Bill Text: NY K02396 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring the contributions made by Black Baseball to the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-06-04 - adopted [K02396 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-K02396-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 2396

BY: M. of A. Taylor

        HONORING  the contributions made by Black Baseball
        to the State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is with great pride that this Legislative Body  commends
those  exceptional  Black athletes who represented the State of New York
and brought honor to the game of professional  baseball,  distinguishing
themselves  through  notable  achievement  and thereby representing this
great Empire State with exceptional dignity and determination; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
the contributions made by Black Baseball to the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  The  contributions of Black athletes have helped the sport
of baseball grow into a globally loved phenomenon;  the  first  recorded
game between two organized Black baseball clubs, pre-dating the official
formation of leagues, was between the Unknown Club of Weeksville and the
Henson Baseball Club of Jamaica, Queens; and

  WHEREAS, The City of New York and the State has hosted several Negro
League  teams  in  the  past, such as Unknown Club of Weekfield, Monitor
Club, Unique Club, and many more remarkable teams; and

  WHEREAS, Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first Black man  to  join  a
Major  League  Baseball  (MLB)  team  in  1884,  joining the Toledo Blue
Stockings and playing with them for 42 games; and

  WHEREAS, Black baseball players have been rightfully established  by
the  MLB  into "Major League Status"; teams that set a precedent for the
history of baseball are: New York Black Yankees (1931 - 1948);  Brooklyn
Eagles  (1935);  Brooklyn  Royal  Giants (1904 - 1927); New York Lincoln
Giants (1911 - 1929); Cuban Stars (1907 - 1930); New York Cubans (1930 -
1950);  and  lastly  Brooklyn  Brown  Dodgers  (1945  -  1946),  a  team
established  by  Branch  Rickey  who created an elaborate smokescreen to
obscure his scouting of Black players; and

  WHEREAS, In May 1945, Branch Rickey announced the formation of a new
franchise, the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers,  and  a  new  Negro  League,  the
United  States  League; he then dispatched his best talent hunters, like
scout Tom Greenwade, to observe Black ballplayers,  ostensibly  for  the
Brown Dodgers, but in reality for the Brooklyn National League club; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals of such outstanding athletic accomplishments are brought  to
our  attention,  they  should  be recognized by all the citizens of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor the contributions made by Black Baseball to the State of New York.