Barnstorming with a Purpose

Do yourself a big favor and watch this brief video of the Anderson Monarchs.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDD8t5UfXFc&feature=youtu.be

Now that's a summer vacation that the group will remember forever.  Reminds me of the book I read regarding the Rashi Rams entitled Third Base for Life. 

Fans Need to Self Police

Headlines of vile speech (65 years after Jackie Robinson broke in with the Dodgers) continue to shock.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/boston-red-sox-outfielder-carl-crawford-says-fan-used-racial-slur-at-minor-league-rehab-game-070612
We just completed celebrating the 4th of July.  The Declaration of Independence states, in part, that:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury and John Lackey et al. have been endowed with special skills to which our society has assigned an inordinate value.  One can certainly question whether we have gone over the top in paying such astronomical sums to professional athletes and entertainers.  (By way of comparison in 1967 the entire 25 man roster of the pennant winning Boston Red Sox was paid less than $500,000 -- about the current major league minimum for one MLB player).  And when these players receive such incredible amounts (Bobby Jenks received $12 million and pitched a total of 15+ innings for the Red Sox) fans (and ownership) should expect an effort both on and off the field that is commensurate with the remuneration.  If the effort as measured by the results is woefully inadequate (push yourself away from those chicken wings in the clubhouse guys), then fans are within bounds to express their displeasure.  

So cheer for your favorite or voice your displeasure when you are so moved.  But please, do so in recognition of the fact that each one of us is entitled to be judged by our performance and by how we comport ourselves in pursuing our chosen craft.  And no one has license to contaminate the field with invective.  One can only hope that fans take it upon themselves to police the intolerant and ignorant among us so that headlines of this sort can truly become historical references.



Must Read: Baseball and Integration

Rebecca Alpert has penned a well researched account of the effort to integrate major league baseball.  Moreover, she has given an accurate accounting of Izzy Muchnick's role in arranging for 3 members of the Negro Leagues (including Jackie Robinson) to "try out" for the Boston Red Sox in 1945 -- 2 years prior to JR's appearance in a game as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Check out her book entitled:  "Out of Left Field".

An American Hero

Here's a fascinating interview conducted in 1964 with Jackie Robinson. http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/clips/15914/

An explanation for the name of this blog

Chances are you are well aware of the fact that Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play major league baseball and that he did so with the Brooklyn (now LA) Dodgers in 1947. What you may not know is that the Boston Red Sox were the LAST major league baseball team to integrate. Twelve years later, in 1959, Elijah "Pumpsie" Green was called up from the minors to play for Boston.

Of particular relevance to the name of this blog is the fact that in 1945, a Boston City Councilor by the name of Isadore Muchnick arranged a "tryout" for Jackie Robinson (and two other players) at Fenway Park. Muchnick threatened to oppose the Sox license to play home games on Sundays in Boston if the "tryout" did not occur. Izzy did so because it was the right thing to do.

It was a bold effort -- one that was subsequently brought to completion by Branch Rickey and further capitalized on by the National League.

So, to honor Isadore Muchnick -- this blog is entitled The Izzy Project. We hope to capture stories that are in keeping with this story: blending sports with ethics. Please post comments and stories for us to review.