The Day I Met The Living Legends Of Baseball

There have been news reports referencing the American Negro League Baseball. I’m going to share a story, but first here’s the background of the league:

The American Negro League was a professional baseball league formed in response to the racial segregation that barred Black American players from participating in Major League Baseball (MLB). Established in 1920, the Negro National League (NNL) was the first of several leagues that provided a platform for black athletes to showcase their talents. The league operated at a high level of competition and produced many legendary players who later became iconic figures in baseball history.

The Negro Leagues played a crucial role in both sports and civil rights history. Rube Foster, a former player, manager, and executive, envisioned a league that would give black players the opportunity to play professional baseball and gain recognition for their skills. Over the years, several leagues operated under the Negro League banner, including the Negro American League and the Eastern Colored League, among others.

The leagues gained their reputation for competitive play and barnstorming tours, where teams traveled across the country, often taking part in multiple games in different towns. These tours helped to spread the popularity of the leagues and provided financial stability.

Some of the most renowned players in American baseball history started their careers in the Negro Leagues, including Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Roy Campanella, Larry Doby, Willie Mays, and Jackie Robinson. When Robinson integrated into Major League Baseball in 1947, it marked the beginning of the end for the Negro Leagues, as MLB teams started recruiting more black players. This led to the decline and dissolution of the Negro Leagues by the early 1960s.

Despite the challenges and discrimination faced, the Negro Leagues left an indelible mark on the history of baseball and the broader fight for equality in American sports and society.

In what I recall to be around 1988, I was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on business. I was checking out of my hotel when I noticed a group of older black gentlemen in the lobby talking and laughing. They exuded an impressive presence.

Nearby, another older black gentleman stood alone. I remarked to him about the group, and to my surprise, he revealed he was one of them. His name was Alvin Spearman. He was a notable pitcher in the Negro Leagues. He was born on August 26, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois. He played for the Chicago American Giants from 1949 to 1951 and for the Kansas City Monarchs. During the later years of the Negro Leagues, Spearman gained a reputation for his pitching prowess. After his time in the Negro Leagues, he continued his baseball career, playing in Mexico, Canada, and Japan, where he was one of the few Americans in the Pacific League. He retired from baseball in 1959. Alvin became a salesperson for the 7-Up Bottling Company. He had returned to Chicago and would pass away on January 14, 2016.

Alvin shared with me the rich history of the American Negro League Baseball. At that point, I was unaware of its significance. However, I soon realized I was in the presence of living history. He explained they were waiting for transportation to an ESPN interview about the league. Alvin asked if I wanted to meet them. I must have looked like a star-struck kid as he walked me over and introduced me.

I shook hands with these legends, and when asked what I knew about their league, I confessed my ignorance. For the next 20 minutes, I listened in awe as they shared stories of enduring segregation, being denied the opportunity to play in Major League Baseball, yet excelling in a “league of their own.” They spoke of raising families and building careers despite the odds. The warmth of their smiles and their acceptance of a total stranger into their conversation is something I will never forget.

It’s rare to stand in the shadows of greatness, but that day, I was fortunate to be given that extraordinary opportunity.

References:

The History Makers: “The Biography of Alvin Spearman”

SABR 45: “Listen to the Negro Leagues Panel with Al Spearman and Ernie Westfield”

Chicago Tribune: “Chicago Baseball Legend Alvin Spearman Passes Away.”