In the vortex of history
July 29th, 2012 by John MorrisBeing a professional athlete has a real pitfall: holding on to a job after you’ve earned it. At the start of every season, returning athletes must establish their spots against all others including the newest crop of hard charging youngsters.
An article in the NYTimes told the story of the Brooklyn Dodgers displaced by baseball’s  most influential player: Jackie Robinson. When Branch Rickey decided black athletes should no longer be denied playing in the major leagues, he selected Robinson to take the challenge. Rickey groomed Robinson and  allowed him to prepare for “the show” with the Montreal affiliate.
During the 1946 season, the battle to be the Dodger’s first baseman was being waged by two men. Both men were capable of starting for a major league team and had fought the stifling odds to become one.
With the start of the 1947 season, Ed Stevens figured he had edged out Howie Schultz for the position. At the same time, Branch Rickey was determined to call Jackie Robinson up from Montreal. One  stumbling block remained: Robinson was a second baseman and their existing starter at this position was stalwart player, Eddie Stanky.
The boom was lowered. It was decided Robinson would start at first. Stevens was shipped to Montreal with a half hearted promise of being rewarded if he did well. Schultz was sold to the Phillies. Their chances to play first as a Dodger disappeared when the team started one of those hard charging youngsters, Gil Hodges. What happened to Eddie Stanky? He was traded, and Jackie Robinson moved over to second base.
Both Stevens and Schutlz played out their separate strings and history was changed around them while ignoring them. The recent passing of Ed Stevens brought his story to my attention. It reminded me of the times in my life when forces collided to right a wrong.
Being at the vortex of history, when you are not included in the change, can affect your life in the way you hoped it wouldn’t.
To sum up: there are people who make things happen; people who watch what happens and those who ask, “Why is this happening to me?” Baseball in 1947 had all of these players and Ed Stevens and Howie Schutz were cast in role of the third choice.
After thoughts:
It is certain, in the 1940s, baseball had white players who couldn’t make a roster if the Black players were included. It is better today where a level playing field exists for athletes. Only a player’s skill and talents are measured and rewarded.