Cardinal Style
I got this anecdote from Bob Gibson in a book titled Baseball Under Siege: The Yankees, the Cardinals, and a Doctor’s Battle to Integrate Spring Training by Adam Henig, 2016. This occurred in spring training in St. Petersburg, Fl., either in 1959 or ’60. The negro players were segregated from their white Cardinal teammates for housing accommodations and lived in the Negro section of town after leaving practice. Most were housed in the Swain Apartments. Gibson’s roommate was Dick Ricketts who figures in this story. One of their evening activities was playing basketball. One evening as they were playing around, they were challenged by some faculty members of the negro Gibbs Junior College to a game. As Gibson pointed out, it was no challenge to the Cardinal players.
The lineup:
Center – Dick Ricketts – 6’7”: Ricketts, a pitcher, was a three-time All-American basketball player at Duquesne. While there he and his brother Dave were members of the ’55 NIT championship team. Dick left as Duquesne’s all-time leading scorer with 1,963 points as well as the all-time leader in rebounds with 1,359. He holds both of those records to this day. He was the #1 overall pick in the 1955 NBA draft by the St. Louis Hawks. Baseball was his first love, so he only spent three seasons in the NBA. He averaged 26 minutes, 9.3 points and 5 rebounds per game for his career.
Forward – Bill White – 6’ 1”: According to White, in high school he was third string in football and baseball. In basketball he was the 10th man on a ten man squad. He only played baseball and studied pre-med in high school. According to Gibson, White was the muscle that their playground team needed.
Forward – George Crowe – 6’ 2”: In 1939 George Crowe was selected as the state of Indiana’s first Mr. Basketball after becoming the first African-American to play basketball at Franklin High School (alma mater of John Wooden). Crowe was a four-year varsity starter in basketball at Indiana Central College (now U. of Indianapolis) including the undefeated ’41 – 42 season. After military service in WWII, Crowe signed on with the Los Angeles Red Devils negro travelling basketball team where he played forward opposite Jackie Robinson. He later signed on to play with the New York Rens, a famous travelling negro squad dating back to the 20’s. They became the first all negro team to play in Madison Square Garden in 1948. Crowe scored 19 points.
Guard – Bob Gibson – 6’ 0”: Gibson was an excellent basketball player both at Creighton and in four months with the Harlem Globetrotters before turning to baseball full time. He was the first African American to receive a basketball scholarship to play at Creighton. He left as Creighton’s leader in scoring average at 20.2 and his 1,232 points were good for 3rd all-time when he left. His number, 45, (same as his baseball number) was retired. He played so well in one quarter for the Globetrotters opponent, the ‘Trotters signed him to a contract. The Cardinals soon made it worth his while to give up the basketball.
Guard – Dave Ricketts – 6’ 0”: The younger brother of Dick, Dave also was a standout basketball player at Duquesne. His sophomore year was as a member of the ’55 NIT champs. His senior year he averaged 17.9 points and 5 rebounds. That season he set an NCAA record for making 42 consecutive free throws.
Coach – This squad didn’t need a coach. If they did, George Crowe could’ve called up older brother Ray. Ray Crowe also played four years of basketball at Indiana Central College. He became the head coach at the negro Indianapolis Crispus Attucks High School from ’50 – 57. His ’51 squad made the final four in the state basketball tournament which featured three future Harlem Globetrotters: Hallie Bryant, Willie Gardner and Bailey Robertson. His ’54 squad loses to eventual miracle state champs Milan in the quarterfinals. The team came back to take the ’55 and ’56 state championships with Bailey Robertson’s younger brother Oscar along with future Purdue All-American Willie Merriweather. Ray Crowe plays a role as the South Bend Central coach in the championship game in the movie Hoosiers based on the ’54 Milan miracle.
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