If you didn’t know better, you’d think that Gary Sheffield created friction between black and Hispanic players in Major League Baseball.
The rift is deeper and much older than most fans realize. In fact, it dates back farther than Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. By the way, I can’t stand that “breaking the barrier” term.
Robinson was the first black player that white people allowed to play. Before Robinson took the field, several Hispanic players got a knod-knod wink-wink from white owners and were allowed to play. This is the root of the black/Hispanic cantankerous relationship.
But suddenly, Sheffield opens his mouth and the nation’s media feels the need to address his ridiculous remarks.
Sheffield is quoted in the noted baseball publication GQ magazine, as saying Hispanic players are growing in numbers while black players are dwindling because they can be “controlled” easier than black players.
“I called it years ago. What I called is that you’re going to see more black faces, but there ain’t no English going to be coming out. … [It’s about] being able to tell [Latin players] what to do — being able to control them,” Sheffield told the magazine.
“Where I’m from, you can’t control us. You might get a guy to do it that way for a while because he wants to benefit, but in the end, he is going to go back to being who he is. And that’s a person that you’re going to talk to with respect, you’re going to talk to like a man.”
OK, where do I start?
These comments are insulting to African American, Hispanics, men, baseball and just about any clear-thinking person.
While Sheffield sounds nuts, there is a nugget of proof in this crazy talk.
During the 1970s, big-time black stars including George Foster and the late Willie Stargell began noticing – and commenting on – how Hispanic players seemed to replace black players, not white.
Part of it was money, but the first allegations that white owners were tired of “black power” in Major League Baseball and preferred the sheepish behavior of non-English speaking, non-black Americans.
While black players were dealing with the racist attitudes of America in the 1960s and 70s head on, most of their Spanish speaking counterparts were suspiciously quiet. That’s a fact, and many black players didn’t like it.
I once asked Don Newcombe, a former L.A. Dodger and one of the greatest black pitchers to ever play the game, why San Francisco Giants ace Juan Marichal clocked Johnny Roseboro in the head with a bat of that fateful afternoon at Candlestick Park.
Said Newcombe: “Johnny thought he was looking back and stealing signs. There had been some brushbacks in the game too. Juan thought Johnny was throwing the ball near his head when he was throwing the ball back to Sandy (Koufax.) Juan stepped out the batter’s box after one of the throws. Johnny said ‘Get back in the box you mf’n (racial epithet for Hispanic that stars with ‘s’).”
Next thing you know, Roseboro’s head is bleeding, Koufax darn near hit Marichal in the head with the ball and Willie Mays was on the field wielding a bat at the enraged Dodgers.
No, Sheffield didn’t start the under-the-radar animosity. It’s a part of baseball and has been for many years.
Sheffield did say something I agree with.
“If you’re equally good as this Latin player, guess who’s going to get sent home? I know a lot of players that are home now can outplay a lot of these guys,” he told GQ.
The reason I’m with Sheffield on this point is because there never seem to be any black equivalents to players such as Bo Hart, Rex Hudler or Stubby Clapp. I just throw those names out as examples; I’m not picking on the St. Louis Cardinals.
You can go down a level to the minor leagues. Most of the players at Double A or Triple A that have no chance of reaching the Majors and have played several years with their respective teams are white, and many more are Hispanic.
If race isn’t a factor, then what is the answer?