In late July, Adrian will have a place in the plaque gallery of the Baseball Hall of Fame, where players and managers selected into the Hall of Fame will receive an immortal bronze medal.
Bud Fowler co-founded the Page Fence Giants team in Adrian in 1894. He will be a member of the 2022 class. The class will be selected in Cooperstown, New York on July 24. His election was declared Sunday, plus O'Neill, Michigan Native Jim Carter, Minnea Jim Jim, Gil Halls and Tony Oliva.
John "Bad" Fowler was born in Fort Plain, New York in 1858 and grew up in nearby Cooperstown, and is generally considered the first black professional baseball player. Pitchers and second basemen helped create the popular Page Fence Giants barnstorming team, which during their brief existence was considered by some to be the best team of all baseball teams.
When baseball was quarantined in the 1890s, Fowler and shortstop Grant "home run" Johnson came to Adrian in 1894 to form a team. They were supported by J. Wallace Page and his Page Woven Wire Fence Co. and formed Page Fence Giants.
On April 9, 1895, the Giants began a barn storm in the Great Lakes region. For four seasons, the All Blacks have dominated the game like a few teams in organized baseball games. In their short time, the Giants won hundreds of victories, including an 82-game winning streak in 1897, and won 10 of 15 matches in the best team showdown between the two black baseball teams. Won the informal championship of "Colored" baseball. The team was disbanded due to financial difficulties in 1898 and became the Chicago Columbia Giants in 1899.
The Giants spend most of their time playing games away from Adrian. When they play at home, they play at Lawrence Park. Large crowds-whites and blacks-have participated in the Giants' home and away games. In Michigan, they performed in towns from Hudson to Traverse City to Detroit.
In addition to Fowler and Johnson, the team also includes phenomenal pitchers such as George Wilson and Sol White of Palmyra who played for the Giants from 1896 to 1898. White's "Sol White's Official Baseball Guide" has been referred to by the Baseball Hall of Fame as "an important part of the history of African American baseball."
"I am very happy to see Bud Fowler and his story get the respect it deserves," Michael Neal, a lecturer at Adrian College, who directed the 2017 documentary "Bud Fowler and the Giant Fence." A baseball historian has worked hard to ensure that his name has not been forgotten by time over the years, and now many others will have the opportunity to learn about his journey. Fowler grew up in Cooperstown (Cooperstown) and fell in love with baseball, so it is fitting that he is immortal there now. "
"It's a happy day for many of us, and I hope the people of Adrian are the same," writer Mitch Lutzk wrote on Twitter. "Go to Bud!"
Lutzke's book "The Page Fence Giants: A History of Black Baseball's Pioneering Champions" is Michigan's famous book in 2019. He and Neal studied the Giants at the same time and worked together.
More: Movies and books highlight the 19th-century African-American baseball team from Lenawee County
"As someone who wrote a book about the famous Adrian Page Fence Giants, Bud Fowler is its co-owner and organizer. I am very happy that he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame." Said in an email. "When I started researching this book a few years ago, I never dreamed that I would play a small role in promoting Mr. Fowler's baseball achievements.
"Since Bard is a baseball fan, I believe he will be happy to be recognized by those who respect the modern game of his career a century after his career ends.
"For the Michigan residents of Adrian, Greenville, and Lansing, I think that the players who represented their communities on professional teams were inducted into the Hall of Fame more than 100 years ago. I think this is a cool honor. Also, in The whole country that saw Bud Fowler appear on their local ball diamonds should also share this honor.
"By commemorating Bud Fowler, this is a beautiful day in baseball and game history. I am overjoyed!"
In previous Hall elections, the new members reflected various achievements.
This is the first time that O'Neill, Minhoso and Fowler have the opportunity to build a hall according to the new rules in recognition of the contribution of the Black League. The color barrier of Major League Baseball was not broken by Jackie Robinson until 1947.
In December last year, approximately 3,400 player statistics were added to the Major League Baseball record book, when the sport stated that it was “correcting long-term negligence in the history of the game” and reclassified the black league as a major league.
Buck O'Neal has never expressed any pain or regret for not being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Until the end, he urged those who love him and support him to do the same.
Now, long after a near miss that made many people wonder if he would succeed, they can rejoice.
O'Neal has been the champion of black players during his eight years on and off the court.
"Celebrate," said Bob Kendrick, chairman of the Black League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, which O'Neill helped create.
"Although we are all sorry that Buck is not here, you can't help but be happy for everyone who continues to beat Buck O'Neal," he said.
Oliva and Carter, 83, are the only new members alive. Long-time batsman Dick Allen, who died last December, had one vote less than the election.
These six newcomers will be enshrined along with any new members elected by the American Baseball Writers Association. The first-time candidates David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez joined the voting of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. The voting results will be held on January 25. Announced.
O'Neal is a two-time All-Star first baseman in the Black League and the first black coach in the national or American league. Before his death at the age of 94 in 2006, he had been the ultimate ambassador of the sport, was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and received a life-size statue in the Hall of Fame.
Regarding what O'Neill did for the game, many casual fans didn't fully understand him until they watched the nine-part Ken Burns documentary "Baseball", which first aired on PBS in 1994.
There, O’Neill’s elegance, wit, and vivid storytelling brought the era of Black League stars Thatcher Page, Josh Gibson, and cool dad Bell back to life, as well as the era of more black players whose names have long been forgotten. .
Kendrick said it was too bad that O'Neill would not attend the inauguration in Cooperstown, "but you know his spirit will fill the valley."
O'Neal played in the Black League for 10 years and helped the Kansas City Monarchs win the championship as a player and manager. His stats are not gorgeous-his career average batting rate is 0.258 and 9 home runs.
But the significance of John Jordan O’Neal to baseball can never be measured by numbers alone.
O'Neal is the coach of the Chicago Cubs and enjoys a prolific career as a scout.
His influence is still visible.
In addition to his statue in Cooperstown, the Board of Directors of Hall regularly awards the Buck O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award to a man who "for his extraordinary efforts enhanced the positive impact of baseball on society...and his character, integrity and Dignity" reflects the person shown through O'Neill.
In 2006, when the Special Committee of the Black League held a meeting to study candidates for the Hall of Fame, O'Neill seemed to be well-deserved praise for his achievements and advocacy. The team did elect 17 new members, but O'Neal was not among them and almost missed it.
O'Neill was selected to speak on Inauguration Day on behalf of the late newcomers. In terms of his nature, he did not utter a word of self-blame or self-pity for his destiny being left out.
Two months later, O'Neill died in Kansas City. Later that year, former President George W. Bush awarded O'Neill the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
"I'm about to cry," Burns wrote on Twitter. "Buck O'Neal is one of the greatest people I have met on this planet. I am very happy and happy to know that Buck has entered the larger hall of fame somewhere."
Before becoming the first black player of the Chicago White Sox in 1951, Mignoso was selected twice in the All-Star Game of the Black League. "Cuban Comet" was born in Havana and was selected to the All-Star Game seven times during the White Sox and White Sox teams. Indian.
"A trailblazer among African-Americans and Cubans, a five-tool generator on a baseball diamond,'Mr. White Sox'...Any description of his career now ends with a'Hall of Famer' ," Chicago Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.
The Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso on the field is not small at all. He hit more than 0.300 in 8 games between Cleveland and Chicago, led AL in stolen bases 3 times, reached double-digit home runs each season, and won three gold gloves in the left field.
Mignoso ended in 1964, or so it seems. In 1976, at the age of 50, he returned to the White Sox-1 of 8 shots-and played twice in 1980, allowing him to play professional football for five years.
The White Sox retired his No. 9 player in 1983, and he remained in close contact with the organization and its players until his death in 2015.
Hodges became the latest Brooklyn Dodgers star to enter the lobby from the "Summer Boys" who won the pennant, along with Robinson, Snyder Duke, Roy Campanella and Pevi Reese Enter the lobby.
Eight All-Star selections, 370 home runs and three first bases by King Glover, Hodges consolidated his legacy when he managed the World Series Championships at the "Miracle Metropolis" in 1969. It was an amazing His five victories have been favored by Baltimore.
When Hodges suffered a heart attack during spring training in 1972 and died at the age of 47, he was still the manager of the Mets.
His daughter Irene said she was with her 95-year-old mother when the vote was announced.
"She just thumped her chest and said that I was very happy for Jill. My father is a great coach and a great player, but most importantly, he is a great father," she posted on the Mets Said in a statement.
Oliva is the three-time American League batting champion of the Twins. His career was interrupted by knee problems.
"I have been looking for that phone," Oliva said on the MLB network. "I have so many people working hard for me. They said I should be elected 40 years ago. Being alive and telling people means a lot of me."
Carter has a record of 283-237 in 25 seasons and has won the Golden Glove Award 16 times. He is from Zeland.
"I never thought I was the first pitcher," he said. "I am not dominant. I am durable and reliable. I am grateful that they have chosen to reward reliability."
O'Neill and Fowler were selected by the early committee. Hodges, Miñoso, Oliva and Kaat were selected by the Golden Day Committee.
A group of 16 members met in Orlando, Florida. The election announcement was originally scheduled to be held at the same time as the Major League Winter Meeting, but it was cancelled due to the suspension of the MLB.
With 12 votes (75%), Minhosso got 14 votes, O'Neal got 13 votes, Hodges, Oliva, Carter and Fowler each got 12 votes, and Allen got 11 votes.
Oliva has been selected to the All-Stars 8 times and has a batting rate of 0.304 in 15 seasons. All of them are twins. The Cuban-born outfielder is known for scoring batting and was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1964.
Carter was named to the All-Star three times, won 20 wins three times, and pitched in four years. He brought the Twins to the 1965 World Series and won a ring as a substitute for the Cardinals in 1982.
Kaat became a long-term broadcaster after finishing the game. During this year’s playoffs, he apologized after stating that the team should try to "fill a 40-acre field" during the playoffs of this year on the TV broadcast of the MLB online game. .
These words reminded some viewers of the unfulfilled promise of the US government that slaves released after the Civil War would get 40 acres of land and a mule.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.