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Negro Leaguers feted on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON -- The Birmingham Black Barons' outfielder made it to the major leagues, but most of his teammates were left behind.
"My friends made me a great ballplayer," Willie Mayssaid. "Other guys said, 'We're too old. We can't make it. You're young. You can make it."'
Mays did, hitting 660 homers for the New York and San Francisco Giants and being inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was one of the few Negro leaguesstars to make the jump after Jackie Robinsonbroke major league baseball's color barrier in 1947.
On Wednesday, more than 80 Negro leagues players were feted at the Library of Congress as lawmakers prepared to take up a resolution recognizing their contributions to baseball and the nation.
"Today we think nothing to see a black man at the plate hit home run after home run for teams like the Yankees," said Rep. J.C. Watts, the sponsor of the resolution and host of Wednesday's luncheon for the Negro leagues players. "We would not have seen the same player a half century ago. Negro League history is American history."
Players said they were not upset about being denied the chance to play in the majors. They were just happy to have the chance to play baseball.
"I'm not bitter," said Al Burrows, a pitcher and first baseman with the Indianapolis Clowns. "I would have played for nothing. Most of the players loved the game so much, it didn't bother them. You accept it. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't hesitate."
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