Equal Opportunity in Sports

      On September 26, 1959, rookie Drew "Buddy" Gilbert played right field for a Cincinnati Redlegs team that included future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and all-stars Vada Pinson, Gus Bell, and Johnny Temple. Gilbert drove a pitch from Pittsburgh Pirates hurler Jim Umbricht into the outfield stands for his first home run in the big leagues. When Gilbert returned to the Reds' dugout, manager Fred Hutchinson approached him. "Gilbert," Hutchinson yelled, "you ran those bases so fast that the cameras couldn't keep up with you!" The next day, playing in the Redlegs' final game of the season, Gilbert again hit a home run. Just as quickly, the promise faded. Gilbert played two more years of baseball, with Triple-A Seattle in 1960 and Double-A Nashville in 1961, but the major leagues never again beckoned.

      Buddy Gilbert made his contributions to baseball in other ways. In the mid-1950s, he was the center fielder for the Cincinnati farm team in Savannah, Georgia. Gilbert was an above-average ballplayer. He hit with power. He consistently compiled a batting average of .280 or better. He was a prospect. He was not, however, the team's best prospect. That distinction belonged to Curt Flood, an African-American who played third base.