Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Strike Three: Major League Baseball’s Sordid Romance with Race-Baiting Politics
American Thinker.com ^ | August 1, 2020 | John Eidson

Posted on 08/01/2020 4:20:06 AM PDT by Kaslin

My passion for professional baseball began when I was ten. In 1954, my parents signed me up for a Little League team at the U.S. Air Force base in Wiesbaden, West Germany. The six teams in the league were named after major league teams back in America.

I ended up on the team named after the Brooklyn Dodgers. With my interest in big league baseball piqued, I made a Dodgers scrapbook of articles cut from the U.S. military newspaper, The Stars and Stripes. The first clipping in my scrapbook was the line score of Game 7 of the 1955 World Series, between the Dodgers and the New York Yankees.

In 1957, I mailed the scrapbook to the Dodgers shortly before the team moved to Los Angeles. A few weeks later, it was returned to me with signatures of every player on the team, including legendary baseballers Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Tommy LaSorda, Sandy Koufax and Johnny Podres, the ’55 World Series MVP who pitched a 2-0 shutout of the Yankees in the deciding game.

When the signed scrapbook arrived, I was hooked on major league baseball. In short order, I’d learned the names of the top players of every major league team. Over the years ahead, I watched a ton of baseball, mostly on TV. Watching games was a relaxing pastime that took my mind away from the inevitable anxieties of life, things like worrying about my grades at Georgia Tech, health setbacks, the Cold War and Wall Street bear markets. Later on, baseball helped distract me, at least in brief increments, from the indescribable emotional pain of losing the only woman I ever loved to suicide.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: baseball; sjw; sports; woke
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-43 next last
To: Kaslin

Every October, when the curtain came down on the baseball season, Pilgrim will admit it . . . he felt a little tear roll down his cheek as he began the countdown, “# number of days until catchers report for spring training.”

Well, those sentiments have come to an abrubt halt as I could no longer be concerned about any group that embraces the very forces that would destroy this nation. I’m sure that not everyone will follow in my decision because it is easier to whitewash the things that excite us, like a hard triple down the right field line, or a ball bouncing off a fielder’s head to result in a home run. But then, there were many that turned a blind eye to a lot of things through history - like the gassing of millions of Jewish people during the holocaust.

Yea, I think that is the direction the world is going, only we can add Christians and conservatives to the list. Crowds will be enjoying another day at the ballpark while people will be in the process of being eliminated just a few blocks down the road.

Heck, that whole thing sold a bunch of tickets in the Roman Coliseums way back then.


21 posted on 08/01/2020 6:02:33 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress (http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx D)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: deweyfrank
"Professional athletes have killed their golden goose."

It's going to get a lot harder for professional sports to get fans in stands when you call them names and imply their nothing more then a bunch of racist.. I would guess that upwards of 95% of the paying customers are white people.

But the real crime is disrespecting the flag and taking a knee to a bunch of commies... :(

22 posted on 08/01/2020 6:02:53 AM PDT by unread (A REPUBLIC..! if you can keep it....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Sports are suffering even without the self-inflicted wounds. I’m not even sure if CPR will save ‘em. Good riddance.


23 posted on 08/01/2020 6:08:46 AM PDT by windsorknot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I have absolutely no interest in major league baseball, football, or anything else. These leagues can wither away and die on the vine for all I care. In fact, considering their recent behaviour, I think they should.


24 posted on 08/01/2020 6:13:13 AM PDT by Savage Beast (President Trump, loving God, America, and the American People, is on the Side of love the Angels!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: deweyfrank

“Professional athletes have killed their golden goose.”

Very insightful and concise. I plan to steal your line. Perhaps it can penetrate the defensive shield of some of my brainwashed friends and acquaintances.


25 posted on 08/01/2020 6:31:26 AM PDT by Montaignes Cat (HER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
In 1957, I mailed the scrapbook to the Dodgers shortly before the team moved to Los Angeles. A few weeks later, it was returned to me with signatures of every player on the team, including legendary baseballers Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Tommy LaSorda, Sandy Koufax and Johnny Podres, the ’55 World Series MVP who pitched a 2-0 shutout of the Yankees in the deciding game.

Wow. How times have changed. Can you imagine any top sports franchise doing such a thing today?!

26 posted on 08/01/2020 6:34:25 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
I grew up in Baltimore in the 60s. When I played third base in Little League, I WAS Brooks Robinson.
27 posted on 08/01/2020 6:36:57 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ScottinVA
No matter what, they were “my” team.

They had a great run 2010 - 2014.

28 posted on 08/01/2020 6:37:59 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Not only are the besmirching the anthem, the flag, the military.

They are also besmirching the past greats of their own sports, who honored those very same things.


29 posted on 08/01/2020 6:39:43 AM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hardspunned
This travesty, masquerading as baseball, won’t last more than a couple more weeks.

Agreed. Already two teams have cases of COVID and have been forced to miss games. I'm sure more are coming. What will be the breaking point?

30 posted on 08/01/2020 6:42:17 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: unread

You can also say goodbye to taxpayer funded stadiums. After Covid, there will be no appetite for such nonsense.


31 posted on 08/01/2020 7:08:52 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Fiji Hill

Don’t forget the DH....


32 posted on 08/01/2020 7:14:22 AM PDT by Tallguy (Facts be d@mned! The narrative must be protected at all costs!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: deweyfrank
The golden goose is now laying gold plated eggs. As the revenues fall because of empty stands for shortened seasons, the labor negotiations will most likely be ugly.

So sports reporting for the next few years will be salary issues and "Positive testing" reports, added to the arrest reports, attitude problems, and general separation from normal society that has been going on for years.

There will probably still be a fan base, but a smaller one. And what municipality or state will be able to even discuss funding a new stadium with all of the budget concerns?

Basketball and Soccer might look somewhat the same because it's cheap and easy for kids to play and get interested, but Football and Baseball? Just a different animal.

33 posted on 08/01/2020 7:20:29 AM PDT by Bernard (If I knew then what I know now, I probably would not have believed it anyway.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: duckman

Have not watched baseball since they went on strike and never played the 94’ World Series. Used to be a big Yankee fan. Those cry babies are making a lot of bucks to play a kids game and they still wanted more. Just my 2 cents.


Pretty much the same for me. It’s been decades since I watched nine innings of baseball outside of the World Series. The baggy no stirrups uniforms grate on me, too. So sloppy looking. No thanks.


34 posted on 08/01/2020 7:23:54 AM PDT by lodi90
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: EEGator

I spent the early years of my life playing baseball, from Little League to a Div 1 school. This disgusts me so bad I can’t watch it anymore and this is from one that has 4 major league relatives, one who is still a MLB GM. In my family, if you can’t play baseball, it’s an automatic paternity test, something’s off.


35 posted on 08/01/2020 7:24:09 AM PDT by allwrong57
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

The marxist leagues must die so they can be replaced with patriotic leagues.


36 posted on 08/01/2020 10:12:35 AM PDT by joshua c
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Good article. My sentiments as well. R.I.P. Major-League Baseball.


37 posted on 08/01/2020 10:17:44 AM PDT by Sans-Culotte (Does the left like anything about America?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ScottinVA

Amazing how we saw the suicide of professional sports overnight. Football, baseball and Basketball can play to empty stadiums.


38 posted on 08/01/2020 12:36:24 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: unread

My wife just wanted to watch the Blackhawks. But the game was delayed by a half hour of BLM nonsense. It is changing her from a non prejudiced person into someone who hates this false narrative as racist.


39 posted on 08/01/2020 12:40:48 PM PDT by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: unread

..disrespecting the flag and taking a knee to a bunch of commies...

That is the big rub with me. These morons don’t understand that without our freedoms and all those who gave their lives to defend this country, they would not be playing a game for millions of dollars.

I remember a time when ball players would freeze in place, put their hand on their heart, take off their hat or helmet when the National Anthem played. Those players got it.

The current players can “protest” all they want, but I am finished with them. No in person watching, no tv, no radio. Screw them.


40 posted on 08/01/2020 12:44:10 PM PDT by Texas resident (Remember in November)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-43 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson