Daytona Beach in Volusia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Wendell Smith And Billy Rowe
Crusading Journalists
— Jackie Robinson Ballpark & Museum —
Wendell Smith, (Sports Columnist) And Billy Rowe, (Photographer) Worked For The Pittsburgh Courier, Once The Country’s Most Widely Circulated Black Newspapers With A National Circulation Of Almost 200,000. The Courier Sought To Empower African Americans Economically And Politically. Wendell Smith, A Native Of Detroit, Michigan, Dedicated Himself To Doing “ Something On Behalf Of The Negro Ballplayers," When, As A Young Winning Pitcher, A Major League Scout Did Not Consider Him, But The Losing Pitcher Was Signed Because Major League Baseball Barred Black Players. Smith Became A Crusading Black Press Journalist, Known As The Man Who Recommended Jackie Robinson To Branch Rickey. He Fought For 40 Years To Raise Awareness About The Conditions Under Which Black Players Were Forced To Play, Suffering Embarrassment, Humiliation And Indignities During Six Weeks Of Spring Training In Florida. Branch Rickey Recruited Both Wendell Smith And Billy Rowe To Accompany Jackie Robinson Throughout His First Spring Training. Jackie Robinson Later Hired Wendell Smith To Write His Autobiography Titled Jackie Robinson, My Own Story, Published In 1948.
Caption:
“The (Pittsburgh) Courier (was) most effective in seeing that the game’s racial barrier was finally lifted and (Wendell) Smith doggedly fought for the inclusion of Blacks in organized baseball.”
David Wiggins, Journal Of Sport History
Wendell Smith, Daytona Beach 1946 – Billy Rowe, Circa 1950s Wendell Smith Photo courtesy of the Baseball Hall Of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY, Billy Rowe Photo courtesy of the Daytona Beach News-Journal
Erected by Daytona Beach, Florida.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Communications • Sports.
Location. 29° 12.584′ N, 81° 1.008′ W. Marker is in Daytona Beach, Florida, in Volusia County. Marker can be reached from E. Orange Ave. near S. Beach St when traveling east. Marker located in Jackie Robinson Ballpark and Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 E Orange Ave, Daytona Beach FL 32114, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hall Of Famer (here, next to this marker); Civil Rights Pioneer (here, next to this marker); Jackie's First MLB Spring Training Game (here, next to this marker); Mary McLeod Bethune (here, next to this marker); Rachel Robinson (here, next to this marker); First Spring Training (a few steps from this marker); Jackie And Rachel Robinson Arrive In Daytona Beach (a few steps from this marker); Breaks Major League Baseball Color Barrier (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Daytona Beach.
Regarding Wendell Smith And Billy Rowe. This Daytona Beach Ballpark is named in honor of famed Major League Baseball player Jackie Robinson. In 1946, Daytona Beach was the only city along the spring season circuit to allow Robinson to play. This event helped Robinson to eventually break the color barrier in major league baseball. On October 22, 1998, this stadium was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on January 29, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 3, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.