PUT IT OVER!
PUT IT OVER THE BAG!
PUT ANOTHER PITCHER OUT.
HE'S NO GOOD!
COME ON!
GET HIM OUT!
[MARIO CUOMO] THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY, THE IDEA OF COMING TOGETHER-- WE'RE STILL NOT GOOD AT THAT IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE TALK ABOUT IT A LOT.
IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS, WE'RE MAGNIFICENT AT IT-- THE DEPRESSION, FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, LIFTING HIMSELF FROM HIS WHEELCHAIR TO LIFT THIS NATION FROM ITS KNEES.
THEN, WE UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY, HELPING ONE ANOTHER.
BASEBALL, YOU DO THAT ALL THE TIME.
YOU CAN BE THE BEST PITCHER, BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO GET YOU A RUN TO WIN THE GAME.
IT IS A COMMUNITY ACTIVITY.
YOU NEED ALL NINE PEOPLE HELPING ONE ANOTHER.
I LOVE BUNT PLAYS, THE IDEA OF THE BUNT.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE SACRIFICE, GIVING YOURSELF UP FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE.
THAT'S JEREMIAH.
YOU FIND YOUR GOOD IN THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE.
YOU FIND INDIVIDUAL FULFILLMENT IN THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE BIBLE TRIED TO DO THAT AND DIDN'T TEACH YOU.
BASEBALL DID.
[NARRATOR] BETWEEN 1930 AND 1940, ADOLF HITLER WAS ELECTED CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY, MUSSOLINI CONQUERED ETHIOPIA, MAO TSE-TUNG'S COMMUNISTS MADE THEIR LONG MARCH, AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION SPREAD SUFFERING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
IN AMERICA, THOMAS EDISON AND OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES AND CHARLES COMISKEY DIED.
WILLIE MAYS AND MICKEY MANTLE AND SANDY KOUFAX WERE BORN.
GRETA GARBO SPOKE ON SCREEN.
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING WENT UP, AND ON THE ELYSIAN FIELDS IN HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, WHERE THE NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS HAD ONCE PERFECTED THE GAME OF BASEBALL, MAXWELL HOUSE BUILT THE WORLD'S LARGEST PLANT FOR ROASTING COFFEE.
ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR AMERICAN WAGE EARNERS-- 15 MILLION MEN AND WOMEN-- WAS WITHOUT WORK.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS MEN ROAMED THE COUNTRYSIDE OR BUILT SHANTYTOWNS ALONG RAILROAD TRACKS, IN FARMERS' FIELDS, ON THE BASEBALL DIAMONDS IN CENTRAL PARK, AND CALLED THEM "HOOVERVILLES."
THE DEPRESSION HIT THE NATIONAL PASTIME ALMOST AS HARD AS IT HIT THE NATION.
MILLIONS OF FANS COULD NO LONGER AFFORD EVEN THE 50 CENTS IT COST TO GET INTO A GAME.
OTHERS, UNWILLING TO GIVE UP BASEBALL, MADE THE NICKEL BALL PARK HOT DOG THEIR ONLY MEAL OF THE DAY.
ATTENDANCE FELL OFF.
THE ST. LOUIS BROWNS AVERAGED FEWER THAN 1,500 FANS A GAME.
THE CINCINNATI REDS, THE BOSTON BRAVES, AND THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NEARLY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.
ORGANIZED BASEBALL TRIED DESPERATELY TO FILL ITS STADIUMS.
THE THIRTIES SAW THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME, THE SPREAD OF NIGHT BASEBALL, THE INDUCTION OF THE FIRST PLAYERS INTO THE BRAND-NEW BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.
NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK.
BUT IN A TIME WHEN, MORE THAN EVER, AMERICA NEEDED HEROES, BASEBALL STILL PROVIDED THEM.
[THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER PLAYING] IN CITIES AND SMALL TOWNS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE WERE OTHER TEAMS AND OTHER STARS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST OF THE CENTURY, BUT WHOSE DEEDS WOULD LIVE ONLY IN THE MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO SAW THEM PLAY.
OVER THE YEARS, BLACK BASEBALL STARS PLAYED WHITE MAJOR LEAGUE STARS AT LEAST 438 TIMES IN OFF-SEASON EXHIBITION GAMES.
THE WHITES WON 129 OF THOSE POSTSEASON GAMES.
BLACKS WON 309.
"THAT'S WHEN WE PLAYED THE HARDEST," ONE BLACK VETERAN EXPLAINED.
"TO LET THEM KNOW AND TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW "THAT WE HAD THE SAME TALENT THEY DID AND PROBABLY A LITTLE BETTER T TIMES."
TO THE DELIGHT OF CROWDS EVERYWHERE, BARNSTORMING BLACK TEAMS LIKED TO WARM UP IN PANTOMIME.
THEY THREW AN INVISIBLE BALL AROUND THE INFIELD SO FAST, HIT AND FIELDED IMAGINARY FLY BALLS SO CONVINCINGLY, AND MADE CLOSE PLAYS AT FIRST AND DIVING CATCHES IN THE OUTFIELD SO DRAMATICALLY THAT FANS COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WAS NOT REAL.
THEY CALLED IT SHADOW BALL.
[SHELBY FOOTE] I HAD A COUSIN NAMED J.E.
J.E.
WAS ABOUT 9.
I WAS ABOUT 13.
WE HEARD THAT THE YANKEES WERE GOING TO PLAY AN EXHIBITION GAME WITH THE CHICKS IN MEMPHIS, SO UNCLE ROYAL SAID WE'LL GO SEE THEM.
THE THREE OF US DROVE UP.
IT'S ABOUT 150 MILES.
HE PARKED BEHIND THE PEABODY HOTEL, AND WE WENT IN THE LOBBY THERE, AND UNCLE ROYAL WENT UP TO THE DESK AND SAID, "WHAT ROOM IS THE BABE IN?"
AND THE CLERK TOLD HIM.
WHAT A DIFFERENT TIME IT WAS 50, 60 YEARS AGO.
WE WENT UP THE ELEVATOR TO THE DOOR.
UNCLE ROYAL KNOCKED.
THE DOOR WAS OPENED BY ONE OF THE LARGEST MEN I'VE EVER SEEN.
HE WAS THE COLOR OF MAHOGANY.
I'D NEVER SAW ANYONE THAT DARK WHO WAS WHITE.
UNCLE ROYAL SAID, "IS THE BABE HERE?"
THIS MAN TURNED OVER HIS SHOULDER AND SAID, "BABE, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE TO SEE YOU."
I REALIZED IT WAS GEHRIG.
GEHRIG STEPPED BACK, AND BABE RUTH CAME OUT.
HE HAD A BIG CIGAR IN ONE HAND AND A DRINK IN THE OTHER.
UNCLE ROYAL SAID, "BABE... "THESE BOYS HAVE COME UP TO SEE YOU.
THEY'RE GREAT FANS OF YOURS."
HE SAID, "I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU BOYS."
WE SHOOK HIS HAND.
HE SAID, "I'VE BEEN GLAD TO SEE YOU," AND SHUT THE DOOR.
THAT'S MY BABE RUTH STORY.
RUTH, HERE'S YOUR CONTRACT.
IT CALLS FOR $80,000 FOR TWO YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT WE AGREED UPON.
YES, SIR, COLONEL.
[NARRATOR] IN 1930, JUST MONTHS AFTER THE STOCK MARKET CRASHED, BABE RUTH SIGNED A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT THAT PAID HIM $80,000 A SEASON, MORE MONEY THAN ANY PLAYER HAD BEEN PAID IN THE GAME'S HISTORY.
WHEN A REPORTER ASKED HIM WHETHER IT WAS UNSEEMLY IN THE MIDST OF THE DEPRESSION TO BE GETTING A BIGGER SALARY THAN PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER, HE ANSWERED, "WHY NOT?
I HAD A BETTER YEAR THAN HE DID."
DESPITE THE DEPRESSION, BASEBALL WAS STILL BIG IN NEW YORK, WHERE BABE RUTH STILL DOMINATED THE GAME AND FILLED THE HEADLINES.
HE WAS THE IDOL OF EVERY SCHOOLBOY, THE DELIGHT OF EVERY SPORTSWRITER-- DRINKING AND EATING TOO MUCH, CHEERFULLY LIGHTING UP THE HALF-SMOKED CIGARS HE FOUND ON THE MEN'S ROOM FLOOR, DOING HIS BEST TO IGNORE THE YOUNGER SLUGGERS WHO WERE NOW OVERTAKING HIM, INCLUDING HIS SEEMINGLY INVINCIBLE TEAMMATE, LOU GEHRIG.
GEHRIG HAD BECOME THE BEST HITTER IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE, DRIVING IN RUNS AT A FASTER CLIP THAN RUTH.
BUT HE STILL HAD TO SETTLE FOR SECOND BILLING.
THE TWO MEN WERE GROWING INCREASINGLY DISTANT, AND NOW GEHRIG BECAME OBSESSED WITH SETTING A RECORD NO ONE COULD EVER MATCH.
SINCE MAY OF 1925, HE HAD NOT MISSED A SINGLE GAME, AND DESPITE ACHES, SPRAINS, AND FEVERS, HE DETERMINED NEVER TO TAKE HIMSELF OUT OF THE LINE-UP.
"WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A REST?"
SOMEONE ASKED HIM.
"THERE'S NO POINT TO IT," GEHRIG ANSWERED.
"I LIKE TO PLAY BASEBALL, "AND IF I WERE TO SIT ON THE BENCH, THE WORRY AND FRETTING WOULD TAKE TOO MUCH OUT OF ME."
[CONGREGATION SINGING] [RILEY STEWART] MY FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH, RELIGIOUS FAMILIES, WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO PLAY ON SUNDAY.
WHEN I GOT OLDER, I STARTED SLIPPING AWAY TO PLAY, BUT WE HAD TO GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY.
BUT THEY WOULD HAVE SATURDAY GAMES AT THESE CHURCHES.
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WOULD TURN OUT TO SEE THEM PLAY.
AS I LOOK BACK, REMEMBER NOW, MY MOTHER WOULD MAKE A BALL OUT OF A SOCK AND PUT A ROCK INSIDE, AND YOU'D PLAY WITH THAT.
THE GUYS, WHEN THEY'D BREAK A BAT, WE'D PUT TACKS AND NAILS IN IT AND TAPE IT.
AS I GOT A LITTLE BIT OLDER, ALL THE TOWNS AND CITIES HAD BASEBALL TEAMS-- FACTORY TEAMS AND STEEL MILL OR FURNITURE STORE-- BECAUSE THAT WAS BASICALLY THE ONLY THING THAT YOU COULD DO, WAS PLAY BASEBALL IN THE SUMMERTIME.
[NARRATOR] BLACK PLAYERS HAD BEEN SHUT OUT OF THE MAJOR LEAGUES SINCE THE 1880s, BUT FOR HALF A CENTURY, THEY HAD STRUGGLED TO BUILD LEAGUES OF THEIR OWN.
NOW, WHILE MOST OF ORGANIZED WHITE BASEBALL FALTERED IN THE MIDST OF THE DEPRESSION, BLACK BASEBALL FLOURISHED AS NEVER BEFORE.
TEAMS WERE POINTS OF PRIDE IN BLACK COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BOOSTING LOCAL ECONOMIES, MAKING LIFE A LITTLE EASIER IN SOUTHERN TOWNS AND IN NORTHERN GHETTOS, STITCHING BLACK AMERICA TOGETHER.
IN THE 1930s, RUBE FOSTER'S OLD DREAM OF A SEPARATE BUT ATHLETICALLY EQUAL LEAGUE FINALLY CAME TRUE.
"THE OPENING CEREMONIES "CONSISTED OF A PARADE OF AUTOMOBILES, "SOME 300 IN NUMBER, "LED BY A SQUAD OF MOTORCYCLE POLICE, "AND A TRUCK FILLED WITH TOOTERS OF JAZZ HOUNDS.
"IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR THE OPENING-- "WARM WEATHER AND THE FOLKS COMING OUT "LIKE A LOT OF BEES HIDDEN AWAY ALL WINTER AND GETTING ACTIVE WHEN THE SUN SHINES."
CHICAGO DEFENDER.
[BUCK O'NEIL] IT WAS THE ERA OF DRESS-UP.
IT WAS THAT ERA, SEE?
THE MEN HAVE ON TIES, HATS.
THE LADIES HAD ON THEIR FINE DRESSES.
IN OUR BASEBALL, SUNDAY BASEBALL...
IN OUR FAITH-- YOU KNOW, METHODIST, BAPTIST, OR WHATNOT-- 11:00 SERVICE ON SUNDAY.
BUT WHEN THE MONARCHS ARE IN TOWN OR WHEN THE EAST-WEST GAME WAS ON, THEY STARTED CHURCH AT 10:00 TO GET OUT AN HOUR EARLIER TO COME TO THE BALL GAME.
THEY GOT ON THEIR FINERY COMING FROM CHURCH.
THEY CAME STRAIGHT TO THE BALL GAME LOOKING PRETTY.
YES!
WE LOVED IT.
[NARRATOR] MUCH OF THE DRAMA OF BLACK BASEBALL WAS CENTERED IN PITTSBURGH, WHERE A FORMER BASKETBALL PLAYER NAMED CUMBERLAND POSEY, JR. BOUGHT A TEAM CALLED THE HOMESTEAD GRAYS AND STAFFED IT WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE.
IN 1931, POSEY WAS SUDDENLY CONFRONTED BY A DANGEROUS CROSS-TOWN RIVAL-- GUS GREENLEE, KING OF THE CITY'S NUMBERS RACKET AND CREATOR OF A BRAND-NEW TEAM, THE PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS.
BEFORE LONG, MUCH OF BLACK BASEBALL WOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF RACKETEERS, AMONG THE FEW MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY WITH ENOUGH MONEY DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION TO PAY THE BILLS.
WHEN HIS BLACK STARS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO USE THE SHOWERS IN PITTSBURGH'S FORBES FIELD, GUS GREENLEE BUILT HIS CRAWFORDS A $60,000 STADIUM.
THEN HE STOLE CUMBERLAND POSEY'S BIGGEST STARS, INCLUDING OSCAR CHARLESTON AND JUDY JOHNSON.
THE RESULT WAS A LINE-UP WHICH, FOR A TIME, RIVALED THE BEST WHITE TEAMS IN HISTORY.
"THE CRAWFORDS PLAYED EVERYWHERE," A PLAYER REMEMBERED, "IN EVERY BALL PARK, AND WE WON, WON LIKE WE INVENTED THE GAME."
WE HAD SOME OUTSTANDING OWNERS.
WE HAD SOME CROOKS.
AND WE HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT WAS... MORE OR LESS INTERESTED IN US IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
WE HAD TWO UNDERTAKERS.
[NARRATOR] THE OWNER OF THE NEWARK EAGLES WAS ABE MANLEY, BUT IT WAS HIS WIFE EFFA WHO RAN THE TEAM.
TOUGH-MINDED AND SHREWD, SHE WAS A POWER IN NEGRO BASEBALL AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, SOMETIMES DONATING THE HOME GAME PROCEEDS TO THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE OF THE DAY-- THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST LYNCHING.
BLACK ENTERTAINERS ALSO SPONSORED THEIR OWN TEAMS.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG HAD HIS NEW ORLEANS SECRET NINE.
CAB CALLOWAY PLAYED ON HIS OWN TEAM OF ALL-STARS.
BILL "BOJANGLES" ROBINSON WAS PART-OWNER OF THE NEW YORK BLACK YANKEES AND SOMETIMES TAP-DANCED ON THE DUGOUT ROOF.
WE WOULD PLAY BALL IN THE AFTERNOON AND DOWN TO THE AUDITORIUM THAT NIGHT.
WE WOULD ALL GO DOWN TO HEAR HAMPTON, DUKE ELLINGTON, FATS WALLER, HUH?
THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
WE KNEW THEM.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
BUDDY-BUDDY.
WE ATE TOGETHER.
WE SLEPT TOGETHER.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY AN EXCITING ERA, YEAH, IN THE UNITED STATES.
HI, POPS!
"GREAT IS BASEBALL, "THE NATIONAL TONIC... "THE REVIVER OF HOPE...
THE RESTORER OF CONFIDENCE."
THE SPORTING NEWS.
[STUDS TERKEL] THE IDEA OF A BASEBALL GAME ON A SUNNY SPRING OR SUMMER DAY IS THE SPONTANEITY OF GOING.
"LET'S GO TO THE PARK," YOU SAY AT 2:00 WHEN THE GAMES WERE PLAYED AT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
YOU GO, AND YOU GET A TICKET.
YOU HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT IN THE MORNING.
IT WAS THE SPONTANEITY OF IT AND SITTING THERE IN THE SUNSHINE WATCHING EXPERTS-- GOOD, SKILLED CRAFTSMEN-- PLY THEIR TRADE.
[NARRATOR] FOR THREE SEASONS, EVEN THE MIGHTY HITTING OF LOU GEHRIG AND BABE RUTH COULD NOT DENY THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP TO CONNIE MACK'S STILL MIGHTIER PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS.
FINANCES HAD FORCED HIM TO DISBAND HIS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM IN 1914, AND IT HAD TAKEN HIM 15 YEARS TO CLIMB BACK TO THE TOP.
HIS NEWLY CONSTITUTED A's WON BACK-TO-BACK WORLD SERIES IN 1929 AND 1930 AND THE PENNANT IN 1931.
MACK'S FINEST PITCHER WAS ROBERT MOSES "LEFTY" GROVE.
"HE WAS SO FAST," A SPORTSWRITER SAID, "HE COULD THROW A LAMB CHOP PAST A WOLF."
HE WAS A SAVAGE COMPETITOR WHO SOMETIMES THREW AT HIS OWN TEAMMATES IN BATTING PRACTICE AND WAS NOTORIOUS FOR RIPPING HIS CLOTHES AND SMASHING LOCKERS WHEN HE LOST, SOMETHING HE DIDN'T DO VERY OFTEN.
DURING THE ATHLETICS' THREE CHAMPIONSHIP YEARS, HE WON 79 AND LOST JUST 15.
THE A's HITTERS RIVALED EVEN THE YANKEES' "MURDERERS' ROW."
MICKEY COCHRANE WAS THE BEST-HITTING, FASTEST-RUNNING CATCHER THE GAME HAD YET SEEN, BUT WAS CALLED "BLACK MIKE" BECAUSE OF THE FOUL MOOD THAT OVERCAME HIM WHEN THE ATHLETICS SUFFERED EVEN A MOMENTARY SETBACK.
LEFT FIELDER AL SIMMONS WAS A POLISH IMMIGRANT'S SON WHOSE REAL NAME WAS ALOYSIUS SZYMANSKI.
HE DROVE IN MORE THAN 100 RUNS 11 YEARS IN A ROW.
HE JUST COULDN'T HELP IT, SIMMONS SAID.
HE HATED PITCHERS.
BUT THE MOST FRIGHTENING HITTER WAS FIRST BASEMAN JIMMIE FOXX, DOUBLE X, WHO HIT 58 HOME RUNS ONE SEASON, JUST TWO SHORT OF THE RECORD BABE RUTH HAD BEEN SURE WOULD NEVER BE BROKEN.
HE CUT OFF HIS SLEEVES TO DISPLAY HIS MASSIVE BICEPS.
"EVEN HIS HAIR HAS MUSCLES," A PITCHER COMPLAINED.
OPPOSING PLAYERS CALLED HIM "THE BEAST."
"JIMMIE FOXX WASN'T SCOUTED," A PITCHER SAID.
"HE WAS TRAPPED."
BUT EVEN THE A's GREAT LINE-UP COULD NOT FILL THE SEATS AT SHIBE PARK, AND CONNIE MACK ONCE AGAIN SOLD OFF HIS STARS, THIS TIME TO REPAY BANK LOANS INCURRED AFTER THE GREAT CRASH.
THINGS CHANGE SO FAST IN THE UNITED STATES.
ALL OF US HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, EVEN BY THE TIME WE'RE 40, OF GOING BACK TO WHERE WE GREW UP AND FINDING EVERYTHING CHANGED.
BASEBALL SEEMS TO TIE US INTO THAT CHANGE OR TO CARRY US ACROSS THE DECADES AND THE TIMES.
AS THE NEW PLAYERS COME UP AND THE FORMERLY NEW PLAYERS BECOME OLD, THERE'S CONTINUITY TO IT THAT WE DON'T FIND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE OLD FACTORY IS TORN DOWN AND A NEW SUPERMARKET GOES UP AND THE SUPERMARKET IS TORN DOWN AND CONDOMINIUMS GO UP.
BASEBALL, FOR ALL ITS CHANGES, CONTINUES.
THREE STRIKES ARE STILL AN OUT.
[FANS CHEERING] [NARRATOR] ON JUNE 3, 1932, LOU GEHRIG DID SOMETHING EVEN BABE RUTH HAD NEVER DONE.
HE HIT FOUR HOME RUNS IN A SINGLE GAME.
BUT THAT EXTRAORDINARY FEAT GOT HIM FEW HEADLINES THE NEXT DAY.
SOMETHING EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO BASEBALL HAD HAPPENED-- JOHN McGRAW WAS LEAVING THE GAME.
"AFTER 30 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICES, "JOHN JOSEPH McGRAW "HAS RESIGNED AS MANAGER OF THE GIANTS.
"AT THE AGE OF 59, "MR. McGRAW STEPS DOWN BECAUSE OF FAILING HEALTH "WITH HIS GIANTS IN LAST PLACE.
"MR. McGRAW WAS A PRODUCT "OF THE OLD SCHOOL OF BASEBALL, "WHEN FISTFIGHTS WERE COMMON, "WHEN RED LIQUOR WAS SOLD AT THE PARKS, "WHEN ONLY LADIES OF QUESTIONABLE SOCIAL STANDING "ATTENDED THE GAME.
"TO THE END, HE WAS FAITHFUL "TO HIS TRUCULENT CREED.
"THE LAST OFFICIAL ACT HE PERFORMED "AS MANAGER OF THE GIANTS "WAS TO FILE A PROTEST WITH THE LEAGUE AGAINST BILL KLEM, THE UMPIRE."
JOE WILLIAMS, NEW YORK WORLD-TELEGRAM.
[NARRATOR] HE DIED TWO YEARS LATER, MOURNED BY MANY AS THE GREATEST OF ALL BASEBALL MANAGERS-- THE WINNER OF 10 PENNANTS.
NOT LONG AFTER HIS DEATH, HIS WIFE FOUND AMONG HIS EFFECTS A LIST OF ALL THE BLACK PLAYERS HE HAD SECRETLY WISHED HE COULD HIRE OVER THE DECADES.
"HOW TO STAY YOUNG."
"ONE, AVOID FRIED MEATS, WHICH ANGRY UP THE BLOOD.
"TWO, IF YOUR STOMACH DISPUTES YOU, "LIE DOWN AND PACIFY IT WITH COOL THOUGHTS.
"THREE, KEEP THE JUICES FLOWING "BY JANGLING AROUND GENTLY AS YOU MOVE.
"FOUR, GO VERY LIGHT ON THE VICES, "SUCH AS CARRYING ON IN SOCIETY.
"THE SOCIAL RAMBLE AIN'T RESTFUL.
"FIVE, AVOID RUNNING AT ALL TIMES.
"SIX, DON'T LOOK BACK.
SOMETHING MIGHT BE GAINING ON YOU."
SATCHEL PAIGE.
[NARRATOR] THE MOST CELEBRATED OF ALL BLACK BASEBALL STARS WAS A TALL, GANGLY PITCHER OF INDETERMINATE AGE, LEROY SATCHEL PAIGE.
BORN AND RAISED IN MOBILE, ALABAMA, HE HONED HIS SKILLS IN REFORM SCHOOL AND BEGAN HIS CAREER PLAYING FOR THE MOBILE TIGERS AT A DOLLAR A GAME IF ATTENDANCE WAS UP AND A KEG OF LEMONADE IF IT WASN'T.
A NATURAL SHOWMAN, HE DREW BLACK BASEBALL'S BIGGEST CROWDS FOR 22 YEARS.
HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST PITCHER OF ALL TIME.
[O'NEIL] THE MOST OUTSTANDING PITCHER I'D EVER SEEN.
AND, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, SATCHEL WAS A... A COMEDIAN.
SATCHEL WAS A PREACHER.
SATCHEL WAS JUST ABOUT SOME OF EVERYTHING.
HE WAS LIKE-- WE HAD A GOOD BASEBALL TEAM.
WHEN SATCHEL PITCHED, WE HAD A GREAT BASEBALL TEAM.
IT WAS JUST SATCHEL BROUGHT THE BEST OUT IN EVERYBODY.
AND THE AMAZING PART ABOUT IT, HE BROUGHT THE BEST OUT IN THE OPPOSITION, TOO.
[NARRATOR] ON THE MOUND, ONE RUEFUL BATTER REMEMBERED, SATCHEL PAIGE THREW "FIRE."
HE HAD A WHOLE ARSENAL OF DISTINCTIVE PITCHES-- HIS BEE BALL, JUMP BALL, TROUBLE BALL, LONG TOM, HIS HESITATION PITCH.
[SAMMY HAYNES] NUMBER ONE--THAT'S A FAST BALL-- HE CALLED THAT HIS MIDNIGHT RIDER.
THE CHANGE UP, HE CALLED THAT FOUR-DAY CREEPER.
THAT WAS THE PHRASE-- "AH!
FOUR-DAY CREEPER!"
NUMBER ONE, MIDNIGHT RIDER.
[NARRATOR] HE KICKED HIS LEG IMPOSSIBLY HIGH BEFORE PITCHING.
THEN HE'D THROW AROUND THAT FOOT.
"HALF THE GUYS," ONE VICTIM REMEMBERED, "WERE HITTING AT THAT FOOT COMING UP."
THEY RARELY HIT THE BALL AT ALL.
WHEN PLAYING HOMETOWN TEAMS, PAIGE LIKED TO GUARANTEE TO STRIKE OUT THE FIRST NINE MEN UP.
THEN HE WOULD CALL IN THE OUTFIELD AND MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISE.
[SLICK SURRATT] I REMEMBER ONE TIME WHEN WE WAS BARNSTORMING, A GUY SAID, "SATCH, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU STILL HAD THE FAST BALL."
"THAT WASN'T NO FAST BALL.
"THAT WAS MY HURRY-UP PITCH, AND IT GOT BY YOU."
SATCHEL WAS A GREAT PITCHER.
I WAS PLAYING WITH TOLEDO CRAWFORDS, THE FIRST TEAM IN 1940.
I HEARD ABOUT SATCHEL.
I SAID, "I'LL STAY HERE A WHOLE WEEK, SEE SATCHEL."
I WAS UP IN THE GRANDSTAND, BASHFUL LIKE I WAS.
THE GAME STARTED, AND SATCHEL THROW THE BALL.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
I SAID, "HE PLAYING SHADOW BALL?
"THE CLOWNS ONLY ONES THAT PLAY SHADOW BALL.
"THIS IS THE REAL GAME.
I'LL GO DOWN AND SEE."
I WENT DOWN BEHIND THE STOP.
HE WAS THROWING THE BALL, BUT IN THE GRANDSTAND, I COULDN'T SEE IT.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SEEN SATCHEL.
I SAID, "WELL, I'VE SEEN SATCHEL."
"PEOPLE ONLY GOT TO SEE THE MAJOR LEAGUERS "IN THE BIG CITIES.
"I BELIEVE PEOPLE GOT A CHANCE "TO SEE ME EVERYWHERE.
"I PLAYED ALL OVER-- "FARM FIELDS, PENITENTIARIES, "ANY PLACE IN THIS WHOLE COUNTRY "WHERE THERE WAS A BASEBALL DIAMOND, THEY KNOW ME AND SEE ME."
[NARRATOR] BECAUSE BLACK BASEBALL WAS PLAYED IN SO MANY PLACES AND BECAUSE FEW BLACK TEAMS HAD THE MONEY TO PAY SOMEONE TO KEEP SCORE, NO ONE KNOWS PRECISELY HOW MANY GAMES HE WON.
PAIGE HIMSELF ESTIMATED THAT HE PITCHED IN 2,500 GAMES AND WON 2,000 OF THEM-- FOUR TIMES THE MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD.
SATCHEL DID TO BLACK BASEBALL JUST WHAT RUTH DID TO WHITE BASEBALL.
SEE?
BECAUSE RUTH KEPT THE FRANCHISES GOING.
JUST RUTH.
AFTER THE BLACK SOX SCANDAL, HERE COMES A RUTH, AND HE BRINGS IT BACK.
THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO US...
THIS SATCHEL CAME.
THIS IS A GUY THAT THE PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE, AND HE NEVER FAILED.
[NARRATOR] "ANYTIME A TEAM GOT INTO TROUBLE," ONE PLAYER REMEMBERED, "IT SENT FOR SATCHEL TO PITCH."
THE AVERAGE BLACK PLAYER WAS PAID $200 TO $300 A MONTH.
PAIGE MADE SEVERAL TIMES THAT AMOUNT.
"THE MAJORS COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH TO PLAY," HE ONCE SAID.
[CONNIE JOHNSON] SATCHEL PAIGE HAD A GOOD ARM, A STRONG ARM WITH NO MUSCLES.
HE HAD A LITTLE LIKE A SLINGSHOT.
I GRABBED HIS ARM, I SAID, "SATCHEL, YOU AIN'T GOT MUSCLES."
HE SAID, "I SLING THE BALL UP THERE."
HE CAN STAND STILL AND THROW THE BALL JUST LIKE THAT.
MY ARM HAD MUSCLE.
MY ARM WOULD GET SORE QUICKER THAN SATCHEL WILL.
I'VE HAD TWISTED MUSCLES, BUT SATCHEL DIDN'T.
AND HE HAD CONTROL, AND HE BELIEVED WHAT HE COULD DO.
HE KNEW HOW TO PITCH, AND WHEN HE GOT READY TO WARM UP, HE WOULDN'T LOOK FOR NO PLATE.
HE'D FIND A PIECE OF CHEWING GUM.
HE SAID, "THIS IS WHAT I'M AIMING AT."
HE WOULD THROW OVER IT.
AND THEN ANOTHER THING ABOUT SATCH-- WHEN HE WAS ON THE ROAD, HE LIKED TO DRIVE FAST.
I WAS DRIVING FOR HIM.
WE WAS GOING FROM LITTLE ROCK TO NEW ORLEANS.
HE SAYS, "HEY, HOMEY, PULL OVER."
I SAID, "WHAT FOR?"
HE SAID, "THERE'S A MAN BEHIND US IN A WHEELBARROW.
WE WANT TO LET HIM BY."
I WAS DOING ABOUT 80, I WASN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR HIM.
I WOULDN'T RIDE WITH HIM.
WE WERE GOING TO WICHITA, KANSAS, TO PLAY IN THE TOURNAMENT, AND HE WENT THROUGH A TOWN DOING 85 MILES AN HOUR, AND THE POLICE STOPPED US.
HE SAID, "WHO THE HELL YOU THINK YOU ARE?"
HE SAID, "I'M SATCHEL PAIGE."
HE ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T KNOW SATCHEL.
HE SAID, "BY YOU BEING SATCHEL PAIGE, THAT WILL BE $20."
SATCHEL PAID IT.
I GOT OUT OF THE CAR.
I WOULDN'T RIDE WITH SATCHEL NO MORE.
[NARRATOR] PAIGE WAS A SHREWD SELF-PROMOTER.
HE PRETENDED TO BE A SORT OF SLEEPY COUNTRY BOY, GIVING DISTINCTIVE NICKNAMES TO ALL HIS FRIENDS, AND REPORTERS EAGERLY GATHERED THE APHORISMS HE LOVED TO COIN.
[TED RADCLIFFE] SATCH SAID IF YOU WANT TO LIVE LONG, DON'T FOOL WITH NOTHING OLD BUT MONEY, NOTHING BIG BUT A BANKROLL, NOTHING BLACK BUT A CADILLAC, NOTHING OVER 22 YEARS, NOTHING THAT WEIGHS OVER 130.
IF YOU DO, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE GETTING OLD, YOUR CELLS ARE GETTING LOW, AND YOU NEED A DELCO BATTERY TO BOOST YOU.
HOW'S THAT SOUND?
[O'NEIL] A PART OF SATCHEL THAT NO ONE EVER HEARS ABOUT IS THIS PART OF SATCHEL-- WE'RE PLAYING IN ATLANTA.
THE NEXT NIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO PLAY IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE LEFT THAT NIGHT, GOING TO CHARLESTON, AND WHEN WE GET TO CHARLESTON THAT MORNING, THE ROOMS WEREN'T READY, SO HE SAID, "NANCY, COME GO WITH ME."
I SAY, "O.K."
I HAD AN IDEA WHERE WE WERE GOING.
WE WENT OVER TO DRUM ISLAND.
DRUM ISLAND IS WHERE THEY AUCTIONED OFF THE SLAVES DURING THAT PERIOD.
AND SO, HE SAID, "COME GO WITH ME."
THEY HAD A PLAQUE THERE, YOU KNOW, SAYING WHAT HAD HAPPENED THERE, AND WE STOOD THERE, HE AND I, MAYBE 10 MINUTES, NOT SAYING A WORD, JUST THINKING.
AND, UH, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, HE SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT, NANCY?"
I SAY, "WHAT, SATCHEL?"
HE SAY, "SEEMS LIKE I BEEN HERE BEFORE."
I SAY, "ME, TOO."
I KNOW MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER COULD HAVE BEEN THERE.
SEE?
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER COULD HAVE BEEN THERE, AUCTIONED OFF ON THAT BLOCK.
THIS WAS SATCHEL.
THIS WAS SATCHEL-- A LITTLE DEEPER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT.
ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BASEBALL IS THE IMAGINATION OF PEOPLE WHEN SOMETHING REMARKABLE HAPPENS-- "I WAS THERE!"
IN THEIR IMAGINATIONS, WHEN BABE RUTH ALLEGEDLY POINTED TO RIGHT FIELD BLEACHERS BEFORE HITTING HIS HOME RUN THERE AGAINST THE CUBS IN THAT WORLD SERIES.
I'VE HAD MAYBE 100 PEOPLE TELL ME, "I WAS THERE."
IF EVERYBODY WHO SAID THEY WERE THERE WERE REALLY THERE, CUBS PARK WOULD SEAT A HALF MILLION PEOPLE.
[NARRATOR] AFTER FOUR YEARS, THE YANKEES WERE BACK IN THE WORLD SERIES IN 1932, PLAYING THE CHICAGO CUBS.
THE YANKEES EASILY WON THE FIRST TWO GAMES IN NEW YORK AND THEN HEADED WEST.
THERE WAS BAD BLOOD BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS.
CUB FANS SPAT ON BABE RUTH AND HIS WIFE ON THE WAY IN AND OUT OF THEIR HOTEL.
THE THIRD GAME AT WRIGLEY FIELD WITNESSED THE MOST HOTLY DEBATED MOMENT IN BASEBALL HISTORY, AND BABE RUTH WAS AT THE CENTER OF IT.
IN THE FIRST INNING, RUTH HIT A THREE-RUN HOMER OFF CHICAGO PITCHER CHARLIE ROOT AND ROUNDED THE BASES AMIDST A NONSTOP TORRENT OF TAUNTS AND ABUSE.
IT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
[ROBERT CREAMER] HE CAME UP IN THE FIFTH INNING, AFTER HE MISSED A SHOESTRING CATCH AND THE CUBS TIED THE SCORE.
RUTH CAME TO BAT THE NEXT INNING, AND THE CROWD WAS HOOTING BECAUSE HE'D MESSED UP THE PLAY.
HE WAS YELLING AT THE CHICAGO BENCH, AND HE SAID LATER, "I NEVER HAD SO MUCH FUN IN MY LIFE."
AND THERE WERE TWO CALLED STRIKES AND TWO CALLED BALLS.
HE HELD UP A FINGER, SAYING, "THAT'S ONE, THAT'S TWO..." HARTNETT, THE CUB CATCHER, HEARD HIM SAY, "ONLY TAKES ONE TO HIT IT," A TIME-HONORED BASEBALL PHRASE.
[NARRATOR] THEN RUTH WAVED HIS ARM.
WHETHER HE WAS MERELY GESTURING TOWARD THE CUB DUGOUT OR POINTING TO THE CENTER FIELD STANDS, NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW FOR SURE.
[CREAMER] HE HIT THE HOME RUN.
AND IT WASN'T JUST THAT HE HIT A HOME RUN-- HE HIT THE LONGEST HOME RUN EVER IN CHICAGO TO DEAD CENTER FIELD-- A FAIRLY RARE THING.
IT WAS A TREMENDOUS HOME RUN, AND IT JUST STUNNED THE CROWD.
RUTH TOLD A REPORTER LATER, HE WAS SAYING TO HIMSELF, "YOU LUCKY BUM!"
AND HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE CUB FIRST BASEMAN, SOMETHING TO THE SECOND BASEMAN, WAVED AT THE CUB DUGOUT.
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WAS SITTING BEHIND HOME, AND THEY SAID WHEN RUTH CROSSED HOME PLATE, ROOSEVELT JUST PUT HIS HEAD BACK AND LAUGHED.
[NARRATOR] PITCHER CHARLIE ROOT SWORE RUTH HAD NEVER POINTED TO THE FENCE.
"IF HE HAD, I'D HAVE PUT ONE IN HIS EAR AND KNOCKED HIM ON HIS ASS."
LOU GEHRIG WAS NO LESS CERTAIN THAT HE HAD-- "WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NERVE OF THAT BIG MONKEY, CALLING HIS SHOT AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT?"
HE WAS POINTING TO THE BENCH.
HE WAS POINTING TO THE CUB DUGOUT ON THE THIRD BASE SIDE, AND CENTER FIELD'S WAY OVER THERE.
SO HE WASN'T POINTING TOWARD CENTER FIELD AT ALL.
[CREAMER] SURE, HE CALLED THE SHOT.
THE DIFFICULTY IS, DID HE STAND EXTRAVAGANTLY AND POINT THE WAY WILLIAM BENDIX DID IN THAT TERRIBLE MOVIE?
NO, HE DIDN'T.
IRONICALLY, GEHRIG WAS THE REAL STAR OF THE YANKEES' FOUR-GAME SWEEP, BUT FEW WOULD REMEMBER HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE FACE OF ALL THE PUBLICITY RUTH GOT.
RUTH HIMSELF WAS EVASIVE WHEN ASKED IF HE REALLY HAD CALLED HIS SHOT.
"IT'S IN THE PAPERS, ISN'T IT?"
HE SAID.
"WHY DON'T YOU READ THE PAPERS?"
ONE MONTH LATER, FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT, PLEDGED TO BRING HIS COUNTRY OUT OF THE DEPRESSION.
"I HAVE NO EXPECTATION OF MAKING A HIT EVERY TIME I COME TO BAT," ROOSEVELT SAID.
"WHAT I SEEK IS THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE BATTING AVERAGE, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR MY TEAM."
THE DEPRESSION WAS THE WORST CRISIS IN AMERICA SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.
IN HARLAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY, WHERE THE COAL INDUSTRY HAD DIED, WHOLE COMMUNITIES TRIED TO SURVIVE ON DANDELIONS AND BLACKBERRIES AND POKEWEED.
FARM PRICES COLLAPSED, AND FARM FAMILIES WERE DRIVEN OFF THE LAND.
IN JUST ONE DAY, 1/4 OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI WENT UNDER THE AUCTIONEER'S HAMMER.
BANKS FAILED, AND IN SEVERAL BANKRUPT CITIES, THE ANIMALS IN THE ZOO WERE SHOT AND THE MEAT DISTRIBUTED TO THE POOR.
HUNDREDS OF BOYS AND MEN THUMBED THEIR WAY TO FLORIDA TO TRY OUT FOR THE BIG LEAGUES, HOPING NOT FOR STARDOM BUT SIMPLY FOR A JOB.
HALF-STARVED AND IN RAGS, WITHOUT MONEY, GLOVES, OR SHOES, MOST WERE TURNED AWAY.
SOME WHO DID GET A TRYOUT COLLAPSED ON THE FIELD FROM EXHAUSTION AND HUNGER.
"THERE IS A CATCHER "THAT ANY BIG-LEAGUE CLUB WOULD LIKE TO BUY "FOR $200,000.
"HIS NAME IS GIBSON.
HE CAN DO EVERYTHING.
"HE HITS THE BALL A MILE, AND HE CATCHES SO EASY, "HE MIGHT AS WELL BE IN A ROCKING CHAIR.
"THROWS LIKE A RIFLE.
TOO BAD THIS GIBSON IS A COLORED FELLOW."
WALTER JOHNSON.
JOSH GIBSON WAS BLACK BASEBALL'S GREATEST HOME-RUN HITTER AND AFTER SATCHEL PAIGE, ITS BIGGEST CROWD-PLEASER.
A SHARECROPPER'S SON FROM BUENA VISTA, GEORGIA, HE WAS BROUGHT NORTH TO PITTSBURGH WHEN HIS FATHER MOVED THERE TO WORK IN THE STEEL MILLS.
HIS FIRST LOVE WAS SWIMMING, AND HE PLANNED TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, UNTIL HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS BETTER MONEY IN BASEBALL.
HE BROKE IN WITH THE HOMESTEAD GRAYS IN 1930 AND QUICKLY PROVED HIMSELF SO GOOD THAT GUS GREENLEE STOLE HIM FOR THE CRAWFORDS.
HE HIT MORE THAN 70 HOME RUNS IN 1931 ALONE, SOME OF THEM SOARING BETTER THAN 575 FEET, AND HIS LIFETIME RECORD MAY HAVE APPROACHED 950.
LEGEND HAD IT GIBSON HIT A BALL SO HARD AT FORBES FIELD IN PITTSBURGH THAT IT NEVER CAME DOWN.
THE NEXT DAY, GIBSON WAS PLAYING IN PHILADELPHIA, 300 MILES AWAY, WHEN A BALL DROPPED FROM THE HEAVENS INTO AN OUTFIELDER'S GLOVE.
THE UMPIRE POINTED AT GIBSON AND SHOUTED, "YOU'RE OUT--YESTERDAY, IN PITTSBURGH!"
ONCE, WHEN ANOTHER PLAYER HANDED HIM A BROKEN BAT, THINKING IT WAS HIS, GIBSON REPLIED, "I DON'T BREAK BATS, I WEAR THEM OUT."
GIBSON WAS OFTEN CALLED "THE BLACK BABE RUTH," BUT THERE WERE SOME WHO THOUGHT RUTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED "THE WHITE JOSH GIBSON."
[BAT HITS BALL AND CROWD CHEERS] [SAMMY HAYNES] JOSH GIBSON HIT THE BALL A COUNTRY MILE.
YOU FOOL HIM WITH A CURVE BALL, HE'D HIT THE BALL AGAINST THE FENCE OR OVER THE FENCE.
AS WE SAY, WHEN YOU GET TWO STRIKES ON JOSH, YOU IN THE HOLE.
ONE OF THE GREATEST HITTERS I'VE EVER SEEN.
[NARRATOR] JOSH GIBSON AND SATCHEL PAIGE WERE RELENTLESS COMPETITORS.
AS TEAMMATES ON THE CRAWFORDS, THEY WERE A VIRTUALLY UNBEATABLE COMBINATION, BUT EACH BELIEVED HE WAS THE BETTER BALL PLAYER.
"YOU'RE THE GREATEST HITTER, AND I'M THE GREATEST PITCHER," PAIGE TOLD GIBSON WHEN HE LEFT THE CRAWFORDS.
"SOMEDAY WE'RE GOING TO MEET UP, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHO'S BEST."
YOU GET A LITTLE TEXAS LEAGUER, AND YOU'RE ON FIRST BASE, AND YOU WONDER WHY SOMEBODY DOESN'T HIT ONE EVERY TIME HE GETS UP.
IT LOOKS SO EASY WHEN IT'S DONE RIGHT.
IT LOOKS SO GOD-AWFUL WHEN IT'S DONE WRONG.
[DANIEL OKRENT] THE THIRTIES WERE A TIME OF CLOWNING IN BASEBALL, PARTICULARLY IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.
AT ONE END, THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, AT THE MORE INEPT LEVEL, THE BROOKLYN DODGERS-- THE DAFFINESS BOYS, LED BY WILBERT ROBINSON.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW INSTRUCTIONS THIS MORNING.
IT'S UP TO YOU BOYS TO PUT YOUR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL.
I'M SURE WE'LL GET OUT OF THAT SECOND DIVISION, WHICH WE SHOULD DO.
BEEN THERE LONG ENOUGH.
NOW, UH, ABOUT THE RULES OF THE CLUB FOR THE YEAR-- I HAVEN'T GOT ANY RULES.
BASEBALL'S GOTTEN TO A STAGE... [DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN] I THINK IN THE PAST THAT CERTAINLY BROOKLYN'S CHARACTER WAS DEFINED BY THE BROOKLYN DODGERS.
EVEN JUST THE NAME "DODGERS," COMING FROM THESE TROLLEY CARS EVERYBODY HAD TO DODGE.
THE IDEA THAT BROOKLYN FELT A STEPCHILD TO NEW YORK CITY AND THAT THE DODGERS, THE BUMS, WERE STEPCHILDS, TOO, THAT WERE GOING TO SHOW HOTTY-TOTTY NEW YORKERS THAT WE WERE BETTER DEFINED WHO BROOKLYN WAS.
EVEN IN LONG ISLAND WHERE I GREW UP, I FELT THAT SENSE OF BROOKLYN.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT EXISTS TODAY, THAT YOU DEFINE WHO YOU ARE THROUGH YOUR TEAM AND CITY.
IT'S A LOSS.
PEOPLE ARE MORE FRAGMENTED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT GROUP SENSE UNLESS THERE'S A WIN.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS WAS ALL ABOUT.
WE HARDLY EVER WON, AND IT DIDN'T MATTER.
[NARRATOR] BROOKLYN HAD LAST WON A PENNANT IN 1920, BUT THE DODGERS HAD NEVER WON A WORLD SERIES.
WITH PLAYERS LIKE PEA RIDGE DAY AND HOT POTATO HAMLIN, THEY WERE BEST KNOWN FOR WHAT ONE OF THEIR OWN MANAGERS CALLED "BONEHEAD PLAYS."
THE MOST CELEBRATED DODGER STAR WAS BABE HERMAN, WHO HIT .393 IN 1930, AN ALL-TIME DODGER RECORD, BUT HE WAS FAMOUSLY INEPT IN THE FIELD, CARRIED LIT CIGARS IN HIS POCKETS, AND ONCE BOASTED THAT IF A FLY BALL EVER HIT HIM ON THE HEAD, HE'D QUIT.
WHEN A REPORTER ASKED IF THAT ALSO HELD FOR BEING HIT ON THE SHOULDERS, HE SAID, "NO.
ONLY THE HEAD.
SHOULDERS DON'T COUNT."
"IT WAS AN EVEN BET "THAT BABE WOULD EITHER CATCH IT "OR GET KILLED BY IT.
"HIS GENERAL PRACTICE "WAS TO RUN UP WHEN THE BALL WAS HIT, "THEN TURN AND RUN BACK, THEN CIRCLE UNCERTAINLY.
"ALL THIS TIME THE BALL WAS DESCENDING, "THE SPECTATORS WERE PETRIFIED, "AND MR. HERMAN WAS CHEWING GUM, UNCONCERNED.
"AT THE PROPER MOMENT, HE STUCK OUT HIS GLOVE.
"IF HE FOUND THE BALL THERE, HE WAS GREATLY SURPRISED AND VERY HAPPY."
COLLIER'S MAGAZINE.
[COUGHING] BABE, HERE'S THE NEW BALL.
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR YOU HITTERS...
THE DODGERS' BEST PITCHER WAS DAZZY VANCE, A HEFTY RIGHT-HANDER WITH AN 83-INCH REACH WHO HAD BEEN THE DOMINANT STRIKE-OUT PITCHER OF THE 1920s.
HE LITERALLY HAD A TRICK UP HIS SLEEVE.
"YOU COULDN'T HIT HIM ON A MONDAY.
"HE'D CUT THE SLEEVE OF HIS UNDERSHIRT "TO THE ELBOW "AND USE LYE TO MAKE IT WHITE.
"THEN HE'D PITCH OVERHAND "OUT OF THE APARTMENT HOUSES "IN THE BACKGROUND AT EBBETS FIELD.
"BETWEEN THE BLEACHED SLEEVE "OF HIS UNDERSHIRT WAVING "AND THE MONDAY WASH HANGING OUT TO DRY, "YOU LOST THE BALL ENTIRELY.
HE THREW BALLS BY ME I NEVER EVEN SAW."
RUBE BRESSLER.
OH!
LOOKS LIKE JULY!
FEELS LIKE SEPTEMBER.
HEY, HEY, HEY!
HA HA HA!
[NARRATOR] BROOKLYN RARELY ROSE ABOVE SIXTH PLACE.
EVEN THEIR DIE-HARD FANS CALLED THE DODGERS "DEM BUMS."
[CREAMER] DEM BUMS BECAME THE DODGERS.
THAT WAS THE BIG NAME FOR THEM-- OUR BELOVED BUMS.
BUT THE TERM WHEN FIRST USED WAS PEJORATIVE.
IN THE TWENTIES AND THIRTIES, PEOPLE IN BROOKLYN NEEDED THE DODGERS TO WIN, AND THE DODGERS WOULD LOSE, AND THEY'D LOSE STUPIDLY, CARELESSLY, AND DUMBLY, AND PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT OF EBBETS FIELD SAYING, "THOSE BUMS," AND IT WASN'T TILL THEY STARTED TO WIN THAT THE NICKNAME BECAME ADMIRABLE.
IT BECAME CAPITALIZED.
HOW MANY GAMES YOU GOING TO WIN THIS YEAR, DAZZY?
WELL, HOW MANY WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ME WIN?
OH, ABOUT 45.
THAT ISN'T GOING TO LEAVE MANY FOR OTHER PLAYERS TO WIN.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'LL DO THE BEST I CAN, ANYWAY.
HOW ARE YOU?
[RADCLIFFE] BACK IN THOSE DAYS, WE RODE ALL NIGHT IN THE BUSES.
SOMETIMES WE PLAYED FOUR GAMES IN ONE DAY.
NOBODY EVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.
WE'D PLAY 9:45 IN THE MORNING, 1:00, A DOUBLEHEADER, THEN GO 50 MILES THAT NIGHT AND PLAY A GAME.
AND TRAVELING ALL NIGHT IN THOSE BUSES-- I TRAVELED IN THOSE BUSES 31 YEARS, WAS TURNED OVER FOUR TIMES, AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
SOMEBODY UPSTAIRS LIKE ME, BECAUSE I NEVER GOT A SCRATCH.
[O'NEIL] NOW, WE ARE TRAVELING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
WE COULD BE IN, SAY, HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI, AND WE'D PLAY IN HATTIESBURG, AND WHEN WE'D DRIVE UP, PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?"
AND SAY, "FROM MEMPHIS."
SAY, "I'VE GOT A SISTER..." "MY GRANDMOTHER LIVES IN MEMPHIS."
PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON BEALE STREET, AND WE WERE ACTUALLY A PART OF-- WE WERE CARRYING THE NEWS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
[NARRATOR] BLACK PLAYERS EXCELLED UNDER CONDITIONS BIG LEAGUERS NEVER HAD TO FACE.
THEIR SEASON WAS LONGER, THEIR PAY FAR LESS, AND TO KEEP THEIR TEAMS AFLOAT DURING HARD TIMES, THEY WERE ALWAYS ON THE ROAD.
THE BRAND OF BASEBALL THEY PLAYED WHEREVER THEY STOPPED WAS FASTER, MORE DARING THAN THAT IN THE MAJORS AND JUST AS COMPETITIVE.
WE PLAYED IN A ROUGH LEAGUE.
WHEN I SAY A ROUGH LEAGUE, I NOTICE NOWADAYS, EVERY TIME YOU... A YOUNGSTER GET A SPRAIN, 15 DAYS ON THE DISABLED LIST AND ALL THIS.
WE DIDN'T GO ON THE DISABLED LIST UNLESS WE WERE BROKEN AND IN A WHEELCHAIR AND ON TWO CRUTCHES.
IF WE GET HURT, WE PLAYED.
WE DON'T HAVE NO RELIEF PITCHER.
YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU GO FOR NINE.
THAT'S IT.
YOU'RE PAID FOR NINE, AND THAT'S THE WAY THEY WANTED YOU TO PITCH.
"SPITBALLS, SHINEBALLS, EMERY BALLS," CATCHER ROY CAMPANELLA REMEMBERED, "I NEVER KNEW WHAT THE BALL WOULD DO ONCE IT LEFT A PITCHER'S HAND."
SOME PITCHERS USED A BOTTLE CAP HIDDEN IN THEIR GLOVES TO SCUFF THE BALL TO MAKE IT BREAK MORE SHARPLY.
AS A RESULT, NEGRO LEAGUE BATTERS LEARNED TO HIT EVERYTHING.
FOR YEARS, THE MAJOR LEAGUES HAD SCORNED THE BUNT, BUT BLACK PLAYERS TURNED IT INTO AN ART.
[STEWART] THE LEAGUE WE WERE IN, YOU HAD TO PRODUCE, OR THEY WOULD SEND YOU HOME.
LOTS OF BLACK GUYS IN COTTON PATCHES IN THE SOUTH AND OTHER PLACES COULD PLAY JUST AS GOOD.
IT WAS JUST THE LUCKY FEW THAT WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE.
[NARRATOR] "WE WERE WORKED," SATCHEL PAIGE REMEMBERED, "LIKE THE MULE THAT PLOWS THE FIELDS ALL WEEK AND THEN DRIVES THE CARRIAGE TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY."
AS THE DEPRESSION DEEPENED, BLACK TEAMS WERE FORCED TO INNOVATE.
IN 1930, THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS BEGAN CARRYING LIGHTS SO THAT THEY COULD PLAY AT NIGHT, AND SOME CLUBS EXPANDED THEIR SCHEDULES STILL FURTHER TO PLAY FOR WHITE FANS IN SMALL TOWNS STARVED FOR BASEBALL.
[FOOTE] THEY HAD A SIZABLE FOLLOWING, ESPECIALLY AMONG FELLOW BLACKS, BUT ALSO WHITE PEOPLE TURNED OUT.
THEY WERE ALWAYS SCRAPPY AFFAIRS-- SELDOM HAD A GRANDSTAND OR ANYTHING-- AND THEY WERE NOT OFTEN OFFERED THE USE OF THE STADIUM.
SO THEY PLAYED IN ALL KINDS OF SANDLOT SITUATIONS.
I REALLY DON'T SEE HOW THEY PLAYED BASEBALL, TRAVELING IN RAMSHACKLE BUSES WITHOUT ANY SLEEP, BONE-JARRING TRIPS OVER BAD ROADS.
[NARRATOR] IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY, ROADSIDE RESTAURANTS WOULD NOT ALLOW BLACK BALLPLAYERS INTO THE DINING ROOMS.
GAS STATIONS CLOSED THEIR REST ROOMS.
WHITE HOTELS WOULD NOT RENT THEM ROOMS.
[RADCLIFFE] BUT WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN 1920 WITH A TRAVELING TEAM, I WAS MAKING $100 A MONTH AND 50 CENTS A DAY TO EAT ON.
SOUTHERN PARTS OF ILLINOIS AND SOUTHERN INDIANA WERE JUST AS BAD AS MISSISSIPPI AND GEORGIA.
WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE, SOMETIMES, TO TAKE A BATH FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
WE MIGHT CATCH A MAN WITH A GOOD HEART THAT HAD A BARBERSHOP THAT LET YOU TAKE A BATH FOR A QUARTER.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME, WE'D SLEEP IN THE RAILROAD STATION, AND THEY'D PUT A POLICEMAN THERE TO WATCH YOU.
WE KNEW WHAT THE SITUATION WAS.
YOU COULDN'T CHANGE PEOPLE'S IDEAS DOWN IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY, SO WHY FIGHT IT?
IF HE SAY, "COME TO THE BACK FOR A SANDWICH," WE WERE HUNGRY.
WE WOULD GO TO THE BACK.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO USE SAYING WE COULD SIT UP FRONT, WHICH WE COULDN'T.
SEE, WE KNEW THAT, AND WE WASN'T TRYING TO GO DOWN AND CHANGE RULES BECAUSE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T BREAK THE RULES, NOW, WHAT COULD A BALLPLAYER DO?
SO WE KNEW THAT.
THE LIE OF BASEBALL IS... THAT IT'S A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, THAT THERE'S EQUALITY, THAT ALL OF THE INEQUALITIES IN AMERICAN LIFE CHECK THEIR HAT AT THE DOOR, THAT THEY DON'T GO INTO THE STADIUM, THAT THERE'S A SORT OF BLEACHER DEMOCRACY, THAT THE BANKER CAN SIT IN THE BLEACHERS AND CONVERSE WITH THE WORKING MAN.
THIS IS A FALSEHOOD.
YOU HAVE CLASS AND RACE ISSUES THAT MIRROR THE STRUGGLE OF AMERICAN LIFE PLAYING THEMSELVES OUT ON THE BALL FIELDS.
WE LIKE TO THINK THAT BASEBALL EXISTS UNDER A BELL JAR, THAT IT'S IMPERVIOUS TO CHANGE, AND IT'S NOT SO.
[NARRATOR] BY 1933, AS FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT BEGAN TO IMPLEMENT HIS NEW DEAL FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE DEPRESSION HAD DEVASTATED ORGANIZED BASEBALL.
ATTENDANCE DIPPED TO ITS LOWEST LEVELS IN DECADES.
ONLY THE YANKEES AND A HANDFUL OF OTHER TEAMS WERE PROFITABLE, AND CLUB OWNERS EVERYWHERE SCRAMBLED TO SAVE THEIR BUSINESSES.
SOME SOLD OFF THEIR STARS TO SURVIVE.
CLARK GRIFFITH OF THE WASHINGTON SENATORS EVEN SOLD HIS OWN SON-IN-LAW, SHORTSTOP JOE CRONIN.
THE MINOR LEAGUES WERE HIT EVEN HARDER.
MORE THAN HALF WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.
DESPERATE TO LURE BACK PAYING CUSTOMERS, MINOR LEAGUE OWNERS TRIED DOZENS OF INNOVATIONS AND PROMOTIONS-- MORTGAGE NIGHTS, BEAUTY CONTESTS, GROCERY GIVEAWAYS, RAFFLES, NIGHT BASEBALL, AND COW-MILKING CONTESTS.
IN 1933, THE MAJORS GOT INTO THE ACT, STAGING A GAME IN CHICAGO'S COMISKEY PARK BETWEEN THE BEST PLAYERS IN EACH LEAGUE TO TRY TO REVIVE INTEREST IN BASEBALL.
FANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITES.
IT WAS THE VERY FIRST ALL-STAR GAME, AND FITTINGLY, BABE RUTH WAS THE HERO, HITTING A DRAMATIC TWO-RUN HOME RUN THAT GAVE THE AMERICAN LEAGUE THE EDGE.
SOON AFTER, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE FIRST BLACK ALL-STAR GAME WOULD ALSO BE HELD IN COMISKEY PARK.
[O'NEIL] THIS WAS A GALA AFFAIR, AND PEOPLE WOULD COME...
YES, PEOPLE WOULD COME, LIKE WE USED TO SAY, "TWO TO A MULE."
THEY'D COME TO SEE THE EAST-WEST GAME.
NOW, THIS IS THE WEEKEND, AND CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE WAS LIT UP, HMM?
AND EVERYBODY CAME TO THAT BALL GAME.
YOU WOULD LOOK UP, HERE'S JOE LOUIS AND MARTHA LOUIS SITTING IN A BOX SEAT DOWN FRONT.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
AND ALL THE GREAT ENTERTAINERS IN CHICAGO AT THAT TIME, DOWN THERE WOULD COME, AND WE HAD SOMETHING TO SHOW THEM.
YEAH, HAD SOMETHING TO SHOW THEM.
[NARRATOR] BLACK FANS ALSO PICKED THEIR FAVORITES, VOTING IN THE PAGES OF THE COUNTRY'S TOP BLACK NEWSPAPERS.
THE EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME QUICKLY BECAME THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE SEASON.
"THAT WAS THE GLORY PART OF OUR BASEBALL," ONE PLAYER REMEMBERED.
THE HUGE CROWDS SOMETIMES REACHED 50,000.
[SAMMY HAYNES] THEY SAY WE WERE NOT ORGANIZED.
WE WERE ORGANIZED.
WE HAD 2 LEAGUES, A 140-GAME SCHEDULE, AN ALL-STAR GAME EVERY YEAR IN CHICAGO.
WE HAD SELLOUTS, A WORLD SERIES.
IF THAT'S NOT ORGANIZED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ORGANIZING IS.
"THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE MAJOR LEAGUE BALL CLUBS "ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK "IN THIS ERA OF THE WELL-DRESSED ATHLETE.
"THEIR UNIFORMS ARE STAINED, DIRTY, PATCHED, AND ILL-FITTING.
"THEY DON'T SHAVE BEFORE A GAME.
"MOST OF THEM CHEW TOBACCO.
"THEY SPIT OUT OF THE SIDES OF THEIR MOUTHS, "THEN WIPE THEIR HANDS ACROSS THEIR SHIRT FRONTS.
THEY'RE NOT AFRAID OF ANYBODY."
FRANK GRAHAM, NEW YORK SUN.
[NARRATOR] BASEBALL HAD NEVER SEEN A TEAM QUITE LIKE THE 1934 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, A PERFECT SYMBOL FOR A COUNTRY DOWN ON ITS LUCK.
THEY WERE DARING, HOTHEADED, RAUCOUS, UNSTOPPABLE-- THE CAREFULLY CRAFTED CREATION OF GENERAL MANAGER BRANCH RICKEY AND HIS REVOLUTIONARY FARM SYSTEM.
IN A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO MAKE DO WITH LESS, THE POORLY PAID CARDINALS WERE EVERYBODY'S HEROES.
THEY WERE LED BY FRANKIE FRISCH, "THE FORDHAM FLASH," WHO WAS CELEBRATED FOR HIS FURIOUS REACTIONS TO BAD CALLS-- AND HE CONSIDERED ANY CALL AGAINST THE CARDINALS BAD.
HE HURLED HIS GLOVE INTO THE AIR, LEAPED UP AND DOWN ON HIS CAP UNTIL HIS SPIKES HAD SHREDDED IT.
AT LEAST ONCE, THIS PROVED SO PERSUASIVE, THE UMPIRE ACTUALLY REVERSED HIMSELF AND CALLED FOR A GAME TO BE REPLAYED.
SHORTSTOP LEO "THE LIP" DUROCHER WAS BRASH AND COCKY AND GOOD IN THE FIELD, BUT SO BAD AT BAT THAT BABE RUTH NAMED HIM "THE ALL-AMERICAN OUT."
LEFT FIELDER JOE MEDWICK-- CALLED "DUCKY" BECAUSE HE RAN LIKE ONE-- SWUNG AT ALMOST EVERYTHING, BUT CONNECTED OFTEN ENOUGH TO LEAD THE LEAGUE IN RUNS BATTED IN THREE SEASONS RUNNING AND TO WIN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE TRIPLE CROWN-- SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE HAS MANAGED SINCE.
THIRD BASEMAN PEPPER MARTIN, "THE WILD HORSE OF THE OSAGE," WAS A FIERCE COMPETITOR AND FORMER HOBO WHO LIKED TO DROP SNEEZING POWDER INTO HOTEL VENTILATION SYSTEMS.
HE WAS SAID TO BE SO FAST THAT BACK HOME IN OKLAHOMA, HE LIKED TO RUN DOWN RABBITS.
"I WAS IN THE TOP 10% OF MY CLASS "IN LAW SCHOOL.
"I'M A DOCTOR OF JURISPRUDENCE.
"I'M AN HONORARY DOCTOR OF LAWS, "AND I LIKE TO BELIEVE I'M AN INTELLIGENT MAN.
"THEN WILL YOU PLEASE TELL ME "WHY IN THE NAME OF COMMON SENSE "I SPENT FOUR MORTAL HOURS TODAY CONVERSING WITH A PERSON NAMED DIZZY DEAN?"
BRANCH RICKEY.
[NARRATOR] THE MOST FAMOUS MEMBER OF THE CARDINALS WAS A COCKY RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER FROM ARKANSAS, JEROME HANNA DEAN.
A FARM BOY WHO HAD DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL IN THE SECOND GRADE-- "I DIDN'T DO SO WELL IN THE FIRST GRADE, EITHER," DEAN SAID-- HE WAS AN 18-YEAR-OLD ITINERANT COTTON PICKER WHEN RICKEY'S SCOUTS DISCOVERED HIM PLAYING SANDLOT BALL.
FROM THE START, DEAN WAS CONVINCED OF HIS GREATNESS.
"I'LL PUT MORE PEOPLE IN THE PARK THAN BABE RUTH," HE TOLD BRANCH RICKEY EVEN BEFORE HE WAS HIRED.
"ANYBODY WHO'S HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING ME PLAY KNOWS I AM THE GREATEST PITCHER IN THE WORLD."
HE WAS VERY NEARLY AS GOOD AS HE SAID HE WAS.
HE AVERAGED 24 WINS A YEAR FOR 5 SEASONS.
"SON," HE LIKED TO ASK A BATTER TO WHOM HE HADN'T PITCHED BEFORE, "WHAT KIND OF PITCH WOULD YOU LIKE TO MISS?"
HE WAS A MASTER AT DRUMMING UP PUBLICITY.
BEFORE THE 1934 SEASON BEGAN, DIZZY ANNOUNCED THAT HE AND HIS YOUNGER BROTHER PAUL, WHOM THE PRESS INSISTED ON CALLING "DAFFY," WOULD TOGETHER WIN 45 TO 50 GAMES.
THEY DID.
DIZZY WON 30, AND PAUL WON 19.
MY BROTHER JEROME, BETTER KNOWN AS DIZZY.
MY BROTHER PAUL DEAN, BETTER KNOWN AS DAFFY.
WE'RE BOTH FULL OF AMBITION... TO GET THOSE TIGERS.
[NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER] NAVIN FIELD, DETROIT.
BASEBALL'S MIGHTY DRAMA DRAWS A THRONG OF 48,000... [NARRATOR] THE CARDINALS FACED THE DETROIT TIGERS IN THE 1934 WORLD SERIES.
DIZZY DEAN, PITCHING HIS FIRST WORLD SERIES, SENDS ONE DOWN THE GROOVE... DEAN WON THE FIRST GAME 8-3.
AFTERWARDS, HE WIRED RICKEY THAT "THIS AMERICAN LEAGUE "IS A PUSHOVER.
"I THINK IF THEY PITCHED ME THE WHOLE FOUR DAYS, I'D WIN ALL OF THEM."
CROWDER PUMPS ONE OVER THE PLATE TO MEDWICK, AND IT'S A HOMER!
AT THE PLATE, DUCKY MEDWICK WAS WELL ON HIS WAY TO SETTING A WORLD SERIES RECORD FOR MOST HITS.
ELDON AUKER PITCHING FOR THE TIGERS IN THE FOURTH.
MARTIN SINGLES TO SHORT, AND DIZZY DEAN, PINCH RUNNING FOR VIRGIL DAVIS...
IN THE FOURTH GAME, DIZZY DEAN, RUNNING TO SECOND, WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WITH A BALL FIELDED BY THE SHORTSTOP.
ROGELL STRUCK THE DEAN SQUARELY IN THE FOREHEAD...
THE THROW KNOCKED DEAN SENSELESS, AND HE WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
HEADLINES THE NEXT DAY SAID, "X-RAYS OF DEAN'S HEAD SHOWED NOTHING."
IN THE SEVENTH AND DECIDING GAME, DEAN AND THE CARDINALS WERE ALREADY AHEAD BY SEVEN RUNS WHEN DUCKY MEDWICK, STAR OF THE SERIES, CAME TO THE PLATE.
JOE MEDWICK, SLUGGER OF ST. LOUIS, BEATS ONE ON THE END OF HIS BAT FOR A TRIPLE.
BUT WAIT.
THERE'S TROUBLE AT THIRD.
MEDWICK, AFTER SLIDING, TRIED TO SPIKE OWEN... A FIGHT BROKE OUT BETWEEN MEDWICK AND THE THIRD BASEMAN.
PLAYERS AND UMPIRES QUELL THE HEATED ARGUMENT.
THE DETROIT CROWD TURNED UGLY.
WHEN MEDWICK LATER TOOK HIS POSITION IN LEFT FIELD, THE DETROIT FANS PELTED HIM WITH EGGS, FRUIT, AND BOTTLES.
AFTER A 20-MINUTE DELAY, MEDWICK IS SUMMONED FROM THE FIELD BY COMMISSIONER LANDIS.
THE CZAR OF BASEBALL HOLDS AN IMPROMPTU TRIAL AND TAKES BUT A MOMENT TO RENDER THE DECISION THAT BANISHES MEDWICK FOR THE REST OF THE GAME.
JERSEY JOE WALKS TO HIS DUGOUT IN DISGUST, AND THE CROWD IS ON EDGE.
BY REMOVING MEDWICK FOR HIS OWN PROTECTION, LANDIS DEPRIVED HIM OF THE CHANCE TO SET THE RECORD FOR MOST HITS IN A WORLD SERIES.
THE CARDINALS WON THE GAME ANYWAY, 11-0, AND THE WORLD SERIES, FOUR GAMES TO THREE.
AFTERWARDS, MEDWICK WAS PUZZLED.
"I KNEW WHY THEY THREW THAT GARBAGE AT ME.
"WHAT I COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT IS WHY THEY BROUGHT IT TO THE PARK IN THE FIRST PLACE."
THE CARDINALS' AGGRESSIVE PLAY IN THE SERIES EARNED THEM THE NICKNAME "THE GASHOUSE GANG."
♪ OH, YOU'D BETTER PLAY BALL WITH ME ♪ ♪ HONEY, PLEASE DON'T SAY YOU WON'T ♪ ♪ AW, COME ON, BE NICE, MAKE A SACRIFICE ♪ ♪ I'LL BE PUT OUT IF YOU DON'T ♪ ♪ BETTER PLAY BALL WITH ME ♪ ♪ TAKE A WALK, NOW, WHAT DO YOU SAY?
♪ ♪ THERE'S SO MUCH AT STAKE, GIVE MY HEART A BREAK ♪ ♪ WE COULD MAKE A DOUBLE PLAY ♪ ♪ CAN YOU PICTURE ME PITCHING YOU KISSES ♪ ♪ WHEN THE MORNING TRAIN IS DUE?
♪ ♪ AND WHEN DAY IS DONE, IF IT'S RAINING, HON ♪ ♪ I'LL COME SLIDING BACK TO YOU ♪ ♪ YOU'D BETTER PLAY BALL WITH ME ♪ ♪ WHAT A MANAGER YOU COULD BE ♪ ♪ LET'S GIVE LOVE A CLOUT, HONEY, DON'T HOLD OUT ♪ ♪ YOU'D BETTER PLAY BALL WITH ME, YEAH ♪♪ HE WAS, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, STILL THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED MAN IN THE WORLD, BUT BY 1934, BABE RUTH WAS GROWING INCREASINGLY UNHAPPY.
HE KNEW HIS BEST DAYS WERE BEHIND HIM, AND HE HAD GLUMLY ABSORBED A SERIES OF HUMILIATING PAY CUTS AS HIS AVERAGES DROPPED.
HE NO LONGER SPOKE TO LOU GEHRIG BECAUSE OF A MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HIS WIFE AND GEHRIG'S MOTHER, AND HE COULDN'T STAND THE NEW YANKEE MANAGER, JOE McCARTHY.
RUTH DESPERATELY WANTED TO BE MANAGER HIMSELF.
"BUT HOW CAN YOU MANAGE A TEAM," YANKEE OWNER JACOB RUPPERT ASKED HIM, "WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN MANAGE YOURSELF?"
[CREAMER] THEN SORT OF A MYTH CAME AROUND-- RUTH COULDN'T HANDLE HIMSELF, HOW COULD HE HANDLE OTHERS?
NONSENSE.
THE MAN DRANK A LOT, RAISED HELL, BUT HE WAS A MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER FOR 22 YEARS.
HE MUST HAVE TAKEN CARE OF HIMSELF PRETTY WELL.
COULD HE HAVE MANAGED?
WHO KNOWS?
HE CERTAINLY DESERVED A CHANCE.
HE DIDN'T GET IT.
[NARRATOR] NOW NEW HEROES EMERGED FROM RUTH'S SHADOW.
LUKE APPLING... JOHNNY MIZE... EARL AVERILL... CHUCK KLEIN.
MEL OTT OF THE GIANTS WAS SO FEARED AT THE PLATE THAT HE WAS ONCE INTENTIONALLY WALKED WITH THE BASES LOADED.
HACK WILSON OF THE CUBS HIT EVEN HARDER THAN HE DRANK, ONE YEAR BATTING IN 190 RUNS-- STILL A MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD.
ONE WRITER SAID THAT WILSON WAS BUILT ALONG THE LINES OF A BEER KEG AND NOT UNFAMILIAR WITH ITS CONTENTS.
THOUGH IT WAS A HITTERS' DECADE, ONE OF THE MOST ADMIRED PLAYERS WAS A DOMINATING SCREWBALL PITCHER NAMED CARL HUBBELL.
[GEORGE PLIMPTON] I WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED BY CARL HUBBELL-- MR. HIGHPOCKETS.
HE WAS A LEFT-HANDED PITCHER FOR THE NEW YORK GIANTS, AND HIS MOST FAMOUS PITCH WAS THE SCREWBALL.
HE'D THROWN SO MANY, HIS ARM WAS LITERALLY DEFORMED.
YOU COULD SEE IT WHEN HE WALKED TO THE MOUND.
A SCREWBALL IS A REVERSE CURVE LIKE THAT, AND THE PALM WAS ALMOST OUT WHEN HE WALKED OUT.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THIS PITCHER THAT I WALKED AROUND LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS ABOUT 9.
MY MOTHER USED TO SAY, "WHAT IS WRONG?"
THEY FINALLY MADE ME STOP.
IT LOOKED AS THOUGH I'D FALLEN AND MY PARENTS HADN'T HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THE THING TWISTED BACK RIGHT.
NO SCORE AS YET IN THE FIRST INNING.
[NARRATOR] IN THE 1934 ALL-STAR GAME, HUBBELL ASTONISHED THE BASEBALL WORLD BY STRIKING OUT, IN SUCCESSION, BABE RUTH, LOU GEHRIG, JIMMIE FOXX, AL SIMMONS, AND JOE CRONIN.
BOY, OH, BOY!
THREE STRIKE-OUTS FOR CARL HUBBELL!
[RED BARBER] I SAW SO MANY GREAT PITCHERS, AND MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF AN EARLY IMPRESSION, BUT OF ALL THE PITCHERS I SAW-- THINKING IN TERMS OF THEIR CONTROL OF THEMSELVES SPIRITUALLY AS WELL AS THEIR ABILITY TO THROW, TO MANIPULATE THE PITCH-- IF I HAD A BALL GAME TO BE PITCHED AND MY LIFE HUNG ON THE BALANCE, I'D WANT CARL HUBBELL TO PITCH IT.
"EVERY KNOWN NATIONALITY, INCLUDING INDIANS, "CUBANS, FILIPINOS, JEWS, ITALIANS, GREEKS, "WITH THE LONE EXCEPTION OF THE AMERICAN BLACK MAN, "HAVE PLAYED IN BOTH THE NATIONAL AND AMERICAN LEAGUES.
"THE WHITE SPORTING PUBLIC WANTS A GOOD BALL GAME.
"THEY DO NOT QUESTION THE NATIONALITY OF A PLAYER "WHO CAN KNOCK A HOME RUN OR PITCH A GOOD GAME.
"THERE WAS NO HITLER MOVEMENT CREATED IN AMERICA "WHEN JOHN McGRAW OF THE NEW YORK GIANTS "PUT ANDY COHEN, A JEW, ON SECOND BASE.
"IT WAS UP TO COHEN TO MAKE GOOD OR GO.
"WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH BASEBALL?
"THE ANSWER IS...
PLAIN PREJUDICE, THAT'S ALL."
CHICAGO DEFENDER.
[RILEY STEWART] IT WAS CALLED THE AMERICAN PASTIME.
WE READ ABOUT OTHER BALL PLAYERS-- TY COBB OR BABE RUTH-- AS A LITTLE BOY, READ ABOUT THEM, BUT, AS I MIGHT SAY, NONE OF THESE WERE IDOLS FOR MINE AND I DON'T THINK FOR ANYBODY IN THE NEGRO LEAGUE BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY COULD PLAY JUST AS GOOD.
THEY PROVED THAT LATER.
WHEN THEY GOT THE CHANCE, THEY PROVED IT COMPLETELY.
[NARRATOR] SATCHEL PAIGE AND JOSH GIBSON WERE THE BIGGEST STARS OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE, BUT THEY HAD PLENTY OF RIVALS.
BUCK LEONARD, FIRST BASEMAN FOR THE HOMESTEAD GRAYS, WAS BILLED AS "THE BLACK LOU GEHRIG."
HIS STEADY, DEPENDABLE HITTING HELPED LEAD THE GRAYS TO NINE NEGRO LEAGUE PENNANTS IN A ROW.
THE MOST VERSATILE OF ALL NEGRO LEAGUE STARS WAS MARTIN DIHIGO, EL MAESTRO-- A CUBAN TOO DARK-SKINNED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MAJORS WHO PLAYED BRILLIANTLY AT EVERY POSITION AND DURING ONE SEASON IN MEXICO SIMULTANEOUSLY LED HIS LEAGUE IN BOTH PITCHING AND HITTING.
JAMES "COOL PAPA" BELL MAY HAVE BEEN THE FASTEST RUNNER IN BASEBALL HISTORY, SO FAST THAT HE ONCE SCORED FROM FIRST ON A SACRIFICE BUNT.
SATCHEL PAIGE LIKED TO SAY THAT COOL PAPA COULD SNAP OFF THE LIGHT, GET INTO BED, AND PULL THE COVERS UP BEFORE THE ROOM WAS DARK.
DESPITE THEIR PRIDE IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES, AFRICAN-AMERICANS YEARNED TO SHOW WHAT THEY COULD DO IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.
BUT THE OLD GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT AMONG THE OWNERS STILL KEPT THEM OUT.
IT'S A TRADE-OFF.
I THINK THAT THE NEGRO LEAGUES WERE A WONDERFUL INSTITUTION IN AMERICAN LIFE, BUT THEY HAD THE STIGMA OF REMINDING BLACK PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE SEPARATED FROM AND NOT A PART OF AMERICAN LIFE.
THAT WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL SEGREGATED INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAD, WAS THAT THEY WERE IMPORTANT IN ENRICHING THE BLACK COMMUNITY'S LIFE ON ONE LEVEL, BUT THEY WERE STIGMATIZED AND TELLING US THAT WE COULDN'T BE A PART OF EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY LIMITED KIND OF LIFE, ON THE WHOLE.
[NARRATOR] BY 1934, THE WORLD ECONOMY WAS IN RUINS AND FASCISM WAS ON THE RISE.
IN GERMANY, THE NATIONAL SOCIALISTS HAD COME TO POWER AND BEGUN TO INSTITUTE EXCLUSIONARY LAWS AGAINST JEWS, IN AN EERIE ECHO OF JIM CROW STATUTES IN THE UNITED STATES.
[YELLING IN JAPANESE] [SHIP HORN SOUNDS] [NARRATOR] AFTER THE 1934 SEASON, BABE RUTH TOURED JAPAN WITH AN ALL-STAR TEAM.
HALF A MILLION FANS TURNED OUT IN TOKYO TO CHEER THE MYTHIC HERO THEY CALLED BEIBU RUSU.
"THE BABE'S BIG BULK," REPORTED THE NEW YORK TIMES, "TODAY BLOTTED OUT SUCH UNIMPORTANT THINGS AS INTERNATIONAL SQUABBLES OVER OIL AND NAVIES."
"WE LIKE TO BELIEVE," SAID THE SPORTING NEWS, "THAT COUNTRIES HAVING A COMMON INTEREST "IN A GREAT SPORT "WOULD RATHER FIGHT IT OUT ON THE DIAMOND THAN ON THE BATTLEFIELD."
THE AMERICANS WON 17 OF 18 GAMES, AND RUTH HIT 13 HOME RUNS, BUT IN ONE GAME, A HIGH-SCHOOL BOY NAMED EIJI SAWAMURA STRUCK OUT RUTH, CHARLIE GEHRINGER, LOU GEHRIG, AND JIMMIE FOXX BEFORE THE AMERICANS MANAGED TO GET A SINGLE, WINNING RUN.
SAWAMURA BECAME A NATIONAL HERO, AND THE TOUR SPARKED THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST JAPANESE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE.
I WILL SAY THAT I'VE HAD THRILLS BEFORE, A NUMBER OF THEM, SOMETHING LIKE HITTING A HOME RUN IN CHICAGO THAT TIME.
THE LORD WAS WITH ME WHEN I CALLED THE SHOT.
IF HE HADN'T BEEN WITH ME, WHY, IT WOULD'VE BEEN JUST BE TOO BAD.
I CAN'T GO ON FOREVER.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO TAKE MY SHOES AND TAKE MY PLACE.
BUT YOU CAN BET YOUR SWEET LIFE THAT I WON'T PLAY UNTIL I DROP, BUT I'LL PLAY UNTIL I DAMN NEAR DROP.
THANK YOU.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BABE RUTH GOING TO BOSTON, SONNY?
I'M SORRY THE YANKS LOST HIM.
AND I--AND I WISH THAT HE'D COME BACK TO THE YANKEES.
BABE RUTH DESERVES A BREAK LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK HE'LL MAKE GOOD IN BOSTON BECAUSE HE'S BEEN SUCH A GRAND CHARACTER.
AND I THINK HE'LL SOCK PLENTY OVER IN BOSTON.
I LIKE ABOUT BABE RUTH-- HE'S A NICE MAN, AND I LIKE ABOUT HIM BECAUSE HE'S A NICE BASEBALL PLAYER.
WELL, I HOPE MY OLD MAN MOVES OUT TO BOSTON SO I CAN SEE HIM PLAY.
[NARRATOR] RUTH'S FAR EASTERN TOUR WAS A TRIUMPH, BUT WHEN HE GOT BACK, HE LEARNED THAT THE YANKEES-- THE TEAM THAT HE HAD BUILT-- HAD DECIDED TO DISPENSE WITH HIS SERVICES AND HAD NO INTENTION OF MAKING HIM A MANAGER.
HE TURNED DOWN AN OFFER TO RUN THEIR BEST FARM TEAM AS BENEATH HIS DIGNITY.
INSTEAD, HE JOINED THE WORST CLUBCB IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, THE BOSTON BRAVES, LURED BY A VAGUE PROMISE OF BECOMING MANAGER THE FOLLOWING SEASON.
THE BRAVES NEVER REALLY MEANT TO GIVE HIM THE MANAGER'S JOB.
THE MAIN HOPE WAS THAT HIS MERE PRESENCE WOULD BOOST RECEIPTS.
[ROGER ANGELL] ON THE LAST SUNDAY OF HIS CAREER, WHEN HE WAS 40 YEARS OLD, PLAYING FOR THE BOSTON BRAVES, HEARTBROKEN THAT HE'D LEFT THE YANKEES-- COULDN'T SIGN ON WITH THEM, CHANGED LEAGUES, TRYING TO PROLONG, TRYING TO STAY ON IN BASEBALL, WHICH ALL PLAYERS WANT TO DO-- FAT, WORN-OUT, NEAR THE END.
HE PLAYED--THE BOSTON BRAVES PLAYED IN PITTSBURGH, AND THAT LAST SUNDAY, HE HIT THREE HOME RUNS.
AND THE THIRD HOME RUN, THE LAST OF HIS CAREER-- NUMBER 714-- WENT OUT OF THE BALL PARK, OVER THE ROOF IN FORBES FIELD.
NO ONE HAD EVER HIT A BALL OUT OF THERE UP TO THAT POINT.
EVER.
THAT IS A FAREWELL.
GOOD-BYE, BASEBALL.
[NARRATOR] "FROM THEN ON UNTIL THE DAY HE DIED," CLAIRE RUTH REMEMBERED, "HE SAT BY THE TELEPHONE WAITING FOR A CALL TO MANAGE THAT NEVER CAME."
[BOB FELLER] MY FATHER AND MOTHER BROUGHT ME UP...
I KNEW WHERE THE STAKES WERE SET, AND I CONCENTRATED ON MY GAME.
I WAS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS-- GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP, GOOD NUTRITION.
I PRACTICED HARD, WORKED HARD, AND MY BASEBALL CAREER WAS NUMBER ONE.
SO I DIDN'T EXACTLY, SAY, FALL OFF THE TURNIP TRUCK.
[NARRATOR] IN 1936, TWO NEW STARS MADE THEIR FIRST APPEARANCES IN THE BIG LEAGUES.
THE FIRST WAS A 17-YEAR-OLD FASTBALL PITCHER FROM IOWA WHOSE FATHER HAD BUILT HIM HIS OWN PRACTICE FIELD.
HE WAS SIGNED BY THE CLEVELAND INDIANS, AND IN HIS VERY FIRST START, HE STRUCK OUT 15 ST. LOUIS BROWNS.
A FEW WEEKS LATER, HE SET AN AMERICAN LEAGUE RECORD BY STRIKING OUT 17 A's.
THEN, HE WENT BACK HOME TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL.
HIS NAME WAS BOB FELLER.
[FELLER] WE WENT TO THE WORLD SERIES IN 1934 IN ST. LOUIS AND SAW THE GASHOUSE GANG.
AND I THOUGHT, RIGHT THEN AND THERE THAT, UH--I WAS ONLY 15-- THAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WASN'T THAT FAR AWAY.
AND NOT BEING COCKY, I HAD A LOT OF CONFIDENCE.
MY FATHER GAVE ME A LOT OF CONFIDENCE.
I NEVER WAS AFRAID OF A BATTER.
THEY MAY HIT ME, HIT ME WELL, BUT I WAS NEVER AFRAID OF THEM.
[DANIEL OKRENT] IMAGINE BOB FELLER-- 17 YEARS OLD, IN THE SMALL FARMING TOWN OF VAN METER, IOWA, THROWING AGAINST THE PROVERBIAL WALL OF THE BARN AND HAVING A FASTBALL THAT COULD BEAT ANY IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE AT THAT TIME.
WHAT WAS PARTICULARLY EXTRAORDINARY, WHEN THE YOUNG FELLER, AT 17, CAME INTO THE MAJOR LEAGUES-- WHAT PEOPLE FORGET IS THAT HIS FASTBALL WAS SO GREAT BECAUSE HIS CURVE BALL WAS EXTRAORDINARY, TOO.
[SHELBY FOOTE] BASEBALL STORIES ARE SO VARIOUS, AND THEY SWAP CHARACTERS IN THEM, BUT THE WAY I HEARD IT, LEFTY GOMEZ, HIMSELF A PITCHER, FACED AN 18-YEAR-OLD BOBBY FELLER.
THE FIRST ONE CAME OVER, AND THE UMPIRE CALLED A STRIKE.
AND THE SECOND ONE CAME OVER, AND CALLED IT STRIKE.
AND THE THIRD ONE CAME OVER AND THE UMPIRE CALLED IT STRIKE.
AND GOMEZ SAID, "I THOUGHT THAT LAST ONE SOUNDED A LITTLE LOW."
[CUOMO] ALWAYS YOU LOOK FOR HEROES.
ALWAYS THE PEOPLE LOOK UP TO SEE SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS THEM THAT IS LARGER THAN THEY AND, IF IT'S PERFECT, THAT THEY MIGHT BECOME.
AS A YOUNG BOY, WHEN I WAS TAKEN TO MY FIRST GAME AT YANKEE STADIUM-- MY GOD, YANKEE STADIUM.
TALK ABOUT AWESOME SIGHTS-- TO SEE JOE DiMAGGIO, WHOSE NAME HAD THAT HAPPY COMBINATION OF VOWELS THAT MINE HAD, TO WHOM YOU COULD RELATE WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO OR ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT HIM, BUT HE WAS AN ITALIAN AMERICAN.
HE WAS A BASEBALL PLAYER.
HE DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY OTHER CREDENTIAL BUT HIS ABILITY.
AND THAT WAS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE HIM A GREAT HERO, AND A GREAT SUCCESS, AND THEREFORE, A GREAT INSPIRATION.
[NARRATOR] THE SECOND ROOKIE THAT SUMMER OF 1936 WAS A YOUNG YANKEE OUTFIELDER FROM SAN FRANCISCO, JOE DiMAGGIO.
AT 17, HE HAD BROKEN IN WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO SEALS AT SHORTSTOP AND WAS MOVED TO CENTER FIELD AFTER COMMITTING 11 WILD THROWS IN A SINGLE EXHIBITION GAME.
BUT HE HIT SAFELY IN 61 STRAIGHT GAMES IN HIS FIRST YEAR IN THE MINORS AND BATTED .398 IN HIS THIRD.
THE PRESS WAS READY WHEN HE JOINED THE MAJORS, AND HE DID NOT DISAPPOINT, HITTING 29 HOMERS AND KNOCKING IN 125 RUNS IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON.
DiMAGGIO WAS THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO LOU GEHRIG.
HE WOULD HELP LEAD THE YANKEES TO FOUR CONSECUTIVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, AN ACCOMPLISHMENT BABE RUTH AND "MURDERERS' ROW" HAD NEVER EVEN APPROACHED.
NOW, FREED FROM RUTH'S SHADOW, GEHRIG WAS SPECTACULAR.
IN 1936, HE HIT 49 HOME RUNS, DROVE IN 152 RUNS, AND WAS NAMED THE LEAGUE'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER.
HE ALSO KEPT ALIVE HIS EXTRAORDINARY RECORD OF CONSECUTIVE GAMES PLAYED.
THE YANKEES LOOKED UNBEATABLE.
[BUCK O'NEIL] WE WERE THE ATTRACTION.
IN OUR BASEBALL, THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS WERE LIKE THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL-- VERY TOPS, VERY TOPS.
WE HAD THE STARS, AND SO TO MAKE A LIVING, WE SHOWED IT TO THE WORLD.
[NARRATOR] FOUNDED IN 1920, THE MONARCHS DOMINATED BLACK BASEBALL FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.
THEY WON THREE PENNANTS IN A ROW BETWEEN 1923 AND 1925, AND EVEN IN THE DARKEST YEARS OF THE DEPRESSION, THEY WERE THE MOST PROFITABLE OF ALL THE BLACK BALL CLUBS.
ONE EAST SIDE BARTENDER REMEMBERED THAT "THEY MADE KANSAS CITY THE TALK OF THE TOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD."
AT THE HEART OF THE MONARCHS WAS THEIR HARD-HITTING FIRST BASEMAN, JOHN JORDAN "BUCK" O'NEIL.
WE KNEW EVERYBODY IN KANSAS CITY EVERYBODY IN KANSAS CITY KNEW US.
NOT JUST, SAY, BY THE PAPER-- THEY'D WALK UP TO ME, "HELLO, BUCK.
HOW YOU DOING?"
I'D SAY, "HEY, JOE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU."
[SAMMY HAYNES] WELL, WHAT HAPPENED, YOU WERE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE BASEBALL PARK-- YOU WAS IN CLOSE, YOU WALK RIGHT BY THE STANDS, AND EVERYBODY KNEW YOUR NAME, AND YOU'D TALK TO THEM, BEFORE THE GAME AND AFTER THE GAME, AND...
THE FANS LOOKED AT THE GUYS IN OUR LEAGUE AS HEROES.
BUT NOBODY HAD A BIG HEAD.
EVERYBODY WAS ALWAYS READY TO GO OUT TO DINNER WITH FANS, SIGN AUTOGRAPHS-- WHATEVER THEY WANTED, WE WERE A PART OF IT, WERE HAPPY TO DO IT.
BECAUSE WE ALL LOVED AND RESPECTED EACH OTHER.
[O'NEIL] WITH THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS, WE STAYED IN THE BEST HOTELS IN THE WORLD.
THEY JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN BLACK HOTELS.
WE ATE AT THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD.
THEY JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN BLACK-OWNED AND OPERATED.
WELL-ORGANIZED.
KANSAS CITY MONARCHS WERE MAJOR LEAGUE.
THEY JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN BLACK.
[NARRATOR] O'NEIL WOULD STAY WITH THE MONARCHS FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, BECOMING THEIR MANAGER, LEADING THEM TO FIVE MORE NEGRO LEAGUE PENNANTS AND TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE BLACK WORLD SERIES.
ON THE EVENING OF MAY 24, 1935, LARRY MacPHAIL, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CINCINNATI REDS, ARRANGED FOR PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT TO PUSH A BUTTON IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT LIT UP CROSLEY FIELD IN CINCINNATI FOR A GAME BETWEEN THE REDS AND THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.
ALTHOUGH THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS HAD USED PORTABLE LIGHTS FOR YEARS, THIS WAS THE FIRST NIGHT GAME IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY.
THE REDS WON 2-1.
THE OTHER OWNERS WERE APPALLED.
THEY WERE SURE NO ONE WOULD COME.
THEN, THEY SAW THE MONEY MacPHAIL WAS BEGINNING TO MAKE.
LARRY MacPHAIL WAS A BANKER'S HARD-DRINKING SON, A BORN PROMOTER, IMPATIENT WITH TRADITION, DESPERATE TO FIND NEW WAYS TO BOOST ATTENDANCE AND RESCUE HIS CLUB FROM BANKRUPTCY IN THE MIDST OF THE DEPRESSION.
HE WAS ALSO A CHAMPION OF RADIO.
BROADCASTERS HAD COVERED THE WORLD SERIES SINCE 1922, BUT MOST OWNERS FEARED THAT REGULAR BROADCASTING WOULD HURT TICKET SALES.
LARRY MacPHAIL WAS SURE BROADCASTING WOULD INCREASE PROFITS AND WENT INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OWNER OF TWO LOCAL RADIO STATIONS TO PROVE IT.
AND HE HIRED A YOUNG SOUTHERNER NAMED WALTER BARBER, WHO HAD NEVER EVEN SEEN A MAJOR LEAGUE GAME, TO DO THE PLAY-BY-PLAY.
[RED BARBER] ANYTHING NEW HAS TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AND GAIN ITS OWN CREDENTIALS.
WHEN RADIO CAME ALONG, SOME OF THE ENTRENCHED CONSERVATIVE OWNERS SAID, "WAIT.
WAIT A MINUTE.
"WHY GIVE AWAY SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL FOR YOUR LIVING?"
JUST TRYING TO KEEP YOUR ENTERPRISE AFLOAT.
AND ESPECIALLY ON DAYS OF THREATENING WEATHER, WHEN PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY RAIN.
I'LL JUST LISTEN TO THE RADIO, AND I WON'T GO."
THEY DID NOT REALIZE AT THAT TIME THAT IT WOULD BE CREATING NEW FANS, THAT IT WOULD BE MAKING FAMILIES OF FANS.
BEFORE RADIO, BY AND LARGE THE PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO A BALL PARK WERE MEN.
ONCE RADIO CAME ALONG AND CAME INTO THE HOMES, WOMEN BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THE GAME.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY EXPLAIN IT TO THEM.
THE PLAY-BY-PLAY BROADCASTER WAS DOING IT.
AND ATTENDANCE VISIBLY WENT UP WHEN YOU HAD FAMILIES COMING INSTEAD OF SINGLE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.
AND THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE IMPACT OF RADIO.
RADIO MADE NEW FANS.
OH, MAN, IT COULDN'T BE A NICER AFTERNOON.
THIS IS THE ONE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
THIS IS IT.
THIS MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S SPRING AND BASEBALL AND LIKE THERE'S NO MORE MEASLES AND FREE TICKETS TO THE CIRCUS.
[NARRATOR] IN 1938, MacPHAIL LEFT CINCINNATI AND MOVED TO NEW YORK TO TAKE OVER THE BROOKLYN DODGERS.
HE BROUGHT RED BARBER WITH HIM.
[VIN SCULLY] NO ONE EVER CAME UP WITH THE EXPRESSIONS THAT RED BARBER HAD.
AND SO WHAT HE BROUGHT TO NEW YOR TO THE METROPOLITAN AREA, WAS THAT COUNTRY FLAVOR THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH AT ALL.
I MEAN, WHEN HE SAID, "RHUBARB," EVERYBODY WOULD GO, "WOW, RHUBARB."
AND SO HE BECAME PART OF THE LANGUAGE-- "DUCKS ON THE POND," "SITTING IN THE TALL COTTON."
I MEAN, THERE WERE JUST A MILLION OF THEM.
YOU WOULD SUDDENLY SAY, "I WONDER WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE "WHEN SOMEBODY LEAPS UP AGAINST THE WALL "OR DIVES HEAD-FIRST INTO SECOND OR BOWLS OVER THE CATCHER."
SO THEY'D COME OUT TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD BEEN LISTENING.
...INTO RIGHT FIELD.
BACK GOES RUSSELL...
HE CAN'T GET IT.
IT'S A HOMER.
A MIGHTY SMACK, SQUARELY OUT OVER RIGHT FIELD.
MY FIRST MEMORY OF BASEBALL IS RADIO, LISTENING ON THE CAR RADIO TO RED BARBER TALKING FROM EBBETS FIELD IN BROOKLYN.
MY FATHER WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE GAMES WERE GOING ON.
HE WAS FOLLOWING BROOKLYN.
MY MOTHER AND I-- I WAS AN ONLY CHILD-- DRIVING IN THE CAR, BEGAN TO LISTEN, I SUPPOSE, OUT OF SELF-DEFENSE.
AND BOTH OF US, AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, MY MOTHER AND I, BECAME CAUGHT UP IN THE DRAMA OF THE GAME.
[BARBER] TERRY RETRIEVES IT, RUBS IT ROUGHLY BETWEEN THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS.
NOW RETURNS IT, GOES BACK TO HIS FIELDING POST.
FITZSIMMONS WORKS.
DiMAGGIO SWINGING.
IT'S A WHISTLING LINE DRIVE TO LEFT CENTER FIELD.
IT'S A BASE HIT.
IT'S TAKEN ON THE SECOND HOP.
AND DiMAGGIO'S RACING FOR IT.
DiMAGGIO MAKES IT WITH A SLIDE AND IS SAFE FOR A DOUBLE.
ONCE, DURING A RADIO INTERVIEW, YANKEE OUTFIELDER JAKE POWELL CHEERFULLY EXPLAINED THAT HE KEPT IN SHAPE DURING THE OFF-SEASON BY "CRACKING NIGGERS OVER THE HEAD" WHILE SERVING AS A POLICEMAN BACK HOME IN OHIO.
THE WHITE PRESS PAID LITTLE ATTENTION, BUT THE BLACK PRESS WAS OUTRAGED AND THREATENED A BOYCOTT.
YANKEE MANAGEMENT SUSPENDED POWELL FOR 10 DAYS AND SENT HIM ON A TOUR OF BARS IN HARLEM TO APOLOGIZE.
AS THE DEPRESSION BEGAN TO EASE, THE INTERNATIONAL TRIUMPHS OF JOE LOUIS IN BOXING AND JESSE OWENS IN TRACK MADE MANY QUESTION THEIR OWN RACIAL ATTITUDES, BUT FOR BLACK BASEBALL PLAYERS IN AMERICA, NOTHING HAD CHANGED.
FOR MOST, THE SEASON DIDN'T END IN OCTOBER.
WHEN THE WEATHER TURNED COLD, THEY HEADED SOUTH TO LATIN AMERICA, CUBA, AND MEXICO, WHERE THEY FOUND A WARM WELCOME PLAYING WINTERTIME BASEBALL.
"NOT ONLY DO I GET MORE MONEY PLAYING HERE," SHORTSTOP WILLIE WELLS WROTE AFTER LEAVING THE NEWARK EAGLES FOR THE MEXICAN LEAGUE, "BUT I LIVE LIKE A KING.
"I'VE FOUND FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY HERE, "SOMETHING I NEVER FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES.
HERE IN MEXICO, I AM A MAN."
[MANUEL MARQUEZ-STERLING] BLACK AND WHITE IN CUBA SUFFERED THAT THE BLACKS COULD NOT PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUES, BECAUSE WE HAD MANY CUBAN STARS WHO WERE BLACK.
AND WE SAID, "WHAT A WASTE," IT WAS THE FEELING.
WHAT A WASTE.
AND WHEN THE BLACK ATHLETES CAME TO PLAY IN CUBA, THEY WERE LIONIZED.
THEY WERE HEROES.
AND THEY FELT VERY COMFORTABLE IN CUBA.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 1937 SEASON, SATCHEL PAIGE AND 19 OTHER NEGRO LEAGUE PLAYERS SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED.
THEY TURNED UP IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PLAYING ON A TEAM ORGANIZED BY THE DICTATOR, GENERAL RAFAEL TRUJILLO, A MAN WHO COULD NOT BEAR TO LOSE.
THEIR ASSIGNMENT WAS TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE GENERAL.
TRUJILLO HAD PAIGE'S TEAM PUT UNDER ARMED GUARD THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BIG GAME AND GAVE ORDERS THAT ANYONE WHO SOLD THE PLAYERS WHISKEY WOULD BE SHOT.
"BY THE SEVENTH INNING, WE WERE A RUN BEHIND, "AND YOU COULD SEE TRUJILLO LINING UP HIS ARMY.
"IT BEGAN TO LOOK LIKE A FIRING SQUAD.
"IN THE LAST OF THE SEVENTH, WE SCORED TWO RUNS.
"YOU NEVER SAW OLD SATCH THROW HARDER THAN THAT.
"I SHUT THEM OUT THE LAST TWO INNINGS, "AND WE WON.
"I HUSTLED BACK TO OUR HOTEL.
"THE NEXT MORNING, WE BLOWED OUT OF THERE IN A HURRY.
"WE NEVER DID SEE TRUJILLO AGAIN, AND I AIN'T SORRY."
"BASEBALL IS THE GREAT AMERICAN SPORT, "AND AS THE JEW IS THOROUGHLY AMERICANIZED, "THERE IS NO REASON WHY HIS NAME "SHOULD NOT BE PROMINENTLY FOUND UPON THE BASEBALL ROLL OF HONOR."
THE AMERICAN HEBREW.
THE FIRST GREAT JEWISH BASEBALL STAR WAS HANK GREENBERG, HARD-HITTING FIRST BASEMAN FOR THE DETROIT TIGERS.
IN 1934, HE LED THE TIGERS TO THE AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT.
THE NEXT YEAR, HE WAS THE UNANIMOUS CHOICE FOR MVP, DRIVING IN 170 RUNS.
THERE HAD BEEN JEWISH MAJOR LEAGUERS BEFORE HIM, INCLUDING ANDY COHEN OF THE GIANTS, BUT FEW DID WELL, AND THE ANTI-SEMITISM OF THE TIMES HAD FORCED MANY OF THEM TO CHANGE THEIR NAMES.
HANK GREENBERG NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED IT.
BORN IN GREENWICH VILLAGE, THE SON OF A GARMENT MANUFACTURER WHO INITIALLY FOUND HIS BOY'S INTEREST IN BASEBALL BIZARRE, GREENBERNBBROKE INTO THE MINORS PLAYING IN LITTLE SOUTHERN TOWNS WHERE CROWDS WERE SAID TO BE AS CURIOUS TO SEE A JEW AS THEY WERE TO WATCH THE GAME.
HIS POWER HITTING BROUGHT HIM TO THE MAJORS, WHERE HE SOON FACED A TORRENT OF ANTI-SEMITIC ABUSE FROM PLAYERS AND FANS ALIKE.
GREENBERG'S WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT BACK EVENTUALLY EARNED HIM THE GRUDGING RESPECT OF HIS FELLOW PLAYERS.
BUT JEWISH FANS, MANY OF WHOM WERE RECENT IMMIGRANTS AND ANXIOUS TO EMBRACE THE NATIONAL PASTIME OF THEIR ADOPTED COUNTRY, WORSHIPED HIM AS A HERO.
[OKRENT] WHAT BETTER MARRIAGE OF NATIONAL ASPIRATION AND NATIONAL PASSION, THAT ONE OF THEIR OWN COULD RISE TO BECOME ONE OF THE GREAT BALLPLAYERS OF THE TIME.
HE WOULDN'T PLAY ON THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS, BUT HE WOULD HIT A LOT OF HOME RUNS FOR THE DETROIT TIGERS EVERY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR.
[NARRATOR] "I CAME TO FEEL," HANK GREENBERG SAID, "THAT IF I, AS A JEW, HIT A HOME RUN, I WAS HITTING ONE AGAINST HITLER."
ON OCTOBER 2, 1938, THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON, NEWSREEL CREWS WERE DISPATCHED FROM NEW YORK TO COVER WHAT MIGHT POSSIBLY BE A HISTORIC CONFRONTATION BETWEEN CLEVELAND AND DETROIT.
GREENBERG HAD ALREADY HIT 58 HOME RUNS THAT SUMMER, TYING JIMMIE FOXX'S X'CORD FOR RIGHT-HANDED HITTING.
IF HIS LUCK HELD, HE MIGHT TIE OR EVEN BREAK BABE RUTH'S RECORD OF 60, AND THE CAMERAMEN WANTED TO BE THERE TO RECORD THE ACTION.
[NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER] THE DATE--OCTOBER 2, 1938, CLOSING DAY OF THE SEASON.
BUT FACING HIM ON THE MOUND THAT AFTERNOON WAS BOB FELLER.
FELLER STARTS THAT WINDUP.
HERE'S THE PITCH... FOR THE SECOND STRIKE.
HERE'S THE PITCH.
SWINGS ON A LOW FASTBALL FOR STRIKE THREE.
IT WAS FELLER'S TURN TO MAKE HISTORY.
HE SET A NEW STRIKE-OUT RECORD OF 18, AND HANK GREENBERG STRUCK OUT TWICE.
THE NEXT DAY, ADOLF HITLER'S ARMY INVADED CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
"MARCH 16, 1939, ST. PETERSBURG.
"THE OLDER NEWSPAPERMEN SIT IN THE CHICKEN COOP PRESS BOXES "AROUND THE CIRCUIT "AND WATCH LOU GEHRIG GO THROUGH THE LABORIOUS MOVEMENTS "OF PLAYING FIRST BASE "AND WONDER IF THEY'RE SEEING "ONE OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE "CRUMPLE BEFORE THEIR EYES.
"THEY WATCH HIM AT THE BAT, "AND NOTE HE ISN'T HITTING THE BALL WELL.
"THEY WATCH HIM AROUND THE BAG.
"IT'S PLAIN HE ISN'T GETTING THE BALLS HE USED TO GET.
"THEY WATCH HIM RUN "AND THEY FANCY THEY CAN HEAR HIS BONES CREAK "AND HIS LUNGS WHEEZE "AS HE LUMBERS AROUND THE BASES.
"ON EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY ALONE, "THE VERDICT MUST BE THAT OF A BATTLE-SCARRED VETERAN FALLING APART."
JOE WILLIAMS, NEW YORK WORLD-TELEGRAM.
ON MAY 1, 1939, SOMETHING THAT HAD NOT HAPPENED FOR 14 YEARS HAPPENED TO THE YANKEES.EE LOU GEHRIG TOOK HIMSELF OUT OF THE LINE-UP.
HE HAD PLAYED IN A RECORD 2,130 CONSECUTIVE GAMES AND EARNED HIMSELF THE NICKNAME "THE IRON HORSE."
BUT NOW SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG.
HE WAS ONLY 35, BUT HAD BEGUN TO PLAY LIKE AN OLD MAN, DROPPING BALLS, MISSING AGAIN AND AGAIN AT BAT, SLIDING HIS FEET ALONG RATHER THAN LIFTING THEM.
DURING BATTING PRACTICE ONE AFTERNOON, JOE DiMAGGIO WATCHED IN ASTONISHMENT AS THE YANKEES' HITTING STAR MISSED 10 FAT PITCHES IN A ROW.
GEHRIG COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS WRONG.
NEITHER COULD HIS TEAMMATES.
BUT HE COULD NOT STAND THE THOUGHT OF LETTING THEM DOWN.
HE WAS BENCHING HIMSELF, HE SAID, FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM.
"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, "THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT MR. LOU GEHRIG "HAS BEEN UNDER EXAMINATION AT THE MAYO CLINIC "FROM JUNE 13 TO JUNE 19, 1939.
"AFTER A CAREFUL AND COMPLETE EXAMINATION, "IT WAS FOUND THAT HE IS SUFFERING "FROM AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS.
"THIS TYPE OF ILLNESS "INVOLVES THE MOTOR PATHWAYS AND CELLS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM."
"THE NATURE OF THIS TROUBLE MAKES IT SUCH "THAT MR. GEHRIG WILL BE UNABLE TO CONTINUE "HIS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AS A BASEBALL PLAYER.
SIGNED, DR. HAROLD H.
HABEIN."
IT WAS INCURABLE.
"THE ROAD MAY COME TO AN END HERE," GEHRIG WROTE HIS WIFE.
"SEEMS LIKE OUR BACKS ARE TO THE WALL.
"BUT THERE USUALLY COMES A WAY OUT.
"WHERE AND WHAT, I KNOW NOT, "BUT WHO CAN TELL THAT IT MIGHT LEAD RIGHT ON TO GREATER THINGS?"
THE NEWS OF GEHRIG'S ILLNESS STUNNED THE COUNTRY, AND ON JULY 4th, A HUGE, SAD CROWD PACKED YANKEE STADIUM TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR BELOVED HERO.
BABE RUTH CAME BACK, AND THE TWO OLD TEAMMATES ENDED THEIR LONG FEUD.
MANAGER JOE McCARTHY PRESENTED HIM WITH A TROPHY.
AT FIRST, GEHRIG WAS TOO MOVED TO SPEAK.
[CROWD APPLAUDING] FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, YOU'VE BEEN READING ABOUT A BAD BREAK.
TODAY I CONSIDER MYSELF THE LUCKIEST MAN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
[APPLAUSE] THAT I MIGHT HAVE... BEEN GIVEN A BAD BREAK, BUT I'VE GOT AN AWFUL LOT TO LIVE FOR.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] HE DIED TWO YEARS LATER OF WHAT IS NOW CALLED LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE.
[BELL TOLLING] [BAND PLAYING] IN 1907, ALBERT GOODWILL SPALDING INSISTED THAT ABNER DOUBLEDAY HAD INVENTED BASEBALL AT COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK, IN 1839.
IT WASN'T TRUE.
BUT ON JUNE 12, 1939, THE GAME'S DUBIOUS CENTENNIAL, THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS DOORS IN COOPERSTOWN.
12 GREAT FIGURES FROM THE GAME'S PAST, SELECTED BY THE BASEBALL WRITERS OF AMERICA, WERE TO BE INDUCTED, INCLUDING CHRISTY MATHEWSON, WHO HAD DIED IN 1925, AND TY COBB, WHO REFUSED TO APPEAR IN THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH JUST TO SPITE HIS ANCIENT ENEMY KENESAW MOUNTAIN LANDIS.
BABE RUTH WAITED TO MAKE A GRAND ENTRANCE, SWEEPING IN TO HUGE APPLAUSE JUST AS THE BAND BEGAN TO PLAY TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME.
HE HAD FORGOTTEN HIS TIE.
EDDIE COLLINS, BABE RUTH, CONNIE MACK, CY YOUNG, HONUS WAGNER, GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER, TRIS SPEAKER, NAPOLEON LAJOIE, GEORGE SISLER, AND WALTER JOHNSON.
"IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT BASEBALL IS LOVED BY AN ENTIRE NATION," COMMISSIONER KENESAW MOUNTAIN LANDIS SAID, "THAT IT IS THE VERY BACKBONE OF AMERICA ITSELF."
"THIS WEEK, THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR-- "PARDON US-- NATIONAL PASTIME "IS BEING CELEBRATED.
"DURING THIS CENTURY OF DIAMOND DOINGS, HOWEVER, "NEGRO BASEBALLERS, "IN SPITE OF THEIR UNDOUBTED ABILITY "TO BAT, RUN, PITCH, SNARE GARGANTUAN FLIES, "CAVORT AROUND SHORTSTOP AND THE KEYSTONE SACK "AND THINK BASEBALL, "HAVEN'T REACHED FIRST BASE INSOFAR AS GETTING INTO THE BIG LEAGUES IS CONCERNED."
AMSTERDAM NEWS.
BACK IN 1938, MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS WERE POLLED AS TO WHETHER THEY WOULD OBJECT TO PLAYING ALONGSIDE BLACKS.
4/5 SAID THEY HAD NO OBJECTIONS.
A SMALL BAND OF BLACK SPORTSWRITERS NOW BEGAN ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING FOR INTEGRATION OF THE BIG LEAGUES, BUT THE CLUB OWNERS WERE NOT INTERESTED.
THAT WINTER, CHESTER WASHINGTON OF THE PITTSBURGH COURIER SENT A TELEGRAM TO THE MANAGER OF THE STRUGGLING PITTSBURGH PIRATES.
"TO PIE TRAYNOR, PITTSBURGH PIRATES, "CONGRESS HOTEL.
"KNOW YOUR CLUB NEEDS PLAYERS.
"STOP.
"HAVE ANSWERS TO YOUR PRAYERS "RIGHT HERE IN PITTSBURGH.
"STOP.
"JOSH GIBSON, CATCHER, "BUCK LEONARD, FIRST BASE, "S. PAIGE, PITCHER, "AND COOL PAPA BELL-- "ALL AVAILABLE AT REASONABLE FIGURES.
STOP."
"WOULD MAKE PIRATES FORMIDABLE PENNANT CONTENDERS.
"STOP.
"WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE?
"STOP.
WIRE ANSWER."
CHESTER WASHINGTON.
THERE WAS NO ANSWER.
[OKRENT] I WOULD LIKE TO THINK OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES AND THE TRAGEDY OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES-- THE FACT THAT THESE MEN WERE EXCLUDED FROM BASEBALL-- THE WAY THAT BUCK O'NEIL THOUGHT ABOUT THEM, THAT NOBODY OWED HIM ANY APOLOGY, HE HAD HIS CAREER.
BUT I CAN'T THINK OF IT THAT WAY.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US CAN.
AND THAT O'NEIL HAS A GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT THAT PERHAPS GOES BEYOND-- ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL.
SYSTEMATICALLY, FOR SIX DECADES, BLACK AMERICANS WERE EXCLUDED FROM PLAYING IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES, IN THE MINOR LEAGUES, IN THE ORGANIZED WING OF THE NATIONAL PASTIME.
ONE THING ONE COULD SAY IS THAT IT WAS, THEREFORE, NOT THE NATIONAL PASTIME.
IT WAS A CLOSED SOCIETY.
ONE COULD ALSO POINT OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO WOULD SAY THAT THE BEST-- BASEBALL WAS AT ITS BEST IN THE TWENTIES, IN THE TIME OF RUTH AND GEHRIG, OR IN THE THIRTIES, WHEN DiMAGGIO OR WILLIAMS CAME ALONG.
IMPOSSIBLE!
IMPOSSIBLE!
WHEN PART OF THE NATIONAL POPULATION WAS BEING SYSTEMATICALLY EXCLUDED FROM BASEBALL, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE BEST.
WHAT WE ARE LEFT WITH FROM THE BLACK LEAGUES IS MEMORY, LEGEND, AND AN ENDLESS SERIES OF WHAT-IFS WITH THE NAMES ATTACHED TO THEM OF JOSH GIBSON AND RAY DANDRIDGE AND COOL PAPA BELL AND WILLIE WELLS, AND WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
WHAT IF THESE MEN HAD BEEN THERE TO PLAY IN THE MAJORS AGAINST THE RUTHS AND THE COBBS AND THE WALTER JOHNSONS AND BACK FARTHER, AGAINST CAP ANSON, WHO STARTED IT ALL?
[NARRATOR] IN SEPTEMBER OF 1942, SATCHEL PAIGE WAS PITCHING FOR THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS AND JOSH GIBSON WAS PLAYING FOR THE HOMESTEAD GRAYS IN THE SECOND GAME OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.
FANS HELD THEIR BREATH AS BLACK BASEBALL'S TWO BIGGEST STARS FACED ONE ANOTHER AT LAST.
[O'NEIL] SATCHEL PAIGE ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS THE GREATEST PITCHER IN THE WORLD, AND JOSH GIBSON THOUGHT HE WAS THE GREATEST HITTER IN THE WORLD, AND WE DID, TOO.
AND SATCHEL AND JOSH IN THIS WORLD SERIES BALL GAME,, SATCHEL'S PITCHING, AND WE GOT A BALL GAME WON-- THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS.
WITH TWO OUT IN THE NINTH INNING, THE FIRST-PLACE HITTER, HE TRIPLED ON SATCHEL.
WE GOT TWO OUTS, SO THAT DIDN'T BOTHER US ANY AT AL SO SATCHEL CALLED ME, SAID, "HEY, NANCY, COME HERE.
I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU WANT, SATCHEL?"
HE SAID, "LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I'M FIXING TO DO.
I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU FIXING TO DO?"
HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO WALK HOWARD EASTERLING.
"I'M GOING TO WALK BUCK LEONARD.
I'M GOING TO PITCH TO JOSH GIBSON."
I SAID, "MAN, DON'T BE FACETIOUS."
HE SAID, "THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO."
I SAID, "TIME."
I CALLED THE UMP, I CALLED THE MANAGER, WHO WAS FRANK DUNCAN-- GREAT BALLPLAYER HIMSELF.
I SAID, "FRANK, YOU GOT TO LISTEN TO WHAT SATCHEL SAID."
AND SO SATCHEL TOLD HIM WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND SO IN WALKING EASTERLING AND WALKING BUCK LEONARD TO FILL THE BASES, NOW, WHEN HE WAS WALKING BUCK, JOSH WAS IN THE CIRCLE, YOU KNOW, WHERE GUY'S STANDING-- THE NEXT HITTER, AND HE'S TALKING TO JOSH ALL THE TIME, SAID "JOSH, DO YOU REMEMBER THE DAY "WHEN WE WERE PLAYING ON THE SAME TEAM "AND I TOLD YOU THAT ONE DAY WE WERE GONNA MEET AND WE GONNA SEE WHO WAS THE BEST?"
HE SAID, "YEAH, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT."
SATCHEL SAID, "ALL RIGHT, THEN.
NOW IS THE TIME TO PROVE THIS THING."
SO WHEN JOSH COMES UP TO THE BAT, LISTEN, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THIS MAN DID.
HE SAID, "TIME."
HE CALLED THE TRAINER, WHO-- OUR TRAINER WAS JEW-BABY FLOYD.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CALLED HIM JEW-BABY, 'CAUSE HE WAS AS BLACK AS ME.
BUT ANYWAY, WHEN JEW-BABY COMES OUT WITH HIS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE SMOCK THAT THE DOCTOR WOULD WEAR, AND HE'S GOT A CONCOCTION IN A GLASS.
HE'S GOT A GLASS, HE'S GOT SOME WATER, AND HE PUTS THIS--I GUESS ALKA-SELTZER OR SOMETHING-- HE POURS THIS IN THAT WATER, AND IT FIZZES, AND SATCHEL DRINKS IT DOWN.
HE LETS OUT A BELCH.
I CAN HEAR IT, BUT NOBODY ELSE HEARD IT, AND SO HE SAID, "NOW I'M READY."
SO THE FANS, NOW THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
EVERYBODY--WE GOT TO HAVE 40,000 PEOPLE-- THEY'RE STANDING, AND HERE COMES SATCHEL.
SATCHEL SAID, "YOU KNOW, JOSH," SAY, "I'M GOING TO THROW YOU SOME FASTBALLS.
I'M GOING TO THROW YOU A FASTBALL BELT-HIGH."
BOOM!
STRIKE ONE.
JOSH DIDN'T MOVE THE BAT.
HE SAID, "NOW, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU-- "THROW YOU ANOTHER FASTBALL, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE FASTER THAN THE OTHER FASTBALL."
BOOM!
STRIKE TWO.
HE SAID, "NOW, JOSH, I'VE GOT YOU TWO STRIKES AND NO BALLS.
"YOU KNOW, IN THIS SITUATION, "I'M SUPPOSED TO KNOCK YOU DOWN, YOU KNOW, BRUSH YOU BACK."
HE SAID, "BUT, UH-UH, I'M NOT GONNA THROW ANY SMOKE AT YOUR YOKE.
I'M GONNA THROW A PEA AT YOUR KNEE."
BOOM!
STRIKE THREE.
AND WHEN HE STRUCK HIM OUT-- HE--YOU KNOW, SATCHEL MUST BE 6' 5"-- SATCHEL STRETCHED OUT, LOOKED LIKE HE WAS 7 FEET TALL, AND HE WALKED OFF THE FIELD, AND WALKED BY ME AND SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT, NANCY?
NOBODY HITS SATCHEL."
THAT WAS THE END OF THAT STORY.
