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Beyond .400: Williams's Speech Advocated for Negro League Stars
24 Jul
Summary
- Williams used his 1966 Hall of Fame speech to advocate for Negro League players.
- His plea helped pave the way for Negro League players' Hall of Fame inductions.
- MLB initially planned a separate exhibit, which faced backlash and was reversed.
Sixty years ago, on July 25, 1966, baseball icon Ted Williams delivered a Hall of Fame induction speech that transcended his legendary career. Instead of solely focusing on his achievements, Williams dedicated a portion of his address to advocating for Black players who were denied opportunities due to baseball's color barrier.
Williams called for the inclusion of Negro League stars like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, symbolizing the great players who were not given a chance. This plea was instrumental in building support for admitting Negro League players into the Hall of Fame, beginning with Paige five years later. Today, 37 former Negro League players are enshrined.
Despite Williams's progressive stance, which dated back to his career, Major League Baseball's attempt in 1971 to honor Negro League players through a separate exhibit was met with widespread criticism. Players like Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson decried the plan as discriminatory, leading MLB to reverse course.
In August 1971, Satchel Paige was inducted as a regular member, followed by Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard in 1972. These inductions marked the first for players who had entirely careers in the Negro Leagues, finally acknowledging their immense contributions to baseball.
