The Curse
ESPN has an interesting piece about the despicable crush of anti-semitism that dogged former Sox owner Harry Frazee, who was not in fact Jewish. Not surprisingly, Henry Ford plays a prominent role. This prejudice helped lay the historically-inaccurate groundwork for what is now known as "The Curse of the Bambino."
There is no curse, just ask Curt Schilling. But if you just have to have a reason for all the suffering, it has nothing to do with Ruth or Frazee or or anti-semitism. It's good ol' fashion whites-hating-blacks racism.
Tom Yawkey took over the team in the early '30s and it wasn't until Pumpsie Green in 1959 that the Sox became the last integrated team in MLB. Howard Bryant of the Boston Herald has chronicled the rich history of ignorance that was at the helm of the Sox for over 40 years in his book "Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston."
The city of Boston has a well deserved reputation for racism and Tom Yawkey certainly did his part to keep that spirit alive. He and his organization turned a blind eye to Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Sam Jethroe (1950 ROY at the age of 32. Gammons is still incensed), among others in sham try outs held to placate the local black newspapers.
While Dan Shaughnessy, a joyless prick who looks like Howdy Doody in a fright wig, made a small fortune and a national name for himself with his "The Curse of the Bambino", Bryant's book has gone largely unnoticed. I'm guessing "Bambino" has found a much larger audience because it's cute and airy and allows the Nation to feel victimized, where "Shut Out" is ugly and embarrassing and claws at the city's wounds that get torn open often enough on there own. Hey, I'm part of the problem, too, I haven't read "Shut Out" either.
I'm from greater Boston and I love my nine, but way more embarrassing than Bucky F'in' Dent or Bill Buckner or Aaron Boone or any of the awful things that have befallen my team is this collective ignorance of the real root of 85 years of fruitless toil.
To the credit primarily of the current ownership, it's safe to say we've got every accussation of racism covered at this point. A wealth of Latinos, a few African-Americans, two Jews, half-Vietnamese Johnny Damon and half-Japanese Dave Roberts. So maybe, just maybe we can all put the ugliness behind us.
As to why anyone would want to bring a goat to a baseball game, I have no idea.
There is no curse, just ask Curt Schilling. But if you just have to have a reason for all the suffering, it has nothing to do with Ruth or Frazee or or anti-semitism. It's good ol' fashion whites-hating-blacks racism.
Tom Yawkey took over the team in the early '30s and it wasn't until Pumpsie Green in 1959 that the Sox became the last integrated team in MLB. Howard Bryant of the Boston Herald has chronicled the rich history of ignorance that was at the helm of the Sox for over 40 years in his book "Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston."
The city of Boston has a well deserved reputation for racism and Tom Yawkey certainly did his part to keep that spirit alive. He and his organization turned a blind eye to Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Sam Jethroe (1950 ROY at the age of 32. Gammons is still incensed), among others in sham try outs held to placate the local black newspapers.
While Dan Shaughnessy, a joyless prick who looks like Howdy Doody in a fright wig, made a small fortune and a national name for himself with his "The Curse of the Bambino", Bryant's book has gone largely unnoticed. I'm guessing "Bambino" has found a much larger audience because it's cute and airy and allows the Nation to feel victimized, where "Shut Out" is ugly and embarrassing and claws at the city's wounds that get torn open often enough on there own. Hey, I'm part of the problem, too, I haven't read "Shut Out" either.
I'm from greater Boston and I love my nine, but way more embarrassing than Bucky F'in' Dent or Bill Buckner or Aaron Boone or any of the awful things that have befallen my team is this collective ignorance of the real root of 85 years of fruitless toil.
To the credit primarily of the current ownership, it's safe to say we've got every accussation of racism covered at this point. A wealth of Latinos, a few African-Americans, two Jews, half-Vietnamese Johnny Damon and half-Japanese Dave Roberts. So maybe, just maybe we can all put the ugliness behind us.
As to why anyone would want to bring a goat to a baseball game, I have no idea.
3 Comments:
good column. i too look forward to the day that people want first to know WHO i am, not what (race) i am.
BUT
racism can't be the explanation for the generous donation of new middle names for Bucky F. Dent, Bill F. Buckner or Aaron F. Boone.... or for Grady Little - have yall renamed him or decided he's WAY to low on the evolutionary scale to merit such an award?
and as for bringing a goat to a ball game?? they brought a dog (dusty) all year and look where it got em...
lisa gray
Robinson debuted in 1947. In 1948 the Sox finished tied for 1st and subsequently lost a one-game playoff to the Indians. In 1949 the Sox finished one game behind the Yankees. In 1950 it was four games. I'm guessing Robinson could've made a difference in at least one of those races.
1951, Mays' rookie season, saw the Sox begin a 15-year slide. Imagine how differently they might have faired with Mays and Robinson.
Beyond the immediate effect on the team's fortunes, it might have helped prevent the image of Boston being an inhospitable place for black athletes, though Bill Russell might laugh at that hope.
-NTA
I agree about the effect that hiring top Black ballplayers might could have had on the Sox long run of lousy seasons. I often wonder if those in charge really believed that no Black man could play baseball better than any White one, or if they thought that they'd rather lose than have one of Themmmmmmmmmmmmm on the team....
So WHERE is your recap of last night?????
WHERE is your pre-game prognostication (ooooooooooooooh a BIG word to catch your attention)?????????
Cmon boy, whatcha dooin, looking up account numbers or sumthin? even my mama is gonna get "sick" about 2pm...
lisa gray
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