Alex Rodriguez thought he was throwing a tender ball query to Reggie Jackson on the Fox MLB Broadcast from Rickwood Discipline on Thursday, and he couldn’t have anticipated the emotional, considerate reply he bought.
Rickwood Discipline, former house of the Birmingham Barons, is a monumentally vital a part of baseball historical past, particularly the Negro Leagues. Jackson performed within the stadium in 1967, as as a part of the AA affiliate for the Kansas Metropolis Athletics. A-Rod requested Jackson what it was like returning to a subject that held so many reminiscences of baseball’s previous, seemingly anticipating the legend to easily talk about his MLB victories and on-field efficiency. As a substitute Jackson gave a shocking, considerate reply — one which helped spotlight how far we’ve come, and the way far we have now to go.
“Alex, when folks ask me a query like that … it’s like, coming again right here isn’t straightforward. The racism after I performed right here. The issue of going via completely different locations the place we traveled. Luckily I had a supervisor and I had gamers on the staff that helped me get via it — however I wouldn’t want it on anyone. Individuals stated to me immediately, and stated “You assume you’re a greater individual?” they stated “You gained once you performed right here and conquered.” I stated, “You already know, I’d by no means need to do it once more.” I walked into eating places and they might level at me and say “the n***** can’t eat right here.” I’d go to a resort they usually’d say “the n***** can’t keep right here.” We went to Charlie Finley’s nation membership for a welcome house dinner they usually pointed me out, “the n-word can’t are available in right here.” Finley marched the entire staff out. Lastly they let me in there, however he stated “no, we’re going to eat on the diner and have hamburgers. We’ll go the place we’re needed.”
Jackson went on to clarify how former supervisor Johnny McNamara supported him, and shared anecdotes about how numerous teammates supported him at a time society refused to. This all passed off when Jackson performed for the Kansas Metropolis/Oakland Athletics from 1967-1975.
There’s been this tendency to see Jackie Robinson breaking the colour barrier because the second the place every little thing in baseball went from being segregated, to hunky-dory in a single day. The reality is that the ache of integration lasted many years past Jackie stepping to the plate for the primary time. Even with the rings, the bust within the Corridor of Fame, the legendary standing that’s Reggie Jackson — he confirmed that the ache that endures from coping with such profound racism early in his profession.
We are able to have fun baseball’s previous with out forgetting the darkish occasions within the sport as nicely. Jackson encapsulated that completely.
