A house RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and honor the members of the 1955 Cannon Street Y.M.C.A. Little League of Charleston for their formation of an African American BASEBALL league AND TO CONGRATULATE THE all-star TEAM MEMBERS AND COACHES FOR BEING NAMED THE 1955 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE CHAMPIONS.

 

Whereas, in the summer of 1955, all but one of the sixty-one chartered Little League programs in South Carolina were made up entirely of white players. The lone exception, the Cannon Street Y.M.C.A. Little League of Charleston, had been established two years earlier and became the first and only African American Little League in South Carolina sanctioned by Little League Baseball, Inc.; and

 

Whereas, the league was comprised of four teams sponsored by black businesses and civic organizations and sustained by the passionate support of parents and other local citizens. After the first half of the season was complete, Cannon Street Y.M.C.A. President Robert F. Morrison and the league's four coaches selected an All-Star team coached by Ben Singleton to represent the league in Charleston's traditionally whites-only Little League tournament with the dream of earning a spot in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; and

 

Whereas, rather than integrate play between white teams and black teams, city officials canceled the event. The All-Stars, winners by default, prepared to compete in the South Carolina state tournament. In a show of massive resistance, white Little League officials, coaches, and parents gradually organized a mass boycott. As a result, the Cannon Street All-Stars became the unofficial state champions; and

 

Whereas, to its credit, Little League Baseball refused the request of white South Carolinians to host a segregated tournament to determine a representative for regional play. Instead, they held firm to a rule prohibiting teams from playing for the World Series title after advancing by forfeit; and 

 

Whereas, in a letter to President Morrison, Little League President Peter J. McGovern expressed regret that the All-Stars were "innocent victims of alien influences that have deprived them of beneficial associations and opportunities to meet and know other boys in Little League Baseball," and he invited the team to attend the Little League World Series held from August 23 to August 26 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as his guests. Parents and community leaders raised funds for the trip. Civil Rights activist Esau Jenkins provided transportation; and

  

Whereas, while in attendance, the All-Stars were granted a practice session prior to the championship game. The All-Stars' enthusiasm and skill inspired chants of "Let them play!" from the awestruck crowd. Despite pleas from President Morrison and his fellow coaches, it was not to be. The team's effort to integrate youth baseball encouraged white teams from several Southern states to secede from Little League and form a segregated organization known as Little Boys Baseball, Inc. Today, Little Boys is known as Dixie Youth Baseball; and

 

Whereas, over the past decades, the Cannon Street All-Stars have grown into upstanding family men and good citizens. In 2002, the team returned to Williamsport and was officially named 1955 South Carolina State Champions. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the members of the 1955 Cannon Street Y.M.C.A. Little League of Charleston for their formation of an African American baseball league and congratulate the All-Star team members and coaches for being named the 1955 South Carolina state champions.

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