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Story
July 4, 1954
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
A New York sports column expresses pride in baseball fans, black and white, increasingly judging players like Duke Snider and Willie Mays on merit amid growing integration in major leagues.
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NEW YORK - (Global)- It is with a great deal of pride that we observe that baseball fans Negro and white-are growing up especially Negroes. Now, of course, this came about only because the proper atmosphere was created for growing, so perhaps we should say that we are grateful that the right climate was provided for all of us to see our sports heroes for themselves, and not feel called upon to support a player because he is a Negro.
This comes to mind particularly in light of the recent full-scale publicity given to two pretty fair center-fielders--one Duke Snider of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and a certain Willie Mays of the New York Giants.
Everywhere one goes, there is a discussion, or argument, if you will, as to who is the better of the two and who will wind up the year with the best record, who means most to his team and so on. This is a fine and wholesome discussion. But the most wholesome thing about it is that one finds Negro fans arguing that Duke can top Mays any day in the week, and white fans who insist that there is not another like Willie Mays anywhere around.
With Negro players on the majority of the major league teams now, they are judged more on a basis of sheer merit than ever before.
NEW YORK - (Global)- It is with a great deal of pride that we observe that baseball fans Negro and white-are growing up especially Negroes. Now, of course, this came about only because the proper atmosphere was created for growing, so perhaps we should say that we are grateful that the right climate was provided for all of us to see our sports heroes for themselves, and not feel called upon to support a player because he is a Negro.
This comes to mind particularly in light of the recent full-scale publicity given to two pretty fair center-fielders--one Duke Snider of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and a certain Willie Mays of the New York Giants.
Everywhere one goes, there is a discussion, or argument, if you will, as to who is the better of the two and who will wind up the year with the best record, who means most to his team and so on. This is a fine and wholesome discussion. But the most wholesome thing about it is that one finds Negro fans arguing that Duke can top Mays any day in the week, and white fans who insist that there is not another like Willie Mays anywhere around.
With Negro players on the majority of the major league teams now, they are judged more on a basis of sheer merit than ever before.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Triumph
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Baseball
Racial Integration
Duke Snider
Willie Mays
Fan Discussions
Major Leagues
What entities or persons were involved?
Duke Snider
Willie Mays
Where did it happen?
New York
Story Details
Key Persons
Duke Snider
Willie Mays
Location
New York
Story Details
The column highlights pride in impartial fan discussions comparing Duke Snider and Willie Mays, reflecting racial progress in baseball where players are judged on merit.