Prep stars take field for a history lesson

By Matt Lynch | Chicago Tribune reporter


Seventy-five years after the old Comiskey Park played host to the first Negro League East-West All-Star Game, the home of the White Sox will house the debut for another event celebrating African-Americans in baseball.

The first Double Duty Classic will take place Monday at U.S. Cellular Field and feature inner-city high school players from Chicago and other Midwestern cities. The event is named for famous Negro leagues player Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, who died in 2005.

"It's an honor because it's the first time they're doing something like this, and it's to honor people like Ted Radcliffe, who played the game for so long and gave us opportunities," said Frank Gowder of Young, who will be part of the White Sox Amateur City Elite team.



The players will also attend a forum about the history of the Negro leagues and African-Americans in baseball. The forum will include Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson, as well as White Sox general manager Ken Williams, outfielder Jermaine Dye, first-base coach Harold Baines and several Negro leagues historians.

Jonathan Dorsey of Simeon said he hoped to retain as much as possible from the forum.

"I'm really interested in learning more about my race and more about the sport that I love," he said. "I hope I can just be a sponge and absorb everything."

Several players noted that some of their peers view baseball as too slow and prefer the instant gratification and higher scoring in sports like basketball and football.

"Guys who say baseball is boring just don't know what they're missing," Dorsey said. "It's such a rewarding sport once you put everything into it."

mlynch@tribune.com