There's a terrific article about the legendary Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe in "Sports Illustrated" [July 15-22]. He got his nickname from Damon Runyon after having played in a Negro League double-header in New York both as catcher and pitcher. He is considered by many to have been the greatest baseball player of all time.
I had the pleasure of meeting 'Duty' in Chicago back in 1990. He cheerfully shook hands with me and promised to meet me in Minneapolis the next year. That's saying a lot considering that he was already 87 years young at the time he made that promise! And, indeed, I met him in St Paul's Martin Luther King Center where he cheerfully gave free autographs to everyone. He sure was a delighful speaker, too.
'Duty' said that Negro League players had a real rough time dealing with segregation in the old days. But they were tough minded and loved to play the great game of baseball. Nothing could deter them from playing the game they loved so much. Interestingly, 'Duty' reported (and the other Negro League players confirmed) that St Paul, MN was the only city where they did NOT have to stay in segregated hotels. That, in fact, they could eat at any restaurant of their choosing and could get cabs at any time of night. We were the only city in the entire USA that treated them like the superstars that they were!
I am grateful for the times I met with Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe. They just don't make them like they used to!
» Lefty Sepulveda --- old school. 'Nuff said!
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Posted August 2, 2002.
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