C'mon Ohio……Here's Our True State Treasure!

I have always found it a little odd that the state of Ohio makes such a stretch out being the birth of aviation. True, Wilbur and Orville Wright were native sons, but the actual true "birth" of aviation was in North Carolina. The whole thing is kind of like taking credit for getting pregnant in Ohio while the actual baby was delivered flying over the windy sand blown dunes of Kitty Hawk! I always wondered what the good folks on the east coast thought about our reach for ambition. If it was an all too confusing ruse simply to sell license plates; it apparently worked!

If the State of Ohio would like to have its very own 100% home-grown hero, may I introduce to you a man who changed the world with a single act of courage because it was the right thing to do.

Branch Rickey was born of simple means in the hollows of Southern Ohio with a common touch and a kind soul who was a true visionary way before his years. For the people who knew him right up until his death in 1965 at the age of 83 he was always referred to in the highest respect as "Mr. Rickey." That for being that he gave that quality of respect back to virtually everyone he met. While Branch Rickey is best known for introducing the first African-American baseball player into the Major Leagues in 1947, there is much more to his legacy. Branch Rickey also opened the doors for Latin players by drafting the very first Hispanic superstar; his name was Roberto Clemente. His out of the box thinking was the framework for today's Minor League farm system, he encouraged the addition of new teams to the league, and created the batting helmet as part of the game. Branch Rickey was also inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967.

If you know the true history of this native Ohio son, his accomplishments as a multi-sport athlete, innovator, educator, businessman, coach, and family man are all incredible stories unto themselves. If the state of Ohio needs more local connections to ponder, Branch Rickey was also the catcher for Ohio Wesleyan College where he earned his B.A.

Two men who have a deep relationship to Branch Rickey with the help of a State Representative traveled to Columbus last week to plead the case of state recognition for a man who changed to world's course to equality for all. Traveling north to the state capital was Al Oliver, Gene Bennett, and Dr. Terry Johnson with the message to change the name of State Route 23 to "The Branch Rickey Highway." As our politicos listened to some good old fashioned logic and reasoning, the simple move of re-naming the portion of a highway that splits our state in half makes a solid case of honoring the man who brought us all together!

According to Gene Bennett who spent 58 years as a scout for the Cincinnati Reds, the honor is certainly worthy.

"I knew Mr. Rickey as a friend and a mentor," Gene Recalls, "People always remember what he did for Jackie Robinson, but Mr. Rickey was always fighting for the rights of minority's way back before 1947. Branch Rickey never saw color and stood with the blacks in restaurants and hotels where they weren't allowed. He was one of the first people I remember who publically practiced equality when it was against the law."

Al Oliver who spent 18 years in the Major Leagues and is a Portsmouth Native also took the floor to talk about being a piece of the master plan that Branch Rickey put in place in 1947.

Al remembers that night of history. "In 1971, I was playing for the Pittsburg Pirates when sometime in the third inning of the game, all of the players finally realized that the entire lineup in the game was African-American players. It was the first time in Major League History that had ever happened! After the game it was discussed kind of as a side note, but that was about it. The reason it was such a non-event at the time is how far we had come with human rights and equality thanks to Branch Rickey."

Recalling his almost twenty years in the Majors, Al Oliver also lamented that without what Branch Rickey did just 18 short years before he entered professional baseball, he doubted he would of ever had a chance to play at the highest level.

In April of this year, a major motion picture called "42" will open worldwide about the event that changed the face of human equality forever. Harrison Ford will play Branch Rickey as the story will once again be told of how a young boy from Stockdale, Ohio saw the world as it was and how he thought it should be. If there was ever a time to rejoice and honor the spirit of a true native Ohioan, that time is now! In a matter "history seconds," just look at how quickly the discrimination house of cards crumbled after Jackie Robinson first broke the color barrier. It took a man of true courage and foresight to put his name on the line in a world where things like that just weren't done and in most areas illegal.

My hope is that with the renewed attention to this historic act of mankind, our state leaders, politicians, lobbyists, and all who stand on the right side of Mr. Rickey can see what a statement re-naming a highway that he traveled regularly could bring to all who live in Ohio and his honor.

With all respect to the Wright Brothers who in my humble belief share a very important moment with another state, the accomplishments of Branch Rickey are all our very own. Wouldn't it be nice to someday buy a license plate at the local DMV in the state of Ohio that said "Branch Rickey, Birth of Human Equality?"

To quote my good friend Gene Bennett, "It's the right thing to do!"

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Steve Hayes is a morning radio host and a syndicated columnist.
E-mail Steve your comments... Steve@SteveHayesMedia.com 

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