When I was a kid, here in the Big Apple, my dad who was an only child and son of a German butcher who worked and lived in the meat cutting Chelsea district here in town, was a Yankee fan. Lou G. went to Columbia. My Dad, also named Lou, also went to Columbia. Everybody knows, or used to at least, that Elston Howard, a wonderful man, was the first African American to play for the Yankees. When I was a kid in Little League at an "end of the season" dinner, Elston came to speak and present the door prize. We all received a numbered ticket as we entered. Toward the end of the evening a number was drawn. (I was always lucky with this kind of stuff back then). I won and got myself up out of my chair, and as a ten year old, walked up and shook hands with Elston, Mr. Howard, I should say. He gave me a big soft warm smile and handed me a boxed dart board all the while devouring my outstretched hand in his gigantic clawlike right hand. I will never forget that handshake.
I have all kinds of ancient gloves from way before Elston. Still,when I was getting this enterprise underway, I felt compelled, at the same time, to get an example of every Topps & Bowman Elston Howard card ever made and one of those beautiful HOH Elston Howard Gloves to boot.
By the time that Elston Howard was finally setting up behind home plate for the Yanks, the trailblazing had pretty much been accomplished. Still, I agree. As each MLB team took part in this new way of being, we all were given a chance to witness baseball being played at a more fascinating level.