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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Kerry Wood: Black Cubs players got hate mail

Cleveland Indians closer and ex-Cubs ace Kerry Wood didn’t dismiss the notion that Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley and other African-American players may have experienced racial insensitivity during their time in Chicago.

“I know just from the experience of playing with those guys, and I’ve seen some of the mail that they get, obviously not a lot of us get that kind of mail,” Wood said on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000. “I didn’t, but there are people out there that got their beliefs.”

Wood said he saw some of the mail that was sent to former teammates LaTroy Hawkins, Jacque Jones and former manager Dusty Baker.

“It’s tough to sit there and read that,” Wood said, “and it’s tough to even understand what those players go through.”

Thanks to Capot.

Repoz Posted: October 27, 2009 at 01:57 PM | 37 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: cubs

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1. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:21 PM (#3367281)

I would imagine that all Cubs players get lots of hate mail.

2. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:31 PM (#3367289)

Still Andy, the black players apparently got hate mail of a uniquely vicious sort. I'm willing to grant the difference between the typical "YOU SUCK YOU BUM!" letter (or shout from the bleachers) vs. stuff with racial slurs in it. I suppose you can say that the players are supposed to be tough enough not to let it get to them, but I'd be taken aback too were I in their place.

3. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:33 PM (#3367293)

"Let's lynch two!"

4. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:42 PM (#3367308)

Is it possible that Dusty Baker makes people racist?

5. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:45 PM (#3367313)

6. aleskel

Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:49 PM (#3367319)

ah, the Cubs, so delightfully retro. Day games, old-time ballpark, AND racist hatemail (the paper kind)!

7. GregQ Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:50 PM (#3367321)

I would imagine that all Cubs players get lots of hate mail.

That is probably true but I think there is a type of bigot that roots for the team and its players regardless of color until things go south and then reveals their true colors. When I was growing up in the 60's one of my buddies, a huge Giants fan, rooted for all of the players black and white on the team but once told me that he hoped Hank Aaron died before he broke Ruth's record because he did not want a n-word to own the record.

8. Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn)

Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:54 PM (#3367327)

When I was growing up in the 60's one of my buddies, a huge Giants fan, rooted for all of the players black and white on the team but once told me that he hoped Hank Aaron died before he broke Ruth's record because he did not want a n-word to own the record.

The kinder, gentler bigot would've been satisfied with a career-ending injury.

9. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: October 27, 2009 at 02:57 PM (#3367333)

Is it possible that Dusty Baker makes people racist?

Potential racists need to learn about sample size.

10. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:00 PM (#3367337)

"the typical "YOU SUCK YOU BUM!" letter"

BUT YOU ALSO VERY FLEXIBLE, EVIDENTLY!

11. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:01 PM (#3367339)

Racist Cubs fans? That's un-possible!

12. Charles S., annoyingly insightful Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:03 PM (#3367345)

There is a line of thought that using racial slurs against an individual is not racist as long as you don't feel that way about the whole race. Something along the lines of "Sure I think Hawkins is a f-ing n-word, but I'm not racist. I love Derrek Lee." I first heard that line of thinking when I was a teenager 25+ years ago, and it made a comeback when Chris Rock did that HBO special where he joked about the difference between "n-words" and "black people".

I'll bet most of the people who write this hate mail don't consider themselves racist, and all the talk about the historical context of the slurs will not convince them otherwise.

13. Steve Sparks Flying Everywhere Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:03 PM (#3367346)

So does this happen to all African-American players or just African-American players on the Cubs? Does it happen to players on the White Sox? What type of "fan" sends mail like this? Bleacher bums? Yuppies? luxury box people? Clearly I have a lot of unresolved questions.

14. Mayor Blomberg Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:10 PM (#3367359)

SSFE: I'd be surprised if there's a team whose players don't get that mail. & probably not from luxury box people unless their secretaries are sending it.

15. Stretch Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:13 PM (#3367366)

Why would anyone send these guys hate mail?

16. Craig Calcaterra Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:16 PM (#3367374)

What type of "fan" sends mail like this? Bleacher bums? Yuppies? luxury box people?

You know those poor kids, stricken with cancer or some awful disease, who get visits from players and ask them to hit home runs for them?

It's those selfish, racist f*cks.

17. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:22 PM (#3367385)

So does this happen to all African-American players or just African-American players on the Cubs? Does it happen to players on the White Sox?

White Sox players get hate mail, but it comes from the manager.

18. winnipegwhip Posted: October 27, 2009 at 03:59 PM (#3367453)

I think Fukodome was probably shocked when he arrived in Chicago and they had a salute to "Harry Caray" outside the park.

19. RMc don't hate anyone Asian Posted: October 27, 2009 at 04:04 PM (#3367469)

Obligatory.

20. Run Joe Run Posted: October 27, 2009 at 04:11 PM (#3367485)

Not doubting the story is true. I never believed any player (except for some rookies) opened their own mail. Always figured the letters were opened and filtered by handlers/agents/team and only a sample got to them. I could be wrong

21. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:02 PM (#3367575)

I have a hard time believing that this isn't somewhat of a conflict for almost any other team in baseball.

22. Gern Blanston Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:20 PM (#3367607)

I have a hard time believing that this isn't somewhat of a conflict for almost any other team in baseball.

I don't disagree, but it does seem we hear more about it with regard to Cub fans. Whether that reflects reality or some sort of bias, I have no clue. I will say the Horry Cow shirts don't do much for the defense's case.

Last spring, I went on a first and only date with a woman who said she wanted to buy a Horry Cow shirt. And she was a CPS teacher, for god's sake. People are stupid.

23. Moses Taylor peacocks peacock Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:26 PM (#3367613)

Last spring, I went on a first and only date with a woman who said she wanted to buy a Horry Cow shirt. And she was a CPS teacher, for god's sake. People are stupid.

She couldn't have been that stupid considering she didn't go out with you again.

24. SouthSideRyan Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:29 PM (#3367615)

Did you compromise and buy her the headband?

25. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:31 PM (#3367620)

"I will say the Horry Cow shirts don't do much for the defense's case."

These probably don't help, either.

26. Gern Blanston Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:38 PM (#3367627)

She couldn't have been that stupid considering she didn't go out with you again.

Alas, she can't even get credit for that, as it was my decision not to see her again. She wanted a second--that's how dumb she is!

27. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:42 PM (#3367634)

Alas, she can't even get credit for that, as it was my decision not to see her again. She wanted a second--that's how dumb she is!

Dumb AND no sense of smell!

28. Gern Blanston Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:43 PM (#3367637)

These probably don't help, either.

No, though as was pointed out in an earlier thread (or digression) on the subject, that particular theme seems to exist in a lot of cross-rival pissing matches (the same shirt featuring Zambrano is apparently sold in St. Louis). It's not unique to Cub fans.

EDIT: Then again, there's the "Cardinals take it in their Pujols" shirt, which adds a neat homophobic twist to things...

29. Gern Blanston Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:45 PM (#3367642)

Dumb AND no sense of smell!

Hey now. I may be repugnant in any number of ways, but my aroma is as fresh as a jasmine flower.

30. Moses Taylor peacocks peacock Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:46 PM (#3367644)

Alas, she can't even get credit for that, as it was my decision not to see her again. She wanted a second--that's how dumb she is!

Dumb AND no sense of smell!

Not to mention the gerontophilia.

31. Steve Sparks Flying Everywhere Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:49 PM (#3367647)

Last spring, I went on a first and only date with a woman who said she wanted to buy a Horry Cow shirt. And she was a CPS teacher, for god's sake. People are stupid.

I'm always amazed when seemingly normal people blurt out racist remarks or statements based on stereotypes. It's a mixture of confusion and embarrassment for them.

32. Gern Blanston Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:49 PM (#3367648)

Not to mention the gerontophilia.

I get more debonair and sophisticated as I age. That fact's not lost on today's urban female.

33. GregQ Posted: October 27, 2009 at 05:58 PM (#3367657)

I'm always amazed when seemingly normal people blurt out racist remarks or statements based on stereotypes. It's a mixture of confusion and embarrassment for them.

Sometimes there just bigots. A friend set me up with a woman that she worked with and at dinner the gal said that American Indians did not want to work, just collect welfare checks. I asked her how many she knew, since there is a fair number around Portland, and she said none. Her brother had told her so it had to be true. Never saw her again to the dismay of my friends who wanted to hear about her opinions on other groups. I asked my friend why she thought we would be a good match and she said-She seems normal.

34. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 27, 2009 at 06:34 PM (#3367684)

"No, though as was pointed out in an earlier thread (or digression) on the subject, that particular theme seems to exist in a lot of cross-rival pissing matches (the same shirt featuring Zambrano is apparently sold in St. Louis). It's not unique to Cub fans."

Oh, of course. The article that I linked pointed out as much. But if there weren't a market for them, they wouldn't be sold.

35. Sleepy supports unauthorized rambling Posted: October 28, 2009 at 06:27 AM (#3368172)

But if there weren't a market for them, they wouldn't be sold.

Well, I've heard about them being for sale for a while, but I've never seen anyone wearing one. So maybe (hopefully) they aren't selling, and some jerk lost his family fortune after investing in 20,000 of these things that he can't get rid of. One can hope.

Anyway, I love the fact that the shirts say "Player x Mow's My Lawn" (not "Mows"). It just lacks a "Moran" stitched on the back to be perfect.

36. My guest will be Jermaine Allensworth Posted: October 28, 2009 at 06:49 AM (#3368179)

I like that Ozzie Guillen bought an "Ozzie Guillen Mows Wrigley Field" shirt.

Guillen bought a T-shirt and wore it in the clubhouse. "I might cut lawns but I don't stand in the rain selling T-shirts," Guillen said, laughing.

37. Something Other Posted: October 28, 2009 at 06:51 AM (#3368181)

I'm always amazed when seemingly normal people blurt out racist remarks or statements based on stereotypes. It's a mixture of confusion and embarrassment for them.

Too true. I briefly dated a university prof, and it must have been in a newspaper where we saw the first name Jazzmin, whereon she muttered, "those people REALLY need to learn to spell". No confusion or embarrassment on her part, though.

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Kerry Wood: Black Cubs players got hate mail

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