Bob Brenly mentioned Joe Black and his accomplishments, both within the game and
when he teamed with Joe Garagiola to help retired Major Leaguers with their health
and managing finances.
My first year of rooting for MLB at the age of 11 in 1952, Joe Black was Rookie of
the Year for the Brooklyn Dodgers as their Closer (even before they called it that).
And because the Dodgers had such a weak starting staff, Joe (a reliever) started
three games in the World Series vs. the Yankees. He won one out of the three.
I had the honor of running into Joe Black regularly in Basha's at Shea/32nd -- we
were both raised in New Jersey -- when he was V.P. at Carnation. And we talked
about his career, the Dodgers and growing up in New Jersey, which I left in 1978.
He was pissed when the Dodgers traded him to Cincinnati midway through the
only year they won the World Series in Brooklyn in 1955.
He even gave me an introduction to meet Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella,
when I took my two sons over to Dodger Stadium, which I did every year until
the D-backs. Unfortunately, Campy was in the hospital and never came out, but
we did meet Big Newk who, one season, had a record of 27-7 and was the
Dodgers top pinch-hitter with a batting average of .364.
I was also a contributing member of the Jackie Robinson Foundation and
received his wife Rachel's newsletters. So, even though I never got to see
a Negro League game, the history of Black ballplayers has always been special.
So to the Negro League's 100th anniversary, congratulation on their history.
