Welcome to this biweekly newsletter, written by me, Corye Perez Beene, Ph.D. I am a United States History Professor and certified “sports nut.” I find the sports stories from the past to the present that celebrate the Awesomeness of American Sports.
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Seven Sets
What I am reading, listening to, tweeting and thinking about…
1. Happy 75th anniversary Jackie!
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. Every year on April 15, each player in the MLB wears #42, Jackie’s number.
I listened to Damon Amendolara’s interview (on his Sirius XM program “The DA Show”) with Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. They had a great conversation on Jackie and his legacy. Listen to the 16 minute interview HERE
After listening to The DA Show, Bob Kendrick mentioned that he has his own podcast, “Black Diamonds.” His latest episode had him talking about Jackie Robinson with Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, and Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox.
I learned so much more about Jackie listening to these 2 podcast episodes, including:
*he played football as a running back for UCLA and played other sports including basketball, track and tennis.
*Baseball was his weakest sport and Kendrick speculates that his best sport might have been tennis!
*Fellow Negro League players were concerned that he wasnt good enough to be in the MLB.
*There were better players in the Negro Leagues but Jackie had already played with white players, making his transition to the MLB easier than other players.
*Pitcher Satchel Paige was “hurt” he was not the first to integrate the MLB. The most well-known player of the Negro Leagues, Kendrick believes that his older age and his “showboating” antics kept him from not being the first.
The next “Black Diamonds” episode I will listen to will be “Breaking Barriers,” with Quarterback and fellow Texas Tech alumni Patrick Mahomes.
I am excited to see the “After Jackie” documentary that will focus on the other African-American baseball players in the MLB who also were trailblazers in their own right. The documentary airs on The History Channel on June 18th. Lebron James is involved in the project.
2. USFL kicks off this weekend
Football is back and with different rules! Here are the 8 teams of the USFL, along with their mascots - some have names, and others are asking for fans to name them.
Want to know the rules? Watch a breakdown HERE
The games will also feature camera angles from drones and helmet cams!
Here are the coaches for each team:
3. Nakken makes history in the MLB
Congratulations to Alyssa Nakken, who became the first woman to make an on-field appearance in a MLB game.
San Francisco Giants first base coach, Antoan Richardson was ejected so Nakken took his place. In a classy gesture, first baseman Eric Hosmer shook her hand to acknowledge the historical significance of that moment:
4. Balkovec makes history in the Minors
Rachel Balkovec made history when she became the first woman to manage the affiliate of a Major League Baseball team. The Tampa Tarpons, affiliate of the New York Yankees, beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers 9-6. The crowd chanted her name and cheered her on.
5. Masters Champion
Congratulations to Scottie Scheffler who won his first Masters Tournament and sported that iconic green jacket!
6. Classy and kind
I am a huge fan of good sportsmanship in sports. Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias recently lost his Dad. Iglesias reached first base on a run-scoring single and began to cry, knowing that his father was not there to witness his hit. First basemen Freddie Freeman of the LA Dodgers tried to console him and encourage him:
7. What I am tweeting about…
Thank you for reading! Are you looking for a speaker for your next event or conference? I would love to share some sports history with your audience! Email me at historybeene@gmail.com