MLB brought the long-neglected history of the Negro Leagues to the forefront Thursday with its game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. That included appearances from some of baseball's Black legends and a loud reminder of every ugly thing that happened around them.
During an appearance on the Fox Sports pregame show, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson was asked by Alex Rodriguez about his emotions returning to Birmingham, where he played in the minor leagues. Over the next three minutes, Jackson recalled the indignity and outrage of just trying to exist as a Black baseball player in Alabama in 1967.