BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Barry Bonds. Ken Griffey Jr. Reggie Jackson. Derek Jeter. Jimmy Rollins. C.C. Sabathia. Adam Jones.
Some of baseball’s biggest living stars, all of African-American descent, were on hand under a golden southern sky Thursday evening for the Giants’ instant classic at Rickwood Field. Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz were there, too, as part of the pregame show for the nationally televised game.
For outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and many others in attendance, their presence was overshadowed by a man who played only four games in Major League Baseball.
“I just had to introduce myself,” said Yastrzemski, who tracked down Bill Greason and held a long conversation in front of home plate after the 99-year-old former Birmingham Black Baron threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game honoring Willie Mays and past Negro Leagues legends.
Greason, a former teammate of Mays’ who went on to serve as a minister for more than 50 years, pitched for the Black Barons from 1948-51 and appeared in four games for the St. Louis Cardinals — the Giants’ opponent Thursday — in 1954.
He is the oldest living former Negro Leaguer and, after being handed the ceremonial baseball by Jeter, lobbed an overhand strike to Ron Teasley Jr., the son of one of the only remaining men to have played in the Negro League era, which ended in 1948.
Baseball is only part of Greason’s story, which is how Yastrzemski came to know him.
“Going to Iwo Jima, having a relationship with Willie, having the courage to do what he did here and go play in the big leagues for four games,” Yastrzemski said. “There’s a lot that is entwined in his story, and I encourage everybody to look it up and really dive into his life because it’s special.”
Prior to his playing career, Greason served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was one of its earliest Black members and eventually fought for the 66th Supply Platoon with the 34th Marine Depot Company in the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
Upon retiring, he joined the congregation of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church, where he endured the 1963 Ku Klux Klan bombing that took the lives of four Black girls, eventually following his faith to nearby Bethel Baptist, starting preaching in 1971 and continuing to this day.
Greason’s background made him the ideal subject for Heart and Armor, a veteran-focused foundation supported by Yastrzemski, who called him an “integral” piece of the group. They had spoken over Zoom a handful of times but never met in person.
“I just had to take that opportunity when I could and thank him for everything that he’s done and let him know what an honor it was to finally be shaking his hand,” Yastrzemski said. “The ceremony, getting to meet all the old players, getting to meet Reverend Greason, getting to step out on that field. All of it was special. Hopefully we’ll be able to do more games here and really kind of make this a fun thing and a fun …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
