Saturday, July 4, 2020

Honoring the Unbowed

Major League Baseball has developed its plan for a shorter season in the midst of the pandemic that may yet get derailed by events. If it were any other year I'd almost be OK with no season, but this year is the 100th anniversary of the first meeting among potential owners that would create what we today call the Negro Leagues.

The Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City has been having short videos posted that feature a "tip of the cap" from different people to those historic players, honoring their refusal to be sidelined from an important part of American culture by the limited vision of too many owners and players. Ex-big leaguers, former presidents, four generations of the family of integration pioneer Jackie Robinson and more offer a brief salute and a literal tip of the cap to these players and managers.

So in this year it seems as though, despite all of the problems we're having, baseball should play a season of some kind. Even if it's short, even if it's in empty stadiums, even if it's weird -- they played in spite of monumental opposition. Giving it a shot seems like the right thing to do.

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