April 26, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5223 (5) extends the best wishes of the Senate to Kansas City Monarchs, became the first Afri- for their historic contributions to the the people of Israel as they celebrate the can-American coach in the Major Leagues game of baseball and to bridging racial 59th anniversary of the independence of the with the Chicago Cubs in 1962, served on the divisions in our country. State of Israel. Veterans Committee of the National Base- Since 1885, long before Major League f ball Hall of Fame, chaired the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Board of Directors, and Baseball was integrated in 1947, Afri- SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLU- worked tirelessly to promote the history of can-Americans organized their own TION 29—ENCOURAGING THE the Negro Leagues; professional leagues. These leagues did RECOGNITION OF THE NEGRO Whereas James ‘‘Cool Papa’’ Bell played, not succeed because of racial prejudice BASEBALL LEAGUES AND THEIR coached, and managed in the Negro Leagues and lack of adequate financial backing. PLAYERS ON MAY 20TH OF EACH from 1922 to 1950, discovered, trained, and as- However, this changed dramatically YEAR sisted numerous Negro League players into with the inception of the first success- the Major Leagues, and was later inducted Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, into the Baseball Hall of Fame; ful Negro league—the Negro National Mr. REID, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. Whereas Minnie Minoso played in the League. Its creation was the result of OBAMA, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. BROWNBACK, Negro Leagues for several years before being the efforts of an African-American and Mr. MARTINEZ) submitted the fol- allowed to play in the Major Leagues and player and manager named Andrew lowing concurrent resolution; which was denied admission to the Hall of Fame, ‘‘Rube’’ Foster. Mr. Foster’s success in- was referred to the Committee on the because during his prime years, he was a vic- spired the formation of other leagues. Judiciary: tim of racial discrimination; As a result, on October 3, 1924, the Whereas the talents of such players as S. CON. RES. 29 Josh Gibson, James ‘‘Cool Papa’’ Bell, and first Negro League World Series game Whereas even though African-Americans Oscar Charleston earned them recognition in was played between the Kansas City were excluded from playing in the Major the Baseball Hall of Fame as well as the Monarchs of the Negro National Leagues of their time with their white coun- Sporting News List of Baseball Greatest League and Hilldale of Philadelphia of terparts, the desire of many African-Ameri- Players, but they were denied admission to the Eastern Colored League. This his- cans to play baseball could not be repressed; the Major Leagues due to the color of their toric and exhaustive first series lasted Whereas Major League Baseball did not skin; fully integrate its leagues until July 1959; 10 games, covered a span of almost 3 Whereas Autozone Park in Memphis, Ten- weeks, and was played in four different Whereas African-Americans began orga- nessee, hosted the inaugural Civil Rights nizing their own professional baseball teams Game between the defending World Cham- cities. In the end, Kansas City claimed in 1885; pion St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland the championship. Whereas the skills and abilities of Negro Indians in commemoration of the civil rights Some of the names we know and League players eventually made Major movement, on March 31, 2007; and some we don’t. Among them are Jackie League Baseball realize the need to integrate Whereas by achieving success on the base- Robinson, the first African-American the sport; ball field, African-American baseball players Whereas 7 separate baseball leagues, to break the baseball color barrier; helped break down color barriers and inte- Satchel Paige, who was considered one known collectively as the ‘‘Negro Baseball grate African-Americans into all aspects of Leagues’’, were organized by African-Ameri- society in the United States: Now, therefore, of the greatest pitchers of all time; cans between 1920 and 1960; be it Josh Gibson, who was a prolific home- Whereas the Negro Baseball Leagues in- Resolved by the Senate (the House of Rep- run hitter; Larry Doby, the first Afri- cluded exceptionally talented players who resentatives concurring), That Congress— can-American to play in the American played the game at its highest level; (1) recognizes the teams and players of the Whereas on May 20, 1920, the Negro Na- League in July 1947; Buck O’Neil, who Negro Baseball Leagues for their achieve- was the first African-American coach tional League, the first successful Negro ments, dedication, sacrifices, and contribu- League, played its first game; in the Major Leagues and who went on tions to both baseball and our Nation; and Whereas Andrew ‘‘Rube’’ Foster founded (2) encourages the observation of Negro to head the Negro Leagues Baseball the Negro National League on February 13, Leaguers Recognition Day on May 20 of each Museum; Cool Papa Bell, who was 1920, at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Mis- year. known as the fastest man in baseball; souri, and also managed and played for the and Minnie Minoso; the ‘‘Cuban Chicago American Giants, and was later in- Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. Presi- ducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; dent, I, along with Senators REID, Comet,’’ who played on the New York Whereas Leroy ‘‘Satchel’’ Paige, who LEAHY, SPECTER, OBAMA, CLINTON, Cubans when they won the Negro began his long career in the Negro Leagues BROWNBACK, and MARTINEZ, have League World Series, and broke the and did not make his Major League debut proudly submitted a concurrent resolu- color barrier on the Chicago White Sox until the age of 42, is considered one of the tion honoring the Negro Baseball when he joined the team in 1951. greatest pitchers the game has ever seen, It is important that we remember and during his long career thrilled millions Leagues and their players by encour- of baseball fans with his skill and legendary aging the recognition of Negro and honor these players and their showboating, helping the Cleveland Indians Leaguers Recognition Day May 20 of teammates in the Negro Leagues. In win the pennant in his first big league vic- each year. My relationship with the breaking down baseball’s color barrier, tory beginning with his first game on July Negro Leagues players began when I these pioneers dealt a blow to hatred 15, 1948, and was later inducted into the successfully worked to persuade Major and prejudice across America. Today, Baseball Hall of Fame; League Baseball to give pension bene- we can honor them by recognizing May Whereas Josh Gibson, who was the greatest fits to former players. In 2004, Major 20 each year as Negro Leaguers Rec- slugger of the Negro Leagues, tragically died ognition Day. months before the integration of baseball, League Baseball agreed to put up $1 and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall million for monthly payments to 27 of Fame; former Negro Leaguers. Last year, I f Whereas Jackie Robinson, whose career worked with the families of several of began with the Negro League Kansas City the most notable Negro Leaguers to AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO Monarchs, became the first African-Amer- pass a Senate resolution designating MEET ican to play in the Major Leagues in April May 20, 2006—the date on which the 1947, was named Major League Baseball Negro National League played its first COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES Rookie of the Year in 1947, subsequently led Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask the Brooklyn Dodgers to 6 National League game—as Negro Leaguers Recognition pennants and a World Series championship, Day. unanimous consent that the Com- and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall I am submitting a resolution hon- mittee on Armed Services be author- of Fame; oring the Negro Leaguers again this ized to meet during the session of the Whereas Larry Doby, whose career began year—in cooperation with Representa- Senate on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at with the Negro League Newark Eagles, be- tive COHEN in the House—to dem- 9:30 a.m., in open session to receive tes- came the first African-American to play in onstrate the support in both Chambers timony on legal issues regarding indi- the American League in July 1947, was an for recognizing Negro Leaguers Rec- viduals detained by the Department of All-Star 9 times in Negro League and Major Defense as unlawful enemy combat- League Baseball, and was later inducted into ognition Day on May 20 of each year. I the Baseball Hall of Fame; hope that this will be a day when ants. Whereas John Jordan ‘‘Buck’’ O’Neil was a Negro Leaguers and their families will The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without player and manager of the Negro League return to the ballpark to be honored objection, it is so ordered. VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:25 Mar 13, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2007SENATE\S26AP7.REC S26AP7 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY.