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Friday, May 09, 2008

Syracuse.com: ‘Hey man, are you the only black guy on the team?’

That would be the Syracuse Chiefs and their co-closer Tracy Thorpe.

“As far as I know, I was the only black guy in the minor leagues for this organization the past two years,” said Thorpe, who is in his ninth season in Toronto’s employ. “Everybody else was white, Hispanic or Asian. In the whole organization it was, like, me, Frank Thomas, Vernon Wells and Royce Clayton. And that was about it.

“But in this last draft, the Blue Jays got a few more African-Americans. When I sat down at camp this year, I saw more black guys and I was excited. I’m not saying that I communicate with them better, but it’s kind of nice to see your own race out there trying to make it.”

..."To me, people are going to play what they want to play,” Thorpe said. “With all of the other crap going on, sports is the least of African-Americans’ worries. I played baseball, football and basketball, and was decent in all of them, so I think guys should pursue what they want to pursue. I love baseball, but I would never tell a kid to play it rather than football or basketball.”

..."It really doesn’t bother me. I’m living my own dream of making it to the big leagues. If I worried about that number (8.2 percent), I don’t think I’d have as good a shot. Besides, it’s not my fault I’m the only one here. I can’t worry about what goes on in the front office and who they’re drafting. I’m sure there are African-Americans who do get drafted and decide to go off and play college football, instead.”

..."This is my dream and I want to finish it,” declared Thorpe, who showed up at Alliance Bank Stadium for Thursday night’s game against Buffalo with a 2-0 record, four saves and an ERA of 2.84. “I’m nobody to say, ‘This is wrong.’ I’m nobody to say, ‘We need more blacks.’ It would have to be someone with 10 or 15 years in the big leagues. I’m not the person to go to the commissioner’s office and set up a big meeting. Not me. I’m just here to play.”

Repoz Posted: May 09, 2008 at 07:09 AM | 29 comment(s)
Related News: General, Minor Leagues, Prospect Reports, Toronto

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1. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:46 AM (#2774423)

Black guy named Tracy? Does he have a brother named Chad?

2. Misirlou is the new market inefficiency Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:17 AM (#2774443)

Black guy named Tracy? Does he have a brother named Chad?

For some reason, I thought Tracy Jones was black, but according to his picture on Tracyjonesonline.com, he's not. But this bit from the site is amusing:

Tracy Jones is considered one of the most "connected" men in baseball. He has played on the 1986 Cincinnati Reds team, the 1987 Cincinnati Reds team, the 1988 Cincinnati Reds team, the 1988 Montreal Expos team, the 1989 San Francisco Giants team, the 1989 Detroit Tiger team, the 1990 Detroit Tiger team, the 1990 Seattle Mariner team, and the 1991 Seattle Mariner team.

Every major league baseball player that has ever played the game is some way connected with Tracy Jones. Here is how it works; for our example we will use Honus Wagner: Honus Wagner played with Burleigh Grimes for the 1916 Pittsburgh Pirates, Burleigh Grimes played with Estel Crabtree for the 1933 St. Louis Cardinals, Estel Crabtree played with Joe Nuxhall for the 1944 Cincinnati Reds, Joe Nuxhall played with Pete Rose for the 1965 Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose played with Tracy Jones for the 1986 Cincinnati Reds.

Babe Ruth: Babe Ruth played with Ray Mueller for the 1935 Boston Braves, Ray Mueller played with Wally Post for the 1949 Cincinnati Reds, Wally Post played with Pete Rose for the 1963 Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose played with Tracy Jones for the 1986 Cincinnati Reds.

There is not a player in history that is not some way connected to Tracy Jones.

Um, isn't that true of everybody who ever played? For kicks, I looked at 2 players who's MLB career consisted of 1 game separated by 90 years: Adam Greenberg of the 2005 Cubs and Fred Ostendorf of the 1914 Indianapolis Hoosiers of the Federal league. It took only 6 players to connect them.

3. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:22 AM (#2774448)

Tracy Jones. Bah. I'm still irritated that the Giants traded Mike Aldrete for him. What was the point of that BS?

4. Toolsy McClutch Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:31 AM (#2774463)

Jeff Blair is rolling over in his grave. Or is it Geoff?

5. Guy LeDouche Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:53 AM (#2774486)

It was Geoff Baker who wrote the "White Jays" article in the Toronto Star in 2003.

6. Toolsy McClutch Posted: May 09, 2008 at 10:37 AM (#2774544)

Meh, all those white guys are the same.

7. Greg K Posted: May 09, 2008 at 11:05 AM (#2774580)

Yeah Jeff Blair aint half bad
Whereas Geoff Baker is a hack

Speaking of which, I believe Blair hinted in his blog that the Jays are picking up Brad Wilkerson today

any confirmation of that anywhere?

8. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: May 09, 2008 at 11:42 AM (#2774605)

According to my calculations, there are 17,000 Zoroastrians in the United States and Canada versus a combined population of 335 million, meaning there should be .0365 Zoroastrians in the major leagues at any given time. But do you want to know how many there are in reality? None! Where's the outrage? Where's the outreach?

9. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: May 09, 2008 at 11:44 AM (#2774609)

I believe Khalil Greene is about .0247 Zoroastrian.

10. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: May 09, 2008 at 11:56 AM (#2774621)

Where are the asians in the NBA? Discrimination.

11. Misirlou is the new market inefficiency Posted: May 09, 2008 at 12:13 PM (#2774645)

You know, over half the population is female.

12. kevin Posted: May 09, 2008 at 12:16 PM (#2774648)

Where are the asians in the NBA? Discrimination.

Yao? Ji? Where the hell have you been?

13. kevin Posted: May 09, 2008 at 12:17 PM (#2774650)

You know, over half the population is female.

Curse or fortune?

14. Cooperstown Shtick Posted: May 09, 2008 at 12:21 PM (#2774656)

You know, over half the population is female.

Speaking of discrimination...

15. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: May 09, 2008 at 12:29 PM (#2774660)

I don't think 2 asians is representative to their national or global population percentage.

16. Petunia Posted: May 09, 2008 at 12:29 PM (#2774662)

#7, the only thing going at the moment is this entry, which is probably what you were referring to. They're at 40 though so I imagine we'll hear of the accompanying move before we hear about the Wilkerson signing itself.

17. baseball chick Posted: May 09, 2008 at 01:09 PM (#2774700)

kevin Posted: May 09, 2008 at 12:17 PM (#2774650)

You know, over half the population is female.

Curse or fortune?

- curse if you are wanting to play MLB and you can't because there is s RULE banning you from playing MLB

- fortune if you are a male who can't handle getting outplayed by a GRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLLL

18. Rich Rifkin Posted: May 09, 2008 at 01:54 PM (#2774745)

“With all of the other crap going on, sports is the least of African-Americans’ worries. I played baseball, football and basketball, and was decent in all of them, so I think guys should pursue what they want to pursue. I love baseball, but I would never tell a kid to play it rather than football or basketball.”

This young man has his head screwed on right.... I would bet a Denny's Grand Slam Breakfast that he was raised in an intact middle-income or higher family.

19. B. Selig Posted: May 09, 2008 at 02:04 PM (#2774759)

Um, isn't that true of everybody who ever played?

I like that Tracy Jones's connectedness goes through Pete Rose, who played well over 100 years and had roughly 18 million teammates. Of course, none of them speak to him any more.

20. Edmundo(Erstwhile Master of Diagramming Sentences) Posted: May 09, 2008 at 02:24 PM (#2774792)

Where are the asians in the NBA? Discrimination.

Yao? Ji? Where the hell have you been?

Mehmet Okur is from Asian Turkey but Hedo Turkoglu is from Euro Turkey.

Mehmet Okur should be the official so-so basketball player of BBTF.

EDIT: actually Okur is a good b-ball player. Kind of ruins what was a weak joke to begin with.

21. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: May 09, 2008 at 02:28 PM (#2774797)

Mehmet Okur should be the official so-so basketball player of BBTF.

We have our so-so baseball player, too: this guy.

22. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: May 09, 2008 at 02:37 PM (#2774814)

Where are all the African-American heavyweight boxers? I'm tired of watching these Eastern European and African dudes knocking the crap out of everyone. Boo! Boo! We need a new Tyson or Holyfield, but I'd even settle for a Michael Moorer at this point.

23. Deadball Posted: May 09, 2008 at 03:04 PM (#2774840)

How about a Trevor Berbick or a Renaldo Snipes?

24. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: May 09, 2008 at 03:08 PM (#2774845)

How about a Trevor Berbick or a Renaldo Snipes?

Damn, I had to google Renaldo Snipes.

25. Charlie O Posted: May 09, 2008 at 03:37 PM (#2774881)

Trevor Berbick was Jamaican.

26. Petunia Posted: May 09, 2008 at 04:21 PM (#2774925)

Wilkerson signed. In case anyone's still curious.

27. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: May 09, 2008 at 04:28 PM (#2774940)

Of course the Jays sign two more white guys. Good thread to mention this signing in.

28. DEFCON: jive. Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:26 PM (#2775285)

Where are all the African-American heavyweight boxers? I'm tired of watching these Eastern European and African dudes knocking the crap out of everyone. Boo! Boo! We need a new Tyson or Holyfield, but I'd even settle for a Michael Moorer at this point.

Hey man, what about Lamon Brewster? And Calvin Brock? Tony Thompson? Ok, you win.

Step down a weight class to the cruiserweights--200 pounds--and watch the big guys who are in shape. Check out Steve Cunningham, a black American, and probably the top of the division once David Haye moves up to heavyweight. Nate Campbell is in the mix at lightweight. Welterweight is a treasure trove of black fighters, with Mayweather, Mosley, Paul Williams and Andre Berto. Lots of options out there, once you get past the Heavyweight fixation.

29. Rich Rifkin Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:50 PM (#2775353)

Beware of Kimbo Slice.

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