The Saint Paul Sun

WHILE WE DON'T KNOW, PERSONALLY, any members
of the Massachusetts NAACP, we are willing to concede that
they may be among the most estimable people in the country.
What we are proceeding to claim is this: It is too bad the
Massachusetts NAACP isn't as familiar with baseball and its
major and minor league ramifications as it undoubtedly is with
racial discrimination.

Take the case of Pumpsie Green, a smart, alert, intelligent
and extremely capable young ball player who is helping get
the Minneapolis Millers off to a flying start. As a Miller,
Pumpsie is a member of the parent Boston Red Sox organization,
for years one of the first division clubs of the American League.
This spring, the Boston Red Sox sent Pumpsie to the Minneapolis farm club, on 24-hour recall option. Thereupon, the
Massachusetts NAACP promptly accused the Boston Red Sox
management of discriminating against Pumpsie Green because of his color.

Well, now, as a long-time follower of baseball, such a
charge is not only premature; it appears to be baseless. While
Pumpsie Green appears at this time to be possessed of major
league ability in a short time; so there are many players in the
Red Sox organization who might be equally talented.

The Red Sox management is concerned with two things,
winning as many American League games as possible, and developing young players. On that development theme, it is axiomatic that there is nothing like a season of steady play, day in
and day out, in a triple-A league like the American Association, to give a fine young ball player like Pumpsie Green that
extra polish that every young player needs, no matter how good
he is.

As many a potential star who has suffered a setback in
his career because of bench-warming in a major league park,
such activity is far better than gathering slivers in the seat
of the pants.

There is nothing at all on the record or beneath the
surface to substantiate the allegation that Pumpsie Green has
been the victim of racial discrimination.

We don't feel that Pumpsie feels that way himself, although it is only natural for any ambitious young ball player
to find some hidden reason for being told to "wait a while" before coming up to the majors.

As a matter of fact, in the world of sports, and certainly
in organized baseball over the past few years, there is very
little racial discrimination. We don't believe Pumpsie Green
thinks of himself as a Negro ball player - rather he thinks of
himself as a baseball player period.

As a matter of fact, when the time comes for Pumpsie
Green to be called up to Boston, Minneapolis fans will be mad
as all get-out, and yelling "discrimination" against Association farm clubs, just as they did when Willie Mays was recalled by the Giants during mid-season, just a few years back.