Again in the summertime of 2020, I wrote about Jackie Bradley Jr. and the Crimson Sox’s response to protests throughout sports activities in response to the BLM motion, spurred by a number of situations of police brutality towards Black folks throughout the nation. I by no means ended up publishing this text, however I wanted to place my ideas on the state of affairs into phrases someplace, whether or not it’s public or not. One among my essential qualms on this phantom article was the truth that JBJ largely stood alone presently. As the one Black participant on the Crimson Sox, he led the way in which for Boston to boycott an August sport in protest of the police capturing of Jacob Blake. However this happened with no staff assembly or dialogue with teammates or possession; as a substitute the burden was positioned upon Jackie to talk out on his personal and be the one one brave sufficient to determine to not play.
And even after he made this choice, the Crimson Sox didn’t even maintain a staff assembly to debate the significance of this choice, what it meant, and even to supply his teammates an opportunity to hearken to and perceive him. As an alternative, he solely talked to supervisor Ron Roenicke and backup catcher Kevin Plawecki, which ultimately resulted within the Crimson Sox and Blue Jays collectively refusing to play that day. Bradley Jr. obtained no help from his teammates within the matter, having to bear a burden that he shouldn’t have been designated to bear as the one African American on the staff. I’m nonetheless aggravated by the Crimson Sox’s absolute refusal to outwardly help Bradley Jr. and the battle towards systemic racism in the USA, even 5 years later.
As odd as it could sound, I genuinely suppose again to that article continuously, despite the fact that I by no means revealed it, despite the fact that I by no means edited it. And after Bradley Jr. was drafted first general by the Indianapolis Clowns in final week’s Banana Ball draft, I considered it as soon as extra, and this time determined to lastly really disseminate these prior ideas and join them to the current day.
You might be questioning why on the planet the Banana Ball draft would remind me of Jackie Bradley Jr.’s solo stand towards racism all the way in which again in 2020. I roughly couldn’t care much less concerning the Banana Ball draft. I feel the league is a cool idea, offers Indy leaguers the prospect for a lot better pay and recognition (my favourite a part of the league), and I’m typically in favor of something that attracts extra eyes to baseball. But it surely was the truth that JBJ was the primary participant to be on the most recent enlargement staff, the Indianapolis Clowns’ roster, after he had fought his battles alone 5 years in the past, that basically meant one thing to me throughout the draft.
The Indianapolis Clowns are a storied franchise, and one of many first ones to embrace the Banana Ball mentality. Again within the Thirties, the Clowns, first positioned in Cincinnati, had been based as an impartial skilled staff earlier than ultimately becoming a member of the Negro Leagues, and had been recognized for being the “Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.” Just like the Globetrotters, they performed aggressive video games and had no scarcity of expertise on their roster, however in addition they went on barnstorming excursions, the place gamers acted extra as entertainers than skilled baseballers, even touring with some well-known comedic acts of the time. The Clowns had been the final Negro Leagues staff standing, and continued on their barnstorming excursions far previous the disbanding of the league, revolutionizing the sport by straight combining it with leisure. Their alumni included Hank Aaron and the primary feminine participant to be rostered by knowledgeable baseball staff on a long-term contract — as they introduced on Toni Stone to switch Aaron at second base in 1923, when she batted .243 earlier than being offered to the Kansas Metropolis Monarchs, one other Negro League staff, the next season.
The Clowns had been one of many first groups the place Black gamers might make some cash and truly be publicized whereas enjoying actual baseball, revolutionizing the sport for a lot of gamers. They created the artwork of mixing baseball and leisure, which, funnily sufficient, made folks take them extra significantly. The Clowns had been launched to the Banana Ball Championship League this yr in partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas Metropolis (which I’d greater than suggest visiting in case you ever have the prospect to take action), they usually function an ideal homage to the historical past of Black baseball in our nation. It took a bit for there to be actual recognition of the Clowns as a precursor to Banana Ball, nevertheless it’s higher late than by no means. This staff joins a longtime league that most likely wouldn’t exist at this time with out the Indianapolis Clowns of the previous. Jackie Bradley Jr. changing into the primary individual on the brand new roster is poetic..
At the moment, Black gamers make up solely about 6% of main league baseball rosters — a traditionally low quantity that’s left gamers alone in a battle that’s gained extra traction and publicity over the previous decade. As seen with Jackie Bradley Jr. and the Crimson Sox, these gamers are relied upon to talk out on these points, which isn’t proper for a sport that prides itself on the idea of teamwork and the closeness of a clubhouse. He was left to his personal gadgets in 2020 as the one Black participant, whereas gamers like Mookie Betts had the complete help of even their white teammates of their push for advocacy. However now, Bradley Jr. is getting the prospect to honor the nice historical past of Black baseball because the face of a really historic franchise, and it actually seems like his solitude in 2020 has come full circle to convey a few a lot better end result.
So whereas lots of it’s possible you’ll contemplate Banana Ball to be simply plain foolish on one finish of the spectrum or finally a mockery of baseball on the opposite, this storyline, particularly ending (and but, simply starting) with Jackie Bradley Jr. proper in the midst of it, is about greater than the simply baseball the Clowns will play this yr. It reveals that the battle isn’t over, and Banana Ball has one way or the other acknowledged the significance of the Negro Leagues greater than MLB has in recent times, after reducing out the tip of the decision for Hank Aaron’s historic 700th dwelling run at this yr’s All-Star Sport. Honoring the previous whereas bringing Black-led baseball again to the stage within the current is a pleasure to look at unfold, and I couldn’t be happier that JBJ is lastly getting the help he’s deserved all alongside.
