Brian McKenna
12-06-2006, 01:06 PM
By mistake the Detroit Tigers offered high school student Max Manning a tryout in 1939. Apparently, he was scouted from afar because they were unaware Manning was black. He joined the Newark Eagles later that summer.
The White Sox refused to give Jackie Robinson and Baltimore Elite Giants pitcher Nate Moreland a tryout on March 18, 1942 when the two showed up at training camp. Roy Campanella met with the Pirates and the Senators, who also tentatively approached Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard. In 1943 Pacific Coast League Oakland Oaks owner Vince DeVicenzi sought a tryout for pitching great Chet Brewer and Lou Dials. His field manager refused. The Cubs and Indians organizations would later rebuff Brewer, as well.
Later that year, Brewer, Moreland and Howard Easterling were set to workout for Pants Rowland of the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League. Phillip Wrigley, owner of the Angels and the Chicago Cubs, cancelled the tryout, citing pressure from other club owners, a behind-the-scenes euphemism for Landis. The death of the judge in November 1944 may have paved the way for integration.
In April 1945 the Red Sox reluctantly gave Jackie Robinson, Sam Jethroe and Marvin Williams a tryout, supervised by Eddie Collins, after being goaded into it by the press and a city councilman. The story is particularly amusing when you realize that the Yawkey’s Red Sox would be the last team to integrate, in 1959, a full twelve years after Robinson first appeared with the Dodgers.
The Brooklyn Dodgers reluctantly worked out (in Dodger uniforms nonetheless) Newark Eagles pitcher Terris McDuffie and first baseman Showboat Thomas on April 7, 1945 when the pair barged into spring training camp without an invitation. Both players were nearing the end of their careers.
Any corrections or additions?
The White Sox refused to give Jackie Robinson and Baltimore Elite Giants pitcher Nate Moreland a tryout on March 18, 1942 when the two showed up at training camp. Roy Campanella met with the Pirates and the Senators, who also tentatively approached Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard. In 1943 Pacific Coast League Oakland Oaks owner Vince DeVicenzi sought a tryout for pitching great Chet Brewer and Lou Dials. His field manager refused. The Cubs and Indians organizations would later rebuff Brewer, as well.
Later that year, Brewer, Moreland and Howard Easterling were set to workout for Pants Rowland of the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League. Phillip Wrigley, owner of the Angels and the Chicago Cubs, cancelled the tryout, citing pressure from other club owners, a behind-the-scenes euphemism for Landis. The death of the judge in November 1944 may have paved the way for integration.
In April 1945 the Red Sox reluctantly gave Jackie Robinson, Sam Jethroe and Marvin Williams a tryout, supervised by Eddie Collins, after being goaded into it by the press and a city councilman. The story is particularly amusing when you realize that the Yawkey’s Red Sox would be the last team to integrate, in 1959, a full twelve years after Robinson first appeared with the Dodgers.
The Brooklyn Dodgers reluctantly worked out (in Dodger uniforms nonetheless) Newark Eagles pitcher Terris McDuffie and first baseman Showboat Thomas on April 7, 1945 when the pair barged into spring training camp without an invitation. Both players were nearing the end of their careers.
Any corrections or additions?