Baseball Integration

Thinking of current baseball I think of steroids and nice butts, but when imagine about baseball in the past, I think of baseball integration. However, when I think of baseball integration I picture Jackie Robinson. 

Robinson was "bigger than the game" says Bud Selig in Robinson's fiftieth anniversary of desegregating major league baseball; he was the "great experiment". Starting in Brooklyn, it took over 15 years to be have integrated baseball through out the country.
"For more than a decade before the explosion of sit-ins and freedom rides of the 1960's challenged Jim Crow accommodations int he Deep South, black athletes had desegregated playing facilities, restaurants, and hotels in many areas of the country", Jules Tygiel.
Negro League's became less popular through the integration due to the fact blacks became more welcome to major league ball parks. In 1951, three African American players- Dave pope, Jose Santiago, and Al Smith were signed to the Indianapolis Indians. The Recorder informed readers, "Now at long last, we have an Indianapolis baseball club that represents ALL the people of Indianapolis, and that ALL the local fans can support."

Because of Robinson's cool, calm, and collective response to many racist incidents he more easily was accepted into the sport. Bill Garrett, a basketball all star lead his high school team into the state championship and went on to integrate the Big 9 athletic conference while Robinson was in spring training with the Dodgers. Elizabeth Stanfield integrated tennis in the city parks tennis tournament. Her victory was called a "victory of democracy and fair play."
Through out the integration, traveling became difficult for the African American athletes to be able to eat, sleep, and entertain themselves together. One city that had allowed teams to stay in the same hotel together was Minneapolis. Also in the city, they were able to go to movies together, but not eat together.

The Indianapolis Clowns were the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball! They werent just silly and entertaining because of their skits, they were also a very skilled team to compete with. The Clowns were also the first negro team to use a female player, Marcenia "Tony" Stone. After only one season she was sold to the Monarchs because owners were scared she might not bring out fans to the ball park; which will effect money flow.
Although baseball is not my favorite sport to watch, I have really enjoyed discussing it in history class. Having a teacher who is so intrigued by baseball helps the students become more involved and interested in the subjects at hand.