<font size="4"><center>Baseball belatedly honours 17 stars from the segregated era </font size></center>
Baseball was segregated until 1947 -
and nearly 60 years later, the Hall of
Fame has specially admitted 17 out-
standing African-Americans, including
power hitter "Mule" Suttles.
`
The museum commissioned more than
50 experts to review a century of baseball
history, resulting in belated admissions
for players such as pitcher Andy Cooper
`
For decades, African-Americans were
confined to the Negro Leagues, but
five of the new inductees, like Ben
Taylor, date from even before the
Negro Leagues were founded in 1920.
`
Jose Mendez, the first internationally
famous Cuban baseball player, was
nicknamed the "Black Diamond". He
played from 1908 to 1926 and died in
Havana two years later.
`
Ray Brown was such an outstanding
pitcher that the Pittsburgh Courier
newspaper urged the Pirates - a white
team - to hire him in 1938. They did not.
`
Willard Brown was dubbed "Home Run"
for his ability to hit the ball out of the
park. He played from 1935 to 1954, with
a two-year break to serve in WWII.
`
Jud Wilson was another fearsome hitter
unafraid of pitchers black or white. He
continued playing until he was into his
early 50s, his power largely intact.
`
Not only players are being honoured.
Alex Pompez, the son of Cuban immigrants,
owned two teams before becoming a
scout for the Major League Giants.
`
Biz Mackey (above), Frank Grant,
Pete Hill, Cum Posey, Louis Santop,
Cristobal Torriente, Sol White and
JL Wilkinson are the other inductees.
Not one of the 17 is still alive.
`
Baseball was segregated until 1947 -
and nearly 60 years later, the Hall of
Fame has specially admitted 17 out-
standing African-Americans, including
power hitter "Mule" Suttles.
`
The museum commissioned more than
50 experts to review a century of baseball
history, resulting in belated admissions
for players such as pitcher Andy Cooper
`
For decades, African-Americans were
confined to the Negro Leagues, but
five of the new inductees, like Ben
Taylor, date from even before the
Negro Leagues were founded in 1920.
`
Jose Mendez, the first internationally
famous Cuban baseball player, was
nicknamed the "Black Diamond". He
played from 1908 to 1926 and died in
Havana two years later.
`
Ray Brown was such an outstanding
pitcher that the Pittsburgh Courier
newspaper urged the Pirates - a white
team - to hire him in 1938. They did not.
`
Willard Brown was dubbed "Home Run"
for his ability to hit the ball out of the
park. He played from 1935 to 1954, with
a two-year break to serve in WWII.
`
Jud Wilson was another fearsome hitter
unafraid of pitchers black or white. He
continued playing until he was into his
early 50s, his power largely intact.
`
Not only players are being honoured.
Alex Pompez, the son of Cuban immigrants,
owned two teams before becoming a
scout for the Major League Giants.
`
Biz Mackey (above), Frank Grant,
Pete Hill, Cum Posey, Louis Santop,
Cristobal Torriente, Sol White and
JL Wilkinson are the other inductees.
Not one of the 17 is still alive.
`
