The Full Monte

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Monte Irvin died at the spry age of 96.

Irvin was the oldest living African American to have played in the major leagues. He also was the oldest living member of a World Series-winning team, the oldest man who played for the New York Giants in the 1954 World Series.  He was old.

Hell, he was older than Nancy Reagan!  And Betty White!  Combin- No, not combined.  That would be ridiculous.

Irvin played for the New York Giants when Willie Mays joined the the team in 1951.  Irvin was then asked to mentor Mays.  Imagine that?  Being asked to mentor the Say Hey Kid.  Did they also expect him to give singing lessons to Ella Fitzgerald?  Film-making advice to Alfred Hitchcock?  Spiritual advice to Jesus?  

While living in Orange, NJ, Irvin played baseball for the Orange Triangles, a local semiprofessional team, who really could not think of one single decent name for a New Jersey baseball team.  Today, the team is known as The Toxic Avengers.

Irvin went on to play in the Negro leagues because this was a time when there was racism (not like now).  The idea was that black people were below the human race (here “Human

Sell-out.

Race” reads as “ingnerent white folk”) and therefore could not mingle with the human race.

In 1949, the Giants paid $5,000 for his contract, making him one of the first black players to be signed, as Jackie Robinson had effectively ended racism when  he broke the MLB color line in 1947.  [Oh, Racism didn’t stop then?  OK.]

Then in 1951 Irvin ended racism when he teamed with Hank Thompson and Willie Mays to form the first all-black outfield in the majors.  […still no?  OK.]

In 1968, he was named an MLB public relations specialist for the commissioner’s office.  The appointment made him the first black executive in professional baseball, ending racism once and for all.  [Right?  Wrong?   OK…]

In 1974, Kuhn was present in Cincinnati to witness the end of racism when Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth’s record of 714 career home runs.  The black man had worked so hard under terrible conditions but now, with a black man tying the Sultan of Swat on home runs, it was made clear that we are all equal.  […Still no?  What the fuck is wrong with people?]

Just what the hell is it gonna take to end racism?

I know… once we get a black President, racism will simply vanish.  Sweet!

Obviously, this hit went to Tailgating with Jesus.  Bean strives to find obscure sports types to give him little, tiny hits.  But it should be noted that he is one little, tiny hit from tying your illustrious Ghoul Pool Administrator.

Nancy Reagan, somehow, still continues to live.  (Well, compared to this guy, she’s a Spring chicken.. maybe Summer?  No: an Autumn chicken.)

Happy pooling,

SPMI

Current Standings:

Jami: 80 – (Scott Weiland  – 60, Pat Harrington, Jr. – 20)

Lee Kwang-Soo (Giraffe): 70- (Daniel Fleetwood – 70)

Tailgating w/ Jesus: 50 (Dolph Schayes – 20, Meadowlark Lemon – 20, Monte Irvin – 10)

Occupy the Casket: 40 – (Natalie Cole – 40)

Age of Aquarius: 30 (William Guest – 30)

Gianna: 20 (Robert Stigwood – 20)

The Girl on Fire: 20 (Wayne Rogers – 20)