Note: This article ran in the Chicago Defender, early January 1915
McCredie Kicks on Color Line in Base Ball
Manager of Portland Champions Forced to Fire Chinese Because
White Men Balk - Vehemently Denounces Unfairness of Race.
Prejudice
Likes Afro-Americans.
Thinks Lloyd and Petway of the American Giants Great Players
and Would Welcome All Men Like Them.
(Special to the Chicago Defender)
Portland, Ore., Jan 15 - McCredie's white Beavers won't play with a black
or dark-skinned man, so there'll be no "heathen Chinese" within the
civilizing influences of the Pacific Coast League next year.
Walter McCredie, manager of the Portland ball champs, exploded a bombshell
several weeks ago by announcing the signing of Lang Akana, a half Hawaiian-
half Chinese outfielder.
Hired-Fired
Today he plucked another out of the ammunition case, took cool aim, and
then during the uproar vouchsafed "info" that he would have to release his
Chinese horticulturist because of the strenuous objection from
prospective teammates.
"His skin's too dark," explained the Portland mogul. "The Coast Leaguers
who played at Honolulu on that recent barnstorming trip came back vowing
boycott. I have received a couple of letters from players tellingme
Akana is as dark as Jack Johnson, so I guess I will have to give him a
release."
In announcing the release of his poi-eating prodigy Manager McCredie took
occasion to exude a few remarks relative to baseball's attitude toward
Afro-American ball players.
No Barrier
"I don't think the color of the skin ought to be a barrier in baseball,"
declared big Mac. "They have Jim Thopre, an Indian, in the big leagues;
there are Cubans on the rosters of various clubs. Here in the Pacific
Coast League we have a Mexican and a Hawaiian, and yet the laws of
baseball bar Afro-Americans for organized diamonds."
"If I had my say the Afro-American would be welcome inside the fold.
I would like to have two such ball players as Petway and Lloyd of
the Chicago Colored Giants, who play out here every spring. I think
Lloyd is another Hans Wagner around shortstop, and Petway is one of the
greatest catchers in the world."
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