European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 28, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday june 28, 19q7 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary Billy Martin s stand is Way off base that old idealist Billy Martin slow up straight and tall the other Day and slated in no Uncer Tain term that politics has no place in baseball. Flora a standpoint of pure democratic utopianism he s right. From a standpoint of pure actuality he s wrong and has been for More than 100 Yean. Tobii ii what he was quoted As saying politics Don t belong in baseball and Jesse Jackson has no right to bring it  Martin referred to the Ultima Tum thai Jackson the presumptive presidential candidate had delivered to major league baseball giving it until june 29 to come up with a comprehensive plan to bring member of minority groups into the front office. Again referring to Jackson Martin added All he talked about were Macks and hispanic. What about american indians japanese chinese females Jesse Jackson should stick with religion and keep politics out of baseball. A Man or woman should Cam a right to be in baseball and not be Given the right because Cotor or  once upon a time or until 1947, politics written or unwritten excluded Black players from organized baseball and from dining in most restaurants and attending Heaters and getting jobs and drinking from water Fountain and a Bunch or Oiher things that White americans took As their Birthright. And yet. Before Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey broke the Jin Crow color Barrier in baseball 40 Yean ago there were some in baseball who were shocked if anyone even thought such a deplorable situation even existed. In Boston in 1943, the City Council under the leadership of Isadore Muchnick a White politician representing a predominantly Black constituency charged racism and pressured both the red sox and braves to give Blacks a tryout. The red sox general manager then Eddie Collins could t believe his ears i have been connected with the red sox for 12 Yean and during that time we have never bad a single request for a tryout by a coloured applicant it irn Berkow is beyond my understanding How anyone can insinuate or believe that All ballplayers regardless of race color or Creed have not been treated in the Ameri can Way As far As having an equal Opportunity to play with the red  the coloured players obviously were simply not Good enough. Otherwise surely according to col fins they d have been playing. Blacks and their supporters fought hard Tor a Chance and in new York the fair employment practices commission was moving in the Early 40s to have the docs teams the dodgers the giant Sand the Yankees open their doors to Blacks. It was to Rickey s credit that he did not wait for a court to make a decision for him though every other team in baseball continued to drag its feet the Point Here is that there Are a number of influences needed to create equal opportunities for members of minority groups. And the use of political measures from protests to Federal commission have brought about results. It is also True that Good people qualified people should be Given he opportunities. And Only when they Are Given a Chance do we truly know their capabilities. Even when Robinson broke in there were some who said he d never make in Bob Feller for example said Robinson was too tight in the Shoul Ders to hit effectively and if he were while he d never be Given this  now there is a move to get Blacks into manage ment in baseball and for that matter football. Disclaimers like indigestible food repeat themselves. Al Campanis says not that Blacks Are too Light in the shoulder but that they Don t have the necessities for the from office. Others like Collins say they simply arc qualified. But who is qualified and what Are qualifications is Lee Elia qualified beyond others such us Joe Morgan and Bill Robinson and Bob Gibson to Geta second shot at managing in the big leagues Elia was chosen the other Day to replace John Folske As manager of the Phillies. And Elia s experience he managed the cubs in 1982 and part of1983. He managed them to fifth place the first year and left them in fifth place when he was dismissed in August of the second year. As for his Public relations capabilities often important for a manager Elia became famous fora tirade against cub fans stating that they had to be bums because anyone with a Job would t be at Kuball Park in the afternoon. Remember now that the cubs Only play Day games at Home. Martin that old idealist also noted that Jackson should have then included other Minorics in his push for executive jobs in baseball. Well Martin Sright again it s just that there Are substantially More Black and hispanic players in big league baseball than there Are japanese and chinese and american indians and females. In Modem times Only three Blacks have been hired As managers in the big leagues and none in the modern Era of the National football league. In the end the Black manager or coach could succeed or fail As easily As his White counterpart. Afier All it has been proven Over and Over that themore talented Are the players on a team the smarter is the manager of that team. This recalls Warren Spahn s observation. Spahn pitched for the Boston braves in 1942 when Casey Stengel managed that lowly team and he pitched for the loth place new York Mela in 1965 when Stengel managed there. In Between Stengel managed the new York Yankees to 10 pennants in 12 Yean. I played for Casey said Spahn before a Dafter he was a managerial genius.1 Tito a Yolk Stahl Phillies defeat mets 5-2 by inc associated pass Philadelphia Kevin Cross Al Lowed two runs Over 6vi innings and drove in two runs As the Philadelphia Phillies beat the new York mets 5-2 Fri Day night Steve Bedrosian pitched the final two innings to tie a major league record of 11 consecutive saves set in 1973 by Sparky Lyle with the new York Yankees. It was Bedrosian s Isth Saveoz the season Overall Cross 5-7, allowed eight hits in snap Ping a personal three game losing Streak and gave Philadelphia its tint Victory against new York in seven games this season. No Roundup in other games Friday  Pittsburgh Andy Van Slyck drove in three rum with a Solo Homer and a two run single and threw Oul a runner at the plate As Pittsburgh Deal Chicago. Bobby Bonilla j one Oul Pinch hit rib double triggered a three run Pitts Burgh seventh inning As the pirates beat the cubs for the Al Fly time in seven meet Ings this season. Barry Jones i a Lac third pirate Pitcher retired the Only Batter he faced la Cam the Victory. Don Robinson pitched the final two innings Tor his i oth save. With the score tied at 2, Jim Morrison led off the pirates seventh with a single Down the right Field line and moved to third when Andre Dawson s throw missed the cutoff Man and sailed into the cubs dugout. After cubs starter Greg Maddux 4-7, walked Mike Lavaliere retired Al Pedrique on a Fly Ball to Short Center to Nilta doubted Over the head of Center fielder Bob Dernier scaring Morrison. Reliever Frank Dipino struck out Barry see no on Page 26 up phom Andy Slyke. I Homer 3 Bis baseball must confront Beer drinking Issue Beosch Tylerjr. A sports writer the song says buy me some peanuts and Cracker  it says nothing about Beer. Drinking a Beer or two while watching a baseball game can be fun. It is part of the picnic atmosphere that has been so much of baseball s tradition. The song take me out to the ban game also has a line about going Home which says i Don t care if 1 Nevarr get  Well some people Don t care these Days if they Ever get Back to the Ballpark especially with their families. There s nothing funny about having Beer spilled on you or the vulgar Rani Ings of a drunk or a eight fuelled by false courage. Rowdiness caused by drunk Ness at sports event was in the news again last week when the new York Yankees agreed to create a family Section at Yan Kee stadium in which drinking Beer would not be allowed. The Yankee reached agreement with Republican state sen. John Dunne who withdrew a proposed Bill that would have required new York teams to set aside 25 percent of their seats As non drinking sections. The size of the Yan Kees family Section has yet to be announced. The new York mets also Are expected to create a non drinking Section. Several teams already have alcohol free sections. The California Angels have a 2,400-seat family Section in left Field at Anaheim stadium which has not been filled for any game this season. It has been slow catching Fin but comments from fans show the Section has been Well received Angels spokes Man Tim Mead said. Family sections will protect a limited number of fans from Rowdy ism but the majority will still have to put up with the irresponsible minority. What other Steps can be taken to limit alcohol related problems at stadiums and Arenas the idea would seem to be to make Beer available to the fan who does t need one but instead sees a cup or two As adding enjoyment to a Day or night out at the same time it has to become difficult to obtain Many Beers. Half of the 26 major league teams now Stop Beer sales lifter either the seventh or eighth innings. All of them should a this since some fans May have been drinking since even i Leforc arriving at the Park and have to drive Home. Back in the Era of Day baseball  drinking was not a problem. Beer should be sold Only at Concession stands this is done at six Parks and the dumber of Beers per person per trip should be limited to two. This would mean one person could t go for rounds for targe groups and the limit would make the Lues at Concession stands loaf maybe too Long to be Worth the wait. Drinking a Beer is a lot More fun than waiting in line to buy one. Don t sell Beer in cups larger than 16 ounces. Uncommonly big cups Are too easy to spill. Besides most people who drink Beer for enjoyment want to drink it while it s cold without having to Chuga Pugil there Are those who would ban the Sale of Beer at sports events. Should this happen the world would go on. But to expect it to happen ii unrealistic. If Only common sense could be legis lated