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sjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitinHHiimiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiitmimiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiimtiiiiiiiiiii nAmerican Sports Show Inter-Racial Gains In 1950New Athletes Gain Stardomnis world will rise enmasse to protest these injustices—eventually it must happen—why not now?”B AI.MN MOSESNEW YORK — (AND — Theyear 1950 in American sports wasan eventful one. Millions of baseball, football and basketball followers saw the inter-racial trend grow stronger.It is of course something that should have been the successful formula since our great grandfather’s day.Ezzard Charles, the “Cincinnati Cobra.” was noted the “athlete o the past year.” His brfHiant and unexpected win over Joe Louis, i sports figure who fired 150 mil lion Americans as no athlete sine Babe Ruth, would seem to clinch that claim.But for me, slim, courageous Althea Gibson, first of her race to compete on the snobbish Forest Hills, was H*50's champion ath-Jete. Mere was a moral strength that far transcended the physical powers of say a John Davis (world’s strongest man.)Each year in the future will turn out its shining figures in sports. Few are the seasons that produce an Althea Gibson, a Jackie Robinson, a Major Taylor, personalities who break sown agelong prejudice precedents in the flee of bitter odds That is why this 195(1 summary ..sts this threetime winner of the Negro women’s singles championships ahead of the field.In July, 1950, beautiful, blonde Alice Marble struck discrimination in the USLTA (United States I awn Tennis Association) v mightly and mortal blow. This pretty Nordic, listed as one of the greatest women players in tennis history, was national champion in 193fl, 1938. 1939 and 1910.In a column in the July issut of the American Lawn Tenni Magazine, Miss Marble fairly breathed fire on the score of in justices and inequalities complete-This appeared on the editorial page of ALTA magazine, a I I-year-old publication. Its editorsprinted a statement in which they whole-heartedly supported Miss Marble’s brave plea for “American fair-play.”SHE HAD THE STUFFAlthea Gibson proved to the world in her first Forest Hills appearance that she possessed true championship timber. Not only did she come within a eyelash of trouncing one of American tennis’ best lady exponents . . . she fought on despite the lou 1 heckling of a white male patron who resented her presence by shouting get her out of there.On the balance sheet of this strange racial ledger were the cheers of Alice Marble and thousands of spectators whom Althea Gibson won to hei side in this crusading episode. I never want o lorget the deep-inner thrill I enjoyed that warn, afternoon.FOOTBALLMarion Motley, right up to the very second that the Cleveland Browns licked Steven Owens’ dogged N. V. Giants that Sunday afternoon with the ground as hard as a cake of Arctic ice. was tops in my notebook.With him among the nation's promind college aces were: Bill Willis (greatest guard in professional circles); Claude (Buddy) Young, unfortunate Lenny Ford, Harry Thompson, “Tank Younger, Bob Bovd, Horace Gillom, Jesse Thomas (Mich. S.). Sherm Howard, Bob (Stonewall) Jackson, Emlcn Tunnel, George Taliaferro, Bernie Custie, Joe Ferry. Wally Triplett, Woody Lewis, Dan Towles, Howard, N. V. Yankees, was a Norm *inHe could play any position with the posihle exception of quarterback.Morgan's crack George (Choo-choo) Rocks was a whale oC a fullback in Cl A A circles all year, johnny Triplett, a speed n,archant •1' the cleats and pigskin; Otto Jackson (Simon Gratz H.Dream Player” in Coach (Red) Straders’ opinion.NEW YORK — Ezzard Charles, heavyweight champion won the Ring Magazine's “Fighter of the Year” award Monday for the second straight year.The lean and hungry Cincinnati,scores more.BOXINGEzzard Charles, Ray Robinson (tops), Joe Louis (my misguided iuoi); Boo Baker, Sandy Saddler, Staitei fiel 1, Jersey Joe Wal-lt; tt, Sugar Costner, Sonny Boy Wo t. Dick Turpin (British Empire Champion), Ike Williams, Freddie Dawson, Willie EJelinlt; nu.leur).Johnny Saxton, Art T* wn, Bert Lyie.i, Aiu.ie Moore, Lester Felton, Chailie Ruey, wis Graham, Ait .ur King, Lloyd Marshall, Kid Gavilan, Gene Burton, Louis Gal-vani (Cuba) scnation J limmy 'overmatched) Beau; John L. Davis, the 1950 Htnry Armstrong, Gene ( ilont) Hairston, and Johnny Bratton.Harry Matthews, Rex 1 ync Dave Sands, Gene Flanafan, Tony Pcilone, Lee Oma, Bob Murphy appeared in hectic bouts with their brown-skinned brother Americans.BASEBALLOur nation's pastime saw more and more colored faces with new fans warming up to them for autographs and walks across tin'’ field, such as: Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Jr., sensational Trenton youngster; Dan Bankhead, Roy Campanella, Don New-combe (Brooklyn); Sam Jethroe (Rookie of 1950), Boston Braves;Henry Thompson, record-breaking New York Giants infielder, who with teammate Monte Irvin, gets a nice 1951 salary increase; Larry •Doby and Luke Easter (Cleveland) Luis Marquez, Portland Beavers •lnd now with Boston Braves; Ray I kind ridge, most valuable player in the American Association (Minneapolis); Ray Noble (pronounced “Nobplay”); N. Y. Giants; “Bullet” Crowe, Hartford; Art Wilson (Oakland-Giants); Sam Hariston, (Chicago White Sox); Leroy Ferrell, JoeBlack and Jimmy Gilliam, formerly of the Baltimore Elite Giants, but in 1951 will play for S., Montreal, Brooklyn Dodgers farmPhilly); Ernie Warlick, NCC s top offensive end and 1951 team captain, Boh Mason, forward; Ver-ly sanctioned by the policy maker? in keeping Miss Gibson from en- Hon Young, Elmo Jackson (Muh-tsring our national champion-' ienberg College) Johnny Florence ships. In part she wrote: and John Edwards all of TempleThe entrance of Negroes into U; OCal (Ice) Martin, Maryland national tennis as as inevitable State College; “Red” Jackson, A. as it has proven to he in baseball, and T. College; Eddie Belle, Penn.; in football or in boxing. There is Vinrie Drake, first Negro to play no denying so much talent. football at Fordham; the greatTht* committee at Forest Hills Johnny Bright, Drake, who broke has the power to stifle the efforts marks set hy such all-Americans of one Althea Gibson, who may as Frank Sinkwich, Georgia; andclub; and the 38 Negro minor league players. Orestes Minosa, the kid I wrote raves about during his Negro National League stay to my sorrow is a great prospect owned by the Cleveland Indian chain.My one regret was to see Joe Louis comeback. In 1946, long before N. Y. Post's Jimmy Cannon wrote his classical letter to the ex-champion. I pleaded with Louis to shed his leech-like bleeders and retire like Gene Tunney. Ator may not be the stuff of which champions are made, hut eventually she will be succeeded by others of her race who have equal or superior ability.They will knock at the door asshe has done. Eventuallv the ten-Stan Heath, Nevada; Ed Withers, Charles-Louis samples I turnedWisconsin; Don Stevens, Illinois: Luther Keyes, UCLA: David(Red) Williams, Hampton center; I'siah (Mighty Joe) Young, tackle and Hampton’s 1951 captain-elect; Indiana’s Bobby Robertson andto my friend. Judge Francis E. Rivers, and said:This is my last look at a dying lion. I’ll never watch him again.” Such was sports in 1950 A. D. on cur side of the railroad tracks.r
Newspaper Details
Jackson Advocate
Jackson, Mississippi, US
Sat, Jan 06, 1951
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Debra B.
USA 22 Jun 2020
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