Input-Output

A friend sent me a link to the story of a man who's trying to uncover the history of John Donaldson, a pitcher from the earliest days of 20th century baseball. An African-American, he was barred by baseball's "unwritten law" of segregation from playing in the major leagues. But this was before the beginning of the Negro Leagues that featured such greats as Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell and Buck O'Neil, so Donaldson was limited to playing for the "barnstorming" teams that would travel the country and play local teams or other opponents. Their income might be whatever they could gain on an evening when they passed the hat.

Because of the era, Donaldson and his teammates faced bigotry and racism in many of the places they played. Obviously none of them appreciated this, even though they could rarely address it because of the possible harm to their income as well as their persons. But, as the story notes, Donaldson never allowed the bigoted treatment to diminish his own dignity. Though he granted fans their right to say what they wanted once they paid the ticket, he questioned whether or not they should do so given that his behavior was always proper: "If I act the part of a gentleman, am I not entitled to a little respect?”

No one of any skin color should have to maintain perfect composure and deportment as a requirement to be treated without prejudice. The most inked-up, thugged-up gangbanger wannabe on the field, diamond or court does not deserve to be belittled with racial or ethnic slurs.

But Donaldson has it right: Someone who does act the gentleman -- or gentlewoman -- deserves not only the bare minimum of respect given to his bad boy counterpart, but the greater respect owed to someone who behaves with dignity, integrity and respect of their own.

Yesterday's sports page in OKC had a long piece on Oklahoma City Thunder standout Kevin Durant and how respected he has become around the league for the way he conducts himself. He said he always remembers what his parents told him about how he should act and how grateful he might want to be for his chances, even though he was a basketball star offered a lot of adoration, fame and eventually money: "It didn't have to be you."

John Donaldson died in 1970, almost 20 years before Kevin Durant was born. But I kinda think the two might have got along quite well if they'd ever had the chance to meet.