Paige -- who didn't get a chanced until he was in his late 40s -- all starred in the Negro Leagues, playing for teams that were often owned by Blacks. And players who because Hall of Famers, players like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks, cut their teeth in the Negro Leagues.
The expansion of Major League baseball west, the growth of games on television, economics and more were factors that led to the league's demise.
If you're a baseball fan, and you get down to Kansas City, MO, I suggest making a stop at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Well worth the visit, for sure.
A READER, and yes, I do appreciate any and all, questioned the new change in ending extra-inning games in MLB. So, to help with some clarification, when teams go to the 10th inning, the runner at second base will be the player in the batting order position previous to the leadoff batter of the inning (or a substitute for that player).
So, if the number five hitter is due up to lead off the 10th inning, the number four player in the batting order, or a pinch-runner, starts the inning at second base. Any runner or batter who has been removed from the game for a substitute cannot be used (no re-entry).
That's straight from the MLB itself. Hope that clears up any confusion. Personally, I do like this change for the Covid-19 season, tho also like games that go 12 or 15 innings as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment