Kerry Wood Says Black Players Got Hate Mail

The story is pretty self explanatory. Dusty, Jacque, and LaTroy got some mail that perhaps other players wouldn't. From Kerry Wood's mouth, not Milton Bradley's.

over 2 years ago nji232 34 comments 3 recs |

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I believe it.

There are bad apples in every bunch. Doesn’t mean that it says a lot about the fanbase as a whole, considering they also embraced Ernie, Fergie, Billy, Andre, etc, etc, etc…

His interview on Chicago Tribune Live was very interesting. He seemed to miss Chicago a lot. Interesting that he said he could understand why he wasn’t resigned, but didn’t understand DeRo.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 26, 2009 8:49 PM CDT reply actions

Seems silly...

to count cheering for HOFers as a credit to the fanbase.

by Kansas25 on Oct 27, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Unfortunately, this is not a surprise

and points to a larger problem.

by Not Bruce Froemming on Oct 26, 2009 8:49 PM CDT reply actions

I cannot believe in this day and age...

…people write hate LETTERS. Not email.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Oct 26, 2009 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions

e-mail can be traced

Numbers may not lie, but they don’t tell the whole truth (and nothing but the truth), either. -- Doug Glanville

by leothelip on Oct 26, 2009 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions

(sarcasm)

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Oct 26, 2009 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions

You assume these people can write

I would not make that assumption.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 27, 2009 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions

I always took Jacque Jones at his word that he dealt with racism while a member of the Cub. But what I think has gotten lost in the weeds is the fact that black ballplayers deal with stereotypes and racism in lots of other baseball cities too. I don’t think this is epidemic of the Cubs. Unfortunately, the organization has refused to deal appropriately with the asshole fan quotient at Wrigley that spoils the environment for everyone. Those are the primary culprits in this racism debate.

"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)

by BLou on Oct 26, 2009 8:53 PM CDT reply actions

Minor quibble

I agree with your sentiments, BLou.

But I believe you meant to say “endemic” not “epidemic.” Endemic means a disease localized in a certain region.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Oct 26, 2009 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Why read it?

Why not have some intern open all the mail addressed to team employees (with their permission, of course) and only pass along those that are legitimate, i.e., a fan or kid who just wants an autograph or says something nice. Same for all players, black, white, or other.

Haven’t some teams moved to only accepting screened emails, no snail mail?

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Oct 26, 2009 8:56 PM CDT reply actions

damn those racist mail men

"hey

by jesus christos on Oct 26, 2009 9:44 PM CDT reply actions

It is pathetic that someone would send a racist letter to anyone.

It is also pathetic to blame racism for all of your own problems. That would be you Milton….

by TJ11 on Oct 26, 2009 9:52 PM CDT reply actions

Have you ever faced racist taunts at your workplace?

Bradley never once blamed his poor performance on racism. He did say that it made it harder for him because he faced “hatred” on a daily basis. I would imagine it did even though his numbers at Wrigley were pretty decent. For people to continue to attack Bradley for admitting he didn’t care for the treatment he received is ridiculous. Wood’s latest remarks only reinforce what we’ve heard from Dusty Baker, Jacque Jones, LaTroy Hawkins, Derrek Lee and Milton Bradley.

by Acapulco Taco Pie on Oct 27, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

by Kansas25 on Oct 27, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions

yep

and its a shame it took Wood saying it for some to accept it as truth.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Oct 28, 2009 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions

False premise

I don’t think there is anyone who didn’t accept it as truth before Kerry said something that do now.

by dmlichte on Oct 28, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Prejudice still runs deep in our society, and I didn't doubt MB's claims of being on the receiving end of such bilge.

Nor did I doubt the claims of other African American Cubs ballplayers, who have said the same thing over the years. This problem isn’t systemic to just the Cubs.

I do think organizations have a responsibility to protect their “employees” (to use Mark Prior’s term of endearment) and when fans sitting in the ballpark vocally or even physically step over the line, they should be removed swiftly.

That’s a start. Screening player mail isn’t the answer unless a ballplayer requests it I guess.

No one should have to work in a racially hostile work environment- no matter how much they earn. Playing baseball successfully is hard enough as it is without this kind of crap to put up with.

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 27, 2009 6:36 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I wouldn't say it only happens to Cubs players but why haven't we heard players complain about other fans?

There have been numerous stories about Cubs fans harassing players with racist taunts but we haven’t heard it happening in other ballparks. There is obviously an issue here and the Cubs organization would do well to address it. Before suspending Bradley, Jim Hendry defended the way fans attacked Bradley by saying, “I’m not going to let our great fans become an excuse.” Hendry never once admonished the racist behavior that was exhibited towards Bradley. Hendry should be seen as enabling this abhorrent behavior by the fans when he suspended Bradley for complaining about it.

by Acapulco Taco Pie on Oct 27, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

When I attended all 3 Cubs' games at Comerica Park in Detroit this summer...

I don’t recall hearing a single racially tinged taunt from the crowd towards any Cubs player over the three days.

Now they did get on MB with taunts of “Candyland” (which admittedly, I thought was pretty funny) and “Off the Juice!” (clap- clap, clap-clap-clap) when Sori came up, but honestly, those are the only ones I remember.

Sori did give the fans chanting at him the old: “If looks could kill” stare.

I don’t recall if MB reacted in any way.

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 27, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I would ask if Detroit fans were taunting their own players?

I’m not surprised that Cubs players would hear taunts in other stadiums some of which probably came from so-called Cubs fans. I am more concerned with finding out if the home team’s players are taunted with racial epithets in the way that Cubs players have been. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen but I’ve not heard players complain about it like they have on the north side of Chicago.

by Acapulco Taco Pie on Oct 27, 2009 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions

I did not hear any. There were a few boos when Maggs was announced but not much.

And those disappeared between games one and two when he cut his hair. There were audible gasps when he trotted out to RF. People wondered who this new guy was…

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 28, 2009 6:02 AM CDT up reply actions

It is remarkable

that in this day of age this bullshit still occurs. Unfortunately this will not go away.

by Grockcubs on Oct 27, 2009 8:18 AM CDT reply actions

Isn't it?

The fact that somebody would actually take the time and effort to write racist hate-mail to a baseball player blows my mind. I can’t think of any reason that I would ever consider doing anything of the sort, even if I was a hateful racist.

It’s time for most of the world to grow up.

"This next song... it's about the White Sox. It's called: F*** Em'." - Eddie Vedder

by PacificCub on Oct 27, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

Rec'd.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 27, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

The Cubs largest icon

is Ernie Banks.

Just sayin…

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 28, 2009 12:06 PM CDT reply actions

As I said above...

cheering for a HOFer is hardly a credit to the fanbase.

by Kansas25 on Oct 28, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

About the same as saying...

“I’m not racist because I have black friends.” That doesn’t really mean anything.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Oct 29, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions

dont know

if im in the minority but i miss kerry. a true cub in every way. thanks mr hendry.

by NOMAR on Oct 31, 2009 8:32 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks, Jim,

for letting Wood go so he didn’t suck for the Cubs the way he sucked for the Indians this year. That was one transaction Jim got indisputably right this year.

by Not Bruce Froemming on Nov 1, 2009 1:29 AM CDT up reply actions