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Home , Andy Cooper, Bill Foster (baseball), Buck Leonard, Bullet Rogan, Cool Papa Bell, Effa Manley

S1590 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 1, 2006 (3) earned from fans the nickname Boojum, be equally divided between the two like the reason the Senate was created, after the sound that his line drives made leaders or their designees. but the Senator from Wisconsin has when slamming off the fences; and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without been waiting, trying his best to get 15 (4) played on pennant-winning teams as a member of the Black Sox, Phila- objection, it is so ordered. minutes, day after day, as the majority delphia Stars, and ; f refuses to give it to him. As I have said repeatedly, I think Whereas those legends will be in- PROGRAM ducted into the National Baseball Hall of there is merit to this PATRIOT Act, as Fame on July 30, 2006, in Cooperstown, New Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today the amended with Senator SUNUNU’s efforts York, joining former Negro Leagues players Senate passed the PATRIOT Act and the efforts of many, including my- , , , amendments bill, and we are now con- self, but I am going to defend the right , , , sidering the PATRIOT Act conference of the Senator from Wisconsin to come ‘‘Satchel’’ Paige, , , report. Early today, by a vote of 84 to ‘‘Buck’’ Leonard, ‘‘Bullet’’ Rogan, ‘‘Cool to the floor any time he wants, as a Papa’’ Bell, , ‘‘Smokey’’ Joe 15, the Senate overwhelmingly invoked Senator representing his State and as a Williams, , ‘‘Judy’’ Johnson, cloture on the conference report. Under coequal Member of this Chamber, and , Martin Dihigo, , an agreement just reached, we will be offer an amendment. The majority ‘‘Pop’’ Lloyd, , ‘‘Rube’’ Fos- voting on the PATRIOT Act conference should not be so frightened of debate, ter, ‘‘Turkey’’ Stearnes, and , as report tomorrow at 3 p.m. Following not so frightened of a vote that they members of the National Baseball Hall of that vote, we will have a cloture vote would deny the Senator this oppor- Fame; and with respect to the LIHEAP bill. The tunity. Whereas we congratulate the Negro remaining schedule for tomorrow will Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, f Missouri, the only public museum in the Na- depend on the outcome of that vote, tion that exists for the exclusive purpose of and we will alert Members of the sched- HONORING THE LEGENDARY interpreting the experiences of the players in ule following that cloture vote. STARS OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES the Negro Leagues, founded in 1990 by Negro f AND PRE-NEGRO LEAGUES BASE- Leagues legend Buck O’Neil, Horace Peter- BALL son, former ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT Al ‘‘Slick’’ Surratt, and other former Negro Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in the Leagues players, for the tireless efforts of no further business to come before the last few moments, we adopted a resolu- the museum to preserve the evidence of Senate, I ask unanimous consent that tion which is historic in nature. It re- honor, courage, sacrifice, and triumph in the the Senate stand in adjournment under lates to the Negro Leagues and pre- face of segregation of those African Ameri- the previous order following the re- Negro Leagues baseball in America. cans who played in the Negro Leagues Anyone who loves baseball as I do and through its comprehensive collection of his- marks of Senator DURBIN for up to 15 minutes. followed the great documentary pre- torical materials, important artifacts, and pared by Ken Burns on the history of oral histories of the participants in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Negro Leagues and the impact that segrega- objection? baseball must have been struck by how tion had in the lives of the players and their Mr. FEINGOLD. Reserving the right much the history of baseball is associ- fans: Now, therefore, be it to object, I wish to indicate that I am ated with the resolution of the issue of Resolved, That the Senate— pleased we could work out a time for race in America. (1) congratulates Ray Brown, Willard For too long, baseball, similar to Brown, , , , the vote tomorrow. I want to be very clear that not only have I not given up much of America, was segregated. Now Biz Mackey, , Joe Mendez, Alex that it has become an integrated sport, Pompez, Cum Posey, , Mule any of my rights under the bill, as I un- Suttles, Ben Taylor, Cristobal Torriente, Sol derstand it, given the rules we have seen some tremendous ath- White, J.L. Wilkinson, and on postcloture, I actually have more time letes—Black Americans, Hispanic being elected to the National Baseball Hall for debate than I otherwise would have Americans, White Americans, those of Fame Class of 2006; to oppose this unwise legislation. In from other countries—coming together (2) commends the National Baseball Hall of terms of convenience for Members, I to make it a more exciting sport than Fame and the Negro Leagues Baseball Mu- it has ever been. seum for their efforts to ensure that these am pleased about that. It will be im- portant to continue the debate tomor- I think we realize now what was lost legends of baseball receive the recognition for so many decades, while those who due to players of their caliber; and row prior to 3 o’clock. I thank the lead- (3) respectfully requests the Enrolling ers for the ability to achieve that. labored in Black baseball, the Negro Clerk of the Senate to transmit an enrolled The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Leagues, were relegated to second-class copy of this resolution to— objection, it is so ordered. status despite the fact their talents (A) the National Baseball Hall of Fame; The Senator from Illinois is recog- were as good or sometimes better than and nized. those who played on all White baseball (B) the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, pursu- teams. f ant to the unanimous consent request, Jerry Izenberg, a sports writer for ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, MARCH I wish to speak to a resolution which the Newark Star Ledger, wrote of the 2, 2006 was just passed, but prior to that time, stars of Negro Leagues Baseball: Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask I would like to commend my colleague They took America’s game and weaved a kind of magic with it that most of America unanimous consent that when the Sen- from the State of Wisconsin for his dogged determination to have the Sen- never bothered to see—not for lack of talent ate completes its business today, it and surely not because of the way they stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on ate actually consider an amendment—a played it—with a fire in the belly and joy in Thursday, March 2. I further ask that substantive amendment—to the PA- the skills that motivated them. following the prayer and pledge, the TRIOT Act. He has been more than co- America loved baseball, but segregation morning hour be deemed expired, the operative in suggesting he would limit turned America blind. The psyche of the Journal of proceedings be approved to the time of that debate to 15 minutes, White men who owned Major League Base- date, the time for the two leaders be but he has been stopped every time he ball and most of those who played the game reserved, and the Senate then proceed has come to the floor and made that re- couldn’t get past the matter of skin color. to a period of morning business for up quest by the majority. One of the greatest players ever, the to 30 minutes, with the first 15 minutes I may disagree with the Senator from legendary , spent most of under the control of the Democratic Wisconsin, but I am going to stand his career in the Negro Leagues. In his leader or his designee, the final 15 min- here and fight for as long as I can that Hall of Fame induction speech in 1971 utes under the control of the majority he have this opportunity. Why is the he said: leader or his designee, and the Senate Senate afraid of debate? Why is the Oh, we had men by the hundreds who could then resume consideration of the con- Senate afraid of deliberation? What is have made the big leagues, by the hundreds, ference report to accompany H.R. 3199, so frightening about having two Sen- not by the fours, twos or threes. the PATRIOT Act; I further ask that ators present a point of view and then ‘‘ ... Ain’t no maybe so about it,’’ the debate until the final passage vote have the Senate vote? It almost sounds Satchel Paige said.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:23 Mar 02, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A01MR6.044 S01MRPT1 ycherry on PROD1PC64 with SENATE March 1, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1591 I did have the honor to meet him one Minnie Minoso is to Latin ballplayers what world was excited about whether I was going day. He was in Springfield watching a Jackie Robinson is to Black ballplayers. in the Hall of Fame or not. We’ve come a baseball game. I still remember it. He He paved the way for generations of long, long ways. Before, we never even was seated next to Minnie Minoso, Latin superstars, from Roberto thought about anything like that. America, Clemente to to Sammy you’ve really grown, and you’re still grow- whom I will refer to a little later in ing. these remarks. Sosa. Most of those players never got that In 1983, the White Sox retired Minnie The story of Black baseball is amaz- chance. But now, 17 more players and 5 Minoso’s No. 9 uniform, and in 2004, he ing. During its golden years, Negro executives from the Negro Leagues and was honored with a life-sized sculpture Leagues Baseball was the Nation’s pre-Negro Leagues baseball are getting at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the third-largest Black-owned business. some long overdue recognition. world champion White Sox. At The leagues included such storied This week, a special commission ap- the unveiling ceremony, he said: franchises as the Chicago American Gi- pointed by If God takes me tomorrow, I’m happy be- ants, the Kansas City Monarchs, the acted to heal another of segregation’s cause my statue is here. How many people in Homestead Grays, the Black scars by voting to induct the 17 into the Hall of Fame have statues in the ball Crackers, the , and the parks? the Baseball Hall of Fame. Black Yankees. I am pleased to join baseball fans John ‘‘Buck’’ O’Neil should be a fa- Among its stars were the legendary around the world in congratulating miliar name to those who remember Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, called ‘‘the these new Hall of Famers: the Ken Burns documentary. Buck black ’’, William ‘‘Buck’’ Negro Leagues baseball players Ray O’Neil was the Black baseball player Leonard, the ‘‘black ,’’ the Brown, , Andy Cooper, they went to time and time again to acrobatic William ‘‘Judy’’ Johnson, Biz Mackey, , Cristobal talk about life in the Negro Leagues. and James ‘‘Cool Papa’’ Bell. Cool Papa Torriente, and Jud Wilson; He was the unofficial ambassador for Bell was so fast, it was said that he Pre-Negro Leagues players Frank Negro Leagues baseball in the Ken could turn off the light and be in bed Grant, Pete Hill, Jose Mendez, Louis Burns documentaries. before the room got dark. Even Jesse He was a standout and Santop, and Ben Taylor; Owens declined to race against him. successful for the Kansas City Negro Leagues club owners Alex The roots of black baseball stretch Monarchs from 1937 to 1955. Years later, Pompez, Cum Posey, and J.L. back to 1867. That year—2 years after as a scout for the , Buck Wilkinson; the Civil War ended—the National O’Neil signed future Hall of Famers And pre-Negro Leagues team owner Baseball Players Association was cre- Ernie Banks and to their and baseball writer . ated. The new league banned any team first major league contracts. Also among the new Hall of Famers that included even one Black player. Think about that. Buck O’Neil from In 1887, the first Black baseball team, is Effa Manley, co-owner with her hus- the Negro Leagues signed Ernie Banks, band of the Newark Eagles and the the , was formed to give Mr. Cub, to the Chicago Cubs. My mes- talented black players in New York a first woman to join the Hall of Fame. sage to the Tribune publishing com- Effa Manly was White, but she married chance to play ball. Their success in- pany, which owns the Chicago Cubs, is: spired other Black teams to form. a Black man and chose to pass herself Can you think of a better batter to off as Black. She was active in the civil Many of the teams were hugely pop- throw out a pitch for a game in ular. One Sunday in 1911, the Chicago rights movement and promoted Anti- than Buck O’Neil, the Day at Eagles games in the Cubs drew 6,000 paying fans, the White only surviving baseball player from the Sox had 9,000 fans, while the black . Negro Leagues, and his man that he Similar to many, I am surprised—I team, the , scouted for that team, Ernie Banks? It am really disappointed—that two drew 11,000 fans. just doesn’t get any better. In 1920, the owner of the Chicago names were not on the list I just read. With the Cubs, Buck O’Neil also be- American Giants, , and Of the 39 Negro Leagues and pre-Negro came the first African-American coach other team owners met in Kansas City Leagues stars considered for inclusion in the Major Leagues. At age 94, he is to form the Negro . in the Hall of Fame this week, only the driving force in preserving Negro Foster hoped that the victor in the two are still living: Mini Minoso and League history—94 years old. He is the Negro championship would one day Buck O’Neil. I can’t explain why nei- cofounder and chairman of the Negro ther one was selected. Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas play the major league winner and that No matter how the committee voted, City, which he and a handful of other the color line in baseball would eventu- Minnie Minoso and Buck O’Neil will al- Negro Leaguers started in a $200-a- ally be erased entirely. ways be Hall of Famers to baseball fans month room in 1990. That dream was crushed in 1919, with in Chicago and around the world. Let Buck O’Neil has probably done more the appointment of Major League Base- me tell you about them. than anyone to see that the stories of ball’s first commissioner, Kenesaw Saturnino Orestes Armas ‘‘Minnie’’ great Black ball players before Jackie Mountain Landis, who forbade White Minoso is one of the most popular play- Robinson are not forgotten. Without ball clubs from playing against Black ers in history—a his tireless efforts, it is unlikely a spe- clubs, even in exhibition games. seven-time All-Star and three-time cial committee would have ever started Negro Leagues players were paid lit- Golden Glove winner. to right the wrong of segregated base- tle. They suffered long bus rides, ex- He was nicknamed ‘‘the Cuban ball. So it strikes many of us as ironic hausting schedules, and second-and comet,’’ the first Black Latino in the that Buck wasn’t chosen to enter Coop- third-rate motels. Other times, they re- major leagues starting in 1949 with the erstown. He greeted the news with typ- lied or Black churches and fans’ homes Indians. Two years later, he ical Buck O’Neil grace and optimism for a place to sleep. They played year became the first White Sox to break when he said: round. When it got cold in the states, the color line. Before I wouldn’t even have had a chance they headed south to play in or He a home in his first at-bat but this time I had that chance. . . . I was on the . with the White Sox and went on to be the ballot, man. The color line was nearly broken in named Rookie of the Isn’t that a great quote, from a man 1943 when Chicago Cubs owner Bill Year in 1951, leading the league in sto- 94 years of age, who could have been Veeck planned to buy the len bases and triples. Over his career, given that moment in history to be the Phillies and hire Satchel Paige, Josh he led the league in being hit by only surviving member of the Negro Gibson and other Negro League stars, pitches 10 different times—an indica- Leagues to actually physically be there but Landis learned of the plan first and tion, I am afraid, of how difficult it was as he was admitted to the Cooperstown sold the team to someone else. to break the racial lines. Hall of Fame? The following year, Landis died. The In the words of , who He added something. He said: new commissioner, former once played for the St. Louis Baseball You think about this. Here I am, the Governor , famously Cardinals: grandson of a slave. And here the whole declared: ‘‘I’m for the Four Freedoms.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:23 Mar 02, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G01MR6.047 S01MRPT1 ycherry on PROD1PC64 with SENATE S1592 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 1, 2006 If a Black . . . can make it on Okinawa In 1991, at the urging of former St. It wasn’t just on the field that Negro and Guadalcanal . . . he can make it in Louis Cardinals and baseball Leagues Baseball differed from White baseball.’’ But the Major League own- broadcaster Joe Garagiola, Vincent ar- baseball. At Major League games Black ers disagreed and voted against inte- ranged a trip to Cooperstown for 75 and White fans were separated by gration 15-to-1. Negro League players. At a formal din- chicken-wire fences—‘‘one of the pow- In 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers owner ner, he apologized to the players for erful symbols of racism,’’ in Buck Branche Rickey signed a the way baseball had snubbed them. He O’Neil’s words. But during Negro from the Kansas City Monarchs to play later told a reporter from USA Today: League games, Blacks and Whites sat for the Dodgers’ farm club. As a lieu- ‘‘I really thought I was repeating an side by side. tenant in the Army, Jack Roosevelt old line, but it turned out that it was In July, when the Hall of Fame’s Robinson risked a court-martial by re- the first time that someone—from class of 2006 is formally inducted, more fusing to sit in the back of a military Major League Baseball—had done of the legends of Black baseball will fi- bus. In 1947, he was called up to play that.’’ When he handed out a com- nally take their rightful place at Coop- for the Dodgers. Baseball’s color line memorative medallion of the event, he erstown, to be honored side by side was finally erased. said, ‘‘about a third of [the players] with the rest of the best who ever Soon after, the Negro Leagues began were crying.’’ played America’s game. As Buck O’Neil In 2000, Major League Baseball com- to falter financially as they lost more said, ‘‘America is growing.’’ missioned a $250,000 study of African- and more of their best players to the We congratulate the families of all of American players from 1860 to 1960. The majors. The league folded in 1960. the new Hall of Famers, and we remain result is the most thorough statistical hopeful that Buck O’Neil and Minnie Before the vote this week, only 18 of record of the Negro Leagues ever com- Minoso will soon join them in Coopers- the Negro League’s more than 2,600 piled. It includes statistics culled from players had been voted into the Hall of Black-owned newspapers as well as town. Fame. stats from games that matched barn- I yield the floor. Among those pushing for recognition storming White players—including f of other deserving Negro Leaguers was Babe Ruth and —against former Baseball Commissioner Fay Negro Leaguers. ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 9:30 A.M. Vincent. Vincent’s interest in Negro The league then appointed a special TOMORROW Leagues ball was heightened after he commission of 12 historians and schol- met Alfred ‘‘Slick’’ Surratt, a Negro ars to sift through the record and se- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Leaguer who served in World War II lect players who should be considered the previous order, the Senate is ad- and was wounded at the Battle of Gua- for the Hall of Fame. The first list in- journed until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. dalcanal, and then barred from playing cluded 39 names. From those 39 play- Thereupon, the Senate, at 6:36 p.m., Major League baseball when he re- ers, the committee this week selected adjourned until Thursday, March 2, turned home. the 17 new Hall of Famers. 2006, at 9:30 a.m.

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