071721 … R STATUE 2 … Youngstown … 7/17/21 … The Robinson Shuba statue is unveiled … Jan Strasfeld, retired President of the Youngstown Foundation, left, and Sally Bany, Marie Lam von the Charitable Foundation chair, right, unveils the Robinson Shuba statue during the dedication ceremony on Saturday morning in Wean Park in downtown Youngstown … by R. Michael Semple
YOUNGSTOWN – The newly unveiled Robinson Shuba memorial statue depicts the two iconic baseball players frozen in a moment of historical significance, though their underlying meaning, symbolism, and message must evolve and last, many say.
“It is important to use the statue as a place of reconciliation, social justice and collaboration, and to learn more about Jackie Robinson.” Penny Wells, Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past Executive Director, said. “One person bravely stood up and showed what we all have to do.”
Wells spoke after the unveiling of the highly anticipated 2,000-pound bronze statue in downtown Wean Park, which was attended by hundreds. The monument is also a symbol of the importance of racial harmony and equality.
The event was streamed live so that there appeared to be no national media representatives on site. It also kicked off the 23rd annual Youngstown State University Summer Festival of the Arts in the park.
The statue, thematically “A handshake for the century” Captures the moment after Robinson hit his first home run for the Montreal Royals, a triple-A daughter of the Brooklyn Dodgers, on April 18, 1946 outside Jersey City (NJ) – a three-run explosion over the left field wall. Giants pitcher Warren Sandel. The two men who also met did not wait for Robinson at the homeplate.
However, when he met, Robinson’s white teammate became George “Shotgun” Shuba, who was on deck, reached out a hand to congratulate him and shake him in what marked the first interracial handshake in modern organized baseball.
“When I crossed home plate, George Shuba was waiting for me. “That’s how you hit the ball, Jackie. This is the old ball game. ‘ He shook my hand “ Robinson wrote in his 1948 autobiography: “Jackie Robinson: My Own Story.”
Robinson led the International League that year with a .349 batting average and scored 113 runs for the team that won the playoffs and the minor league version of the World Series.
Robinson’s courage in the face of constant denigration and ridicule, threats and nicknames from teammates and opposing players, fans and even some sports journalists was also absorbed by the nine black students who incorporated the all-white Central High School in Little Rock in September 1957, Ark. , and endured constant harassment, ridicule, threats, and physical violence for most or all of the school year, Wells noted.
“The Little Rock Nine were told to be like Jackie Robinson and take him as a role model. They couldn’t fight or speak out, and they had to be non-violent. “ Wells explains. “Six weeks later, Jackie Robinson called seven of the nine and said to them, ‘You are great people who had a harder time than me. At least I had a manager; you had nobody I will support you in this. ‘”
“Jackie Robinson opened up opportunities, not just on the ball field, but also in the factories and boardrooms.” Marc R. Mellon from Connecticut, the sculptor on the project, was watching.
Mellon, who a. called “National civil rights activist” noted that Robinson’s mission was to use his success to create more opportunities for people of color. Robinson’s example needs to be emulated today as overt racism persists, Mellon said.
“There is no place for it when we go forward” he added.
After seeing a feature story about the statue “CBS Sunday morning”, Sally Bany of Wilsonville, Oregon realized that it was in Youngstown where her late father, Neal Boyle, grew up. That sparked Bany, co-founder of the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, to donate $ 175,000 to the project.
“These stories have to be told all the time so that we don’t repeat the story.” said Bany, whose grandparents opened a sportswear store. “You have to teach every generation to be friendly to one another. We are all human. “
For Shuba, the groundbreaking moment that changed Major League Baseball 75 years ago was neither an opportunity to step into the limelight nor to promote himself. Instead, he thinks the gesture is only right and natural, said Herb Washington, co-chair of the statue project committee.
“Seventy-five years later, equality is still evasive” Washington watched, adding that he hoped the statue and the surrounding site will be a focal point for the discussion on racial equality and inclusion.
Shuba’s son, Mike Shuba of Austintown, told collectors that his father’s legacy left an indelible mark on his life. Fighting back tears, the younger Shuba said to his father “I’ve taught myself that when you’re there, you just do the right thing and everything will be fine.”
George Shuba, who attended Chaney High School, played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1948 to 1955 and in two World Series, including 1955, which the team won. He got the nickname “Shotgun” [1945forhisabilitytospraylinedrivesoverallpartsofthefield[1945fürseineFähigkeitLinienantriebeüberalleTeiledesFeldeszuspritzen
After his baseball career, Shuba worked for the US Postal Service for many years before passing away in 2014 at the age of 89.
Mike Shuba continues to travel the country handing out handshake posters to children promoting the importance of equality, tolerance and kindness.
“Please remember, we are all teammates in life. We are all on the same team “, he said.
City councilor Julius Oliver, D-1, disagreed with this feeling. District that accepted the gift on behalf of the city.
Also during the ceremony, Mayor Jamael Tito Brown presented Beny with a key to the city and a proclamation to thank her foundation for the donation.
“You have adjusted to your heart and listened” said the mayor.
Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel urged attendees to build “A living memory of past successes” in the city and refrain from whining about what is lost. It’s important to establish a legacy of the region’s achievements and learn what it takes to develop a championship team, Tressel said.
Additional remarks about the deep symbolism of the statue, including respect for all people, were made by Committee Co-Chairs Ernie Brown and Eric Planey of New Hamburg, NY, formerly Youngstown, who worked with Oliver and Louis A. Zona, the Butler Institute of., advised managing directors of American Art.
“Shuba is one of the best examples of what a teammate is.” said Planey.
The event also featured music by Chuck Brodsky of Asheville, NC, who sang a song he wrote entitled “The handshake.”
Latest news and more in your inbox
