Notes From The Selig Distinguished Lecture Series

One of the perks of attending such a fine educational institution as the University of Wisconsin-Madison are the fantastic lectures open to the public, such as Thursday’s first annual entry in the Allan H. Selig Distinguished Lecture Series. The series, funded by Commissioner Selig – an American History major at UW – looks to explore the history of sports and specifically the history of sports with respect to society. Bud Selig was present at the lecture as well – about four rows in front of me.

The lecturer on Thursday was University of Illinois professor Adrian Burgos (pictured), a SABR member who authored the 2007 book Playing America’s Game as well as the 2011 book (coming in April) titled Cuban Star, about Negro League owner Alex Pompez, the subject of Thursday’s lecture.

Despite the limited fanfare around the name Alex Pompez, the lecture shed light on him as a very influential figure in the game throughout the middle of the past century. Pompez was the son of a Latino father and an African-American mother, and his inclusion in the societies of both races shows in his involvement in the game of baseball. Not only did Pompez own the Cuban Stars of the Negro Leagues, but he also worked as an international scout, signing the first players to play professionally out of Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

When we talk about Latinos and the Negro Leagues, it’s important to recognize that although the “color line” is typically though of with regard to African-Americans, it also had a profound impact on Latinos as well. From the lecture, only 54 Latinos played in the MLB from 1890 to 1946, but 240 played in the Negro League circuit – if a Latino player was light-skinned enough (and good enough) for the fans, he could make into the league, but darker Latinos – those that looked African-American – were typically banished to the Negro Leagues along with players like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson.

Pompez also had an impact on the game well after the dissolution of the Negro Leagues. He continued to work as a scout with the Giants, first in New York and then in San Francisco. With the Giants, he served as a mentor for the Latino and African-American player who were unfamiliar with the unfortunate societal norms of the country and particularly the Southern portion of the United States where Spring Training was held. Some called him a “cultural translator.” Felipe Alou said that Pompez taught them “Rules of the game AND rules for blacks.”

Of course, there was much more to the lecture than that, and I personally recommend looking into Pompez’s personal history, both during his time in baseball and his time before that as a numbers racketeer in Harlem. Although I know that many around baseball are quick to blast Commissioner Selig for his conduct and his policies, the creation and first entry in his Distinguished Lecture Series at UW was a success, and as long as I am stationed in Madison I look forward to attending on a yearly basis.