Alex Rodriguez thought he was throwing a smooth ball query to Reggie Jackson on the Fox MLB Broadcast from Rickwood Field on Thursday, and he couldn’t have anticipated the emotional, considerate reply he bought.
Rickwood Field, former dwelling of the Birmingham Barons, is a monumentally essential 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 City Athletics. A-Rod requested Jackson what it was like returning to a area that held so many reminiscences of baseball’s previous, probably anticipating the legend to easily focus on his MLB victories and on-field efficiency. Instead Jackson gave a surprising, considerate reply — one which helped spotlight how far we’ve come, and the way far now we have to go.
“Alex, when individuals ask me a query like that … it’s like, coming again right here shouldn’t be straightforward. The racism once I performed right here. The issue of going by means of completely different locations the place we traveled. Fortunately I had a supervisor and I had gamers on the crew that helped me get by means of it — however I wouldn’t want it on anyone. People mentioned to me in the present day, and mentioned “You assume you’re a greater individual?” they mentioned “You gained once you performed right here and conquered.” I mentioned, “You know, I might by no means wish 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 might go to a lodge and so they’d say “the n***** can’t keep right here.” We went to Charlie Finley’s nation membership for a welcome dwelling dinner and so they pointed me out, “the n-word can’t are available in right here.” Finley marched the entire crew out. Finally they let me in there, however he mentioned “no, we’re going to eat on the diner and have hamburgers. We’ll go the place we’re needed.”
Jackson went on to elucidate how former supervisor Johnny McNamara supported him, and shared anecdotes about how varied teammates supported him at a time society refused to. This all befell when Jackson performed for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics from 1967-1975.
There’s been this tendency to see Jackie Robinson breaking the colour barrier because the second the place every part 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 Hall 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 can have a good time baseball’s previous with out forgetting the darkish occasions within the sport as effectively. Jackson encapsulated that completely.
