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We would be remiss in not observing Jackie Robinson Day. Robinson’s contribution as a pioneer has probably obscured his talent as a ballplayer; between age thirty and thirty-three, he posted four consecutive seasons of a 10+ WARP (Wins Above Replacement). This is an outstanding achievement, and one that would have put him in the Hall of Fame even without the malfeasance of Kenesaw Mountain Landis and the rest of his gang.

Great man, great ballplayer.

…it should be noted also that there is no simple North/South story to tell about the color line. Although white major leaguers may have come disproportionately from the South, the only Southern cities in the majors in 1947 were Washington and St. Louis. Kenesaw Mountain Landis himself was the son of a Union officer who had fought at the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, during Sherman’s March through Georgia.