HR0212 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0212 LRB099 11138 MST 31606 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are honored to recognize Joe Black, whom in 1952 became the first African-American pitcher to win a World Series game; and

WHEREAS, Joe Black was born on February 8, 1924, one of 6 children raised by his parents, Martha and Joseph Black; he was an American right-handed pitcher in the Negro Leagues and in Major League Baseball, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Washington Senators; and

WHEREAS, Joe Black was a native of Plainfield, New Jersey; he starred at Plainfield High School and attended Morgan State University on a football scholarship, graduating in 1950; he later received an honorary doctorate from Shaw University; he was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and appears prominently in Roger Kahn's classic book, The Boys of Summer; and

WHEREAS, Joe Black helped the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues win 2 championships in 7 years; he and Jackie Robinson pushed for a pension plan for Negro League players and was instrumental in the inclusion of players who played before 1944; he then played for a year in the Brooklyn Dodgers' minor league system; and

WHEREAS, The Dodgers promoted Joe Black to the major leagues in 1952 at the age of 28, 5 years after teammate Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier; he was a roommate and friend of Jackie Robinson while with Brooklyn, and was dominant coming out of the bullpen; he was chosen Rookie of the Year after winning 15 games and saving 15 others for the National League champions; Dodgers manager Chuck Dressen brought him out of the bullpen and started him 3 times in 7 days in the 1952 World Series against the New York Yankees; he won the opener with a 6-hitter over Allie Reynolds, 4-2; and

WHEREAS, After Joe Black's baseball career ended, he remained in baseball through his affiliation with the commissioner's office where he consulted with players about making good career choices; he also returned to Plainfield, New Jersey to teach health and physical education at Hubbard Junior High School; he later became the first African-American Vice-President of Transportation with Greyhound in Phoenix, Arizona; he was a founder and board director of the Baseball Assistance Team and worked for the Arizona Diamondbacks in community relations after they joined the National League; he was a regular in the Diamondbacks' dugout during batting practice and in the press box; in his spare time, he also wrote a syndicated column, "By The Way" for Ebony magazine and an autobiography, Ain't Nobody Better Than You; and

WHEREAS, Joe Black is heralded for his achievements in baseball; the Arizona Fall League honors his legacy by naming its MVP award the "Joe Black MVP Award" and the NAACP awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award; in 1957, he became the first African-American player on the Washington Senators, and Washington, D.C.'s current team, the Nationals, annually present the "Joe Black Award" to a Washington-area organization that promotes baseball in African-American communities; and

WHEREAS, Joe Black was raised by his parents to have strong family valued and work ethic; he passed on those principles to his 2 children, Joseph Frank Black and Martha Jo Black; his daughter, Martha Jo, named after his mother, continues his baseball legacy and currently works for the Chicago White Sox; and

WHEREAS, Joe Black passed away on May 17, 2002 from prostate cancer at the age of 78; his impact and leadership on the baseball, corporate, and entertainment communities will never be forgotten; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Joe Black for being more than a Dodger; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Martha Jo Black as a symbol of our remembrance and respect for Joe Black's leadership.