I recollect how my peers and I were once asked
by a coach in high school who are heroes were. At that particular period in
time, I did not allow that question to process in my mind to give an ‘appropriate’
answer. Without a moment’s hesitation, I said, “Joe DiMaggio.” Granted, ‘the
Yankee Clipper’ is truly an excellent candidate provided the discussion were
centralized on the greatest names in professional baseball. But, being that one
student to jump the gun way too early, I received that look in the coach’s eye
that said, “Someone just missed the point…”
Fast forward twelve years. There is no doubt
that my true heroes consist of my father, grandfather, fellow sailors from my
Navy days, the gentleman that baptized me, etc. However, after some thorough
research and deep thought, I have found a few heroes from the past that have
resonated a special place in my heart.
And, one name that stands above most (other
than John Kennedy) is the ’47 Brooklyn Dodgers shortstop, Pee Wee Reese. Harold
Henry “Pee Wee” Reese’s story is one that tends to fall through the cracks when
we think of the ‘heroes’ in baseball. Yet, to this day, Pee Wee’s class and
respect for his teammate, Jackie Robinson, remains unparalleled. I am sure you remember Jackie’s baseball tale:
“The
players on his team who came from the South, men who had been taught to avoid
black people since childhood, moved to another table whenever he sat down next
to them. Many opposing players were cruel to him, calling him nasty names from
their dugouts. A few tried to hurt him with their spiked shoes. Pitchers aimed
at his head. And he received threats on his life, both from individuals and
from organizations like the Ku Klux Klan…Pee Wee Reese had more to lose than
the other players when Jackie joined the team. Jackie had been a shortstop, and
everyone thought that Jackie would take Pee Wee’s job. Lesser men might have
felt anger toward Jackie, but Pee Wee was different. He told himself, ‘If he’s
good enough to take my job, he deserves it.’”
Jackie
was, in many ways, a catalyst that later allowed for the black and white camaraderie
the Dodgers exhibited for future generations of baseball fans and Pee Wee was a
leader from the beginning of the Brooklyn Dodgers ball club that, from the
outside looking in, had his back against the wall.
“Pee
Wee was a peacemaker, always telling people to take it easy, calm down. He kept
things on an even keel.”
The
Dodgers made their way to Ohio to play the Cincinnati Reds, which was not far
from Pee Wee’s hometown of Louisville. The crowd in Cincinnati was relentless that
day, hurling crude, tactless, racial slurs at Jackie Robinson. Disgusted by the
disrespect for his teammate, Pee Wee went over to first base, through his arm
around his teammate who was enraged with abhorrence, and altered Jackie’s
course in professional baseball forever. Rightfully so, a hush finally fell
over the capacity crowd. Pee Wee was later quoted, saying, “Jackie Robinson was
more than just my teammate. He had a tremendous amount of talent, ability, and
dedication. Jackie set a standard for future generations of ball players. He
was a winner. Jackie Robinson was also a
man.”
Perhaps,
the best words to describe the mark Pee Wee left behind for remaining
generations is stated best on his tombstone: “He eased the acceptance of baseball’s first black player into the Major
Leagues”.
-BL
Sources:
Golenbock, Peter. Teammates. (Orlando, FL): Gulliver Books, 1990.
Heiman, Weiner, and Gutman. When the Cheering Stops: Former Major Leaguers Talk About Their Game
and Their Lives. (New York, NY): Collier MacMillan, 1990: 107.
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