Sport Slices

Charley Pride has left us a legacy of fine country music. But it was baseball that took him from his birthplace in Sledge, Mississippi, to take a permanent place in the American mosaic.

Born to share cropper parents, and one of eleven children, Pride and his brother would sneak off to practise their baseball skills after picking cotton all day. His father would have no part of that, administering corporal punishment. But his mother put a stop to that, and thus, Charley began his trek into the outside world.

In 1953, when he was nineteen, he signed his first contract to pitch for the Memphis Red Sox, a Negro League team based in Tennessee. He played professional baseball for five years, mainly in Memphis. He was signed to a minor league contract with a New York Yankees farm team in 1954, but lost his fastball and was traded. He was sent to the Birmingham Black Barons, along with Jesse Mitchell, for a used bus. You did read that correctly.

Charley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. He has his own star in the “Walk of Fame”, and several Grammy Awards. He has performed for many presidents, at special concerts, and has sung the anthem countless times at Texas Rangers' baseball games, at the World Series, and at the Super Bowl.

But his first love was baseball. He was part of a group that bought the Rangers in 2010. For many years, he attended Spring Training, but not as a fan. He was seen as part of the Rangers' family when he first moved there in 1972. He suited up and took part in all of the training activities, in Pompano Beach and Port Charlotte in Florida, and in Surprise, Arizona.

Former Rangers' outfielder Tom Grieve remembered Pride at the camps. “He took it seriously. He wasn't just some celebrity out there running around. He worked hard, just like the rest of us, and did all the same drills.” Legendary player and manager Billy Martin was a huge country music fan, and decided to put Charley in the starting lineup for a Spring Training game in Pompano Beach. Hall of Famer Jim Palmer was pitching for the Orioles.

Before the game, Palmer saw Charley taking batting practice with the regulars. “Hey Charley,” he shouted, “I'm going to throw the same fastball to you as I throw to everyone else, but I won't throw you any breaking balls.”

Charley replied, “Do what you have to do. Throw whatever you want.” He hit a sharp ground ball to second base his first time up. On his second trip to the plate, he hit the ball up the middle for a single. Martin took him out of the game. He had gone one for two against Palmer, impressing everyone.

For many years, Charley has held a private concert, in the dressing room, for the Rangers players, coaches, and the rest of the staff, something they have always appreciated.

Charley Pride was always considered to be the “Jackie Robinson of Country Music”. He battled racism, from birth. The first time he played Cobo Hall in Detroit was an experience. Most of the audience was familiar with his music, but they had never seen him. They applauded loudly when he was introduced. But when he entered the stage, from the wings, there was silence. Gradually, they warmed to the situation, appreciating his talent.

Charley died in Dallas on Saturday, of complications from COVID 19. He was 86 years old.

James Hurst

December 14, 2020.