Metro Jacksonville

Living in Jacksonville => Sports => Topic started by: thelakelander on December 18, 2020, 09:38:28 AM

Title: The Jax Red Caps: Florida's first major leaguers
Post by: thelakelander on December 18, 2020, 09:38:28 AM
Quote(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/History/Jacksonville-Red-Caps/i-K6xWjCx/0/86a2d5b8/X2/2020121716270908-5539834595585101255-Jax%20Red%20Caps%20(Ellie%20Weems,%20no%20date)-X2.jpg)

Major League Baseball's decision to recognize seven historic Negro Leagues as major leagues will shake up the sports history of many cities. Jacksonville, home to the Red Caps of the Negro American League in 1938 and 1941-42, is no exception. Here's a look at the trailblazing history of Florida's first major leaguers.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/the-jax-red-caps-floridas-first-major-leaguers/
Title: Re: The Jax Red Caps: Florida's first major leaguers
Post by: Ken_FSU on December 18, 2020, 08:58:24 PM
Great article, Bill.

I'd never seen the below photo.

It's pretty jarring.

Looks like it could have been taken yesterday.

I think people sometimes like to stick their heads in the sand and think of issues like segregation and Jim Crow as ancient history, but it was only 70 years ago that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. That's like two generations back for most families.

Won't derail the thread by getting too political, but you just can't expect society to right itself and the playing field to magically become even in that short a time period without making some real concerted efforts to make things right.

(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/History/Jacksonville-Red-Caps/i-PntLjdQ/0/017c72ba/X2/img_6497-X2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Jax Red Caps: Florida's first major leaguers
Post by: thelakelander on December 18, 2020, 10:14:43 PM
Quote from: Ken_FSU on December 18, 2020, 08:58:24 PM
Won't derail the thread by getting too political, but you just can't expect society to right itself and the playing field to magically become even in that short a time period without making some real concerted efforts to make things right.

100% agree with this!