What Obama means to an older generation

[wilt the stilt]

The "say hey kid" the greatest ballplayer of them all and Stan the Man.

Source: Associated Press

Mays: So proud when Obama elected that he cried

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 5 mins ago

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE – Baseball legend Willie Mays says he was so proud the night Barack Obama was elected president that he "cried for most of the night." The 78-year-old Hall of Fame centerfielder spoke with reporters as he flew with Obama from Michigan to St. Louis for Tuesday night's All-Star game. Obama threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Mays, who played much of his career with the San Francisco Giants, said he met Obama in Chicago on election night last November. He said he reminded Obama that he had dreamed about the day when someone of their race would be elected president.

- snip -

"I reminded him that I cried for most of the night in Chicago," said Mays, still emotional as he spoke about that night eight months ago.

"So that tells me all the things I went through, it was for good things," said Mays, who wore an orange-trimmed, black Giants baseball cap with his suit. "So I'm just proud of him, you know. He may be proud of something else. But I'm proud of him, what he stands for."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090715/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_o...




There are 2 very famous books written by Pulitzer prize winning author David Halberstam( Best and the Brightest). September '49 and October '64. In October '64 halberstam chronicles the Cardinals of 1964. It's about Gibson, McCarver and how the Cardinals wers 50% black. The backdrop to the two books is what is happening in America at the time of the "49 pennant race between the Yanks and Boston and the Cardinals and Yankees World series in '64. Halberstam tells the social aspect of america in 1949 The Yankees were 50% Italian, baseball was played on the east coast, travel was on trains and broadcast on radio.



October '64 is about the Cardinals being 50% black, travel was on planes, baseball was nationwide and broadcast on TV. It is about what is happening in America in 1964. Halberstam is a wonderful political author and covered he Civil rights movement for The Tenneseean.

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One of the poignant stories is about Stan the Man. (A true American hero) The Blacks hated spring training because Florida was still segregated and all the black players had to stay in the black part of towns. Stan made August Busch buy a motel in 1963 so all the Cardianals would stay at one facility for spring training. This is a little known story but one worth knowing about a great man. If you look behind Lyndon Johnson in the photos when the civil rights bill was signed Stan the Man is in the picture. Stan played with Ken Griffey's jr. grandfather in high school. I am proud to own a baseball signed by Stan Musial to my Brother and me signed "To Billy and Michael" Stan Musial. We met him on Stan Musial night at the Polo Grounds in 1963 in the clubhouse.

[Bluzmann57]

1. Wow. I didn't know that about Mr. Musial

My dad told me all about Stan "the Man" Musial, but he never mentioned that. Probably because he (my dad) never knew that fact.
And that's a neat story about you and your brother meeting Stan Musial. What a thrill it must have been!

[wilt the stilt]

2. Yes it was

we were 11 and 12 years old at the time. It is sad that the conservatives can't share in the wonderful advancements we have made. They will die old and bitter.

[nevergiveup]

3. Thanks for sharing this story about Musial

I had read it a long time ago but had forgotten. When I was a young kid Musial signed my scorecard and then patted me on the head with his glove. There was a small mob of us near the dugout. I was the last autograph and he said "I'll see you guys later". I can still hear his voice. I was so flustered I ended up leaving the scorecard at the stadium. It took me years to get over it.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Stan the Man ...... emphasis on *Man*

That story sounds familiar, but I can't say where I heard it before.