March 2, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E333 police officer was equaled by his kind and Asking black soldiers to fight and die for the lins did next was a clear reflection of both generous heart. He consistently provided a hot liberty denied them at home created renewed the unassailable mindset of baseball as well meal or kind word to a person or family in dialogue. as the arrogance of the Red Sox. Now, baseball found itself at the center of ‘‘As I wrote to one of your fellow need. the argument. Black soldiers could not die councilors last April,’’ Collins replied to Mr. O’Reilly treated everyone with dignity on the battlefield and still be prohibited Muchnick in a letter, ‘‘I have been connected and respect, regardless of their social status. from playing center field in the major with the Red Sox for twelve years and during He was just as comfortable in sharing a con- leagues. that time we have never had a single request versation with an elected official as he was in Segregation was an unbreakable rule. That for a tryout by a colored applicant. It is be- sharing lunch with a homeless man. His ex- blacks played in separate leagues was a prac- yond my understanding how anyone could insinuate or believe that all ball players, re- pansive heart and concern for others extended tice that went largely unquestioned. When debate was stirred, either from a relentless gardless of race, color or creed have not been beyond the 4th District. He volunteered black press or from the few mainstream treated in the American way so far as having throughout the community, teaching commu- white reporters who made integration a an equal opportunity to play for the Red nity safety to neighborhood groups, and he cause, there was always a reason why the Sox.’’ also held leadership positions on the boards of time was not prudent for the majors to open Collins’ cordial inaction insulted many community organizations, including the their doors to blacks. The only groups that Muchnick, who pressed further. Collins had Holy Name Society, St. Michael Hospital Com- were truly vociferous in their appeals stood no intention of even granting the tryout, but on the fringes of the mainstream. he had badly underestimated Muchnick’s te- munity Board, and the Cleveland Police Pa- nacity. Collins was used to being in a posi- trolmen’s Association. But during the latter half of 1944 and in the early months of 1945, Eddie Collins was un- tion of strength when he dealt with baseball Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me comfortable. He was the vice president and issues, but it was clear that he couldn’t say in honor, gratitude and remembrance of Mr. general manager of the Red Sox and was now a few positive, encouraging words to rid him- David J O’Reilly. As a police officer, Mr. being pressured by Isadore Muchnick, a lib- self of Isadore Muchnick, a man who was de- O’Reilly dedicated his professional life to the eral Jewish city councilor, who demanded termined to see tangible progress. When he safety of his officers, and the safety of the en- the Red Sox begin offering some form of tal- received no satisfaction from their written ent evaluation of black players. correspondence in 1944, Muchnick alerted tire Slavic Village community. I extend my Collins to his intention to block the Red Sox deepest condolences to his beloved wife, It was a threatening concept. Baseball pro- hibited black players from the major leagues from playing baseball on Sundays. It was a Denise; his beloved daughter, Rebecca; his in 1884, and no serious challenges to that au- potentially crippling blow. In the 1940s, base- beloved son, James; and also to his extended thority had arisen. The desire to keep blacks ball clubs were almost completely dependent family and many friends. His courage and out of the major leagues existed in great de- upon gate receipts as a revenue source. To kindness will live on forever within the hearts gree from the players all the way to the com- infringe on that would surely get the atten- and memories of his family, friends, and the missioner’s office. tion of any baseball owner. Jackie Robinson was fatalistic about the public he so faithfully served. Shunned, blacks created their own leagues, and the races played the same game on pat- tryout. He didn’t believe the Red Sox were f ently uneven tracks. To some, the very ex- serious about integration and wasn’t espe- istence of the Negro leagues was proof that cially thrilled about his own situation. He ‘‘JACKIE ROBINSON’S TRYOUT had only played for the Negro League’s Kan- WITH THE BOSTON RED SOX, blacks didn’t care to play in the big leagues. Yet here was an emboldened Muchnick, po- sas City Monarchs for a few weeks and was APRIL 1945’’ tentially unsettling the balance. For empha- already disappointed by the league’s air of sis, he approached Collins with a hammer. In gambling and disorganization. When Robinson arrived in Boston, the try- those days in Boston, a permit was required HON. BARNEY FRANK out was delayed for two more days in the to play baseball on Sundays. The city coun- OF MASSACHUSETTS wake of Franklin Roosevelt’s death. cil required a unanimous vote for the permit IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [It] finally took place at Fenway Park at to be granted. Muchnick told Collins he eleven on the morning of April 16, 1945. Two Wednesday, March 2, 2005 would withhold his vote unless the Red Sox above-average Negro leaguers, Sam Jethroe agreed to sponsor a tryout for black players, and Marvin Williams, joined Jackie Robin- Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, a potentially crippling financial blow. this week the U.S. Congress is honoring one son. The players fielded, threw, and took This was a new pressure. Led by batting practice. [Manager Joe] Cronin sat, of the true giants of sports history, Jackie Muchnick’s threat and with consistent com- according to one account, ‘‘stone-faced.’’ An- Robinson. mentary in the black press (and to a lesser other depicted Cronin barely watching at all. There is a little-known chapter in Mr. Robin- degree the mainstream), integration advo- Muchnick marveled at the hitting ability of son’s career that is chronicled in the attached cates pushed baseball as they hadn’t before Robinson, whose mood apparently darkened. narrative. That chapter details an act of cour- the war. Joe Cashman of the Boston Record sat with Dave Egan from the Boston Record pushed Cronin that day and reported that the man- age and creativity in the political life of Boston in his column for the Red Sox or the Braves by Isadore Muchnick, a Boston City Councillor ager was impressed with Robinson. He wrote to be consistent with the Boston pedigree cryptically, with virtually little comprehen- who served in the 1940s in the city. He de- and lead the major leagues into a new, inte- sion, that he could have been witnessing a serves recognition for his achievement in ob- grated era. historic moment. ‘‘Before departing, Joe and taining a tryout for Jackie Robinson with the Wendell Smith, columnist from the black his coaches spent some 90 minutes in the Boston Red Sox. weekly Pittsburgh Courier, joined Egan in stands at Fenway surveying three Negro can- It also puts in context the courage and de- challenging Collins as well as other general didates. Why they came from such distant managers across the league to offer tryouts termination that Jackie Robinson displayed spots to work out for the Red Sox was not to black players. Sam Lacy of the Baltimore learned.’’ throughout his long and illustrious career in Afro-American had vainly tried to push for Robinson himself was satisfied with his baseball. integration in 1939. In 1945, Lacy and Collins performance, although by the time he left It is a privilege for me to place this ex- began corresponding about integration. Fenway he was smoldering about what he cerpted chapter, from the book ‘‘Shut Out: A It was, however, Muchnick’s voice and felt to be a humiliating charade. As the Story of Race and Baseball in Boston’’ by clout that turned a cadre of disparate voices three players departed, Eddie Collins told into something of a movement. Mabray Howard Bryant, into the RECORD. them they would hear from the Red Sox in ‘‘Doc’’ Kountze, perhaps the preeminent the near future. None of them ever heard JACKIE ROBINSON’S TRYOUT WITH THE BOSTON black reporter in Boston, referred to from the Red Sox again. RED SOX, APRIL 1945, EXCERPTED FROM Muchnick as a ‘‘white modern abolitionist.’’ Eighteen months later, the Dodgers signed ‘‘SHUT OUT: A STORY OF RACE AND BASE- Muchnick was the first person in the mod- Robinson, who would begin a legendary ca- BALL IN BOSTON,’’ BY HOWARD BRYANT ern era to pressure baseball’s power struc- reer a year and half later. Jethroe, at age Virtually everything about Boston base- ture and come away with a tangible result. thirty-three, integrated Boston pro baseball ball is conditional. What would have hap- The Boston Red Sox would be the first team with the Braves in 1950 and would become pened if. in the twentieth century to hold a tryout for the National League Rookie of the Year. Wil- So who knew that on April 16, 1945, the Red black players. liams would stay in the Negro leagues, never Sox would once more approach history’s ‘‘I cannot understand,’’ Muchnick wrote to again coming so close to the majors.