tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436982786777942337.post4033844729540678085..comments2023-07-06T07:25:12.570-05:00Comments on Corresponding Fractions: Whiteyballframikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274581567045478300noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436982786777942337.post-45107115066006510832009-12-12T17:22:05.556-06:002009-12-12T17:22:05.556-06:00With Hal McRae having been fired by the Cardinals ...With Hal McRae having been fired by the Cardinals and Joe Thurston sent to Memphis, the Cardinals may have no African-Americans in their dugout next year. While there is no evidence that Tony LaRussa & Co. are intentionally ridding the team of blacks, we should remember that when Tony arrived we had Ozzie, Willie, Ron Gant, Ray Lankford, Royce Clayton, and others.<br /><br />The late David Halberstam wrote a book called '1964' in which he contrasted the highly integrated Cardinal team to the nearly-all-white Yankee team that they defeated in the W.S. It was very exciting through the 60s, 70s, and 80s to have the Cardinals stay one or two steps ahead of the civil rights movement. The game was more than a game; it was positive social change in action. I miss those days. There are plenty of outstanding African-American players now; three of the four final playoff teams (Phillies, Dodgers, Angels) had numerous African-Americans on their rosters. Again, I'm not sure that what the Cardinals are doing is intentional, but I think that an intentional effort is needed to bring the ingredients of Whiteyball back to St. Louis.Arthur Lieberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114650075355555541noreply@blogger.com