Monday, April 14, 2014

Elston Howard


On this date in 1955, Elston Howard becomes the first black player in Yankees history hitting a single in an 8-4 loss to the Red Sox.

"If Weiss (Yankees GM) had to have a Negro on the Yankees, he would have one. But only one, and he wasn't going to be an aggressive, crusading, loud-mouthed Negro like Jackie Robinson or Vic Power. He would be a Negro who would accept the conditions under which he had to play and not make trouble or headlines. He would live in segregated headquarters in spring training and in southern cities and accept it, and he would be grateful just for the opportunity to play on the Yankees." - Author Peter Golenbeck  (Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949 - 1964) 

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