Vermont's would-be Jackie Robinson came in '05

Tuskegee University's William Clarence Matthews, whose photo is adapted from a June 1905 image in McClure’s Magazine (courtesy of Karl Lindholm), began playing for Burlington in the Northern League later that summer. (Photo Illustration by Mark Bushnell).

The rumor arose in July 1905: William Clarence Matthews was about to become the first African-American player in Major League Baseball. The news reached Vermont just days after Matthews did.

Matthews, who had just graduated from Harvard (University), had signed to play shortstop for the Burlington team in the Northern League. The rumor, which first appeared in the pages of the Boston Traveler newspaper, was that Fred Tenney, manager of Boston's National League club, was considering adding Matthews to his roster.

If a club was looking for a player to test the unwritten rule that kept blacks out of the major leagues, Matthews was an excellent candidate. Well-educated, well-spoken and well-liked, Matthews seems to have had the temperament and intellect to bear the pressure that would come with being the player to break the "color line." And, as he had proved while leading Harvard, one of the country's best amateur teams, he could hold his own with the best white players.

Today, we know that the rumor never came to fruition. The world would have to wait 42 more years for Jackie Robinson to break the color line. But thank goodness the Traveler printed the rumor, whether or not it had any basis in fact. Otherwise, Matthews might have been lost to the ages.

The notice in the Traveler sparked debate in newspapers around the country. That debate was mentioned briefly in a couple of books about blacks in baseball. When Vermont scholar Karl Lindholm saw those few lines, he suspected there was more to the story. He has been working since to resurrect Matthews from obscurity.

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Karl Lindholm is a Dean of Cook Commons and Assistant Professor of American Studies at Middlebury College. He specializes in the study of baseball, the Negro leagues in particular, and has published widely on baseball topics. He has written about William Clarence Matthews for academic journals and other magazines and is nearing completion of a full-length biography. Most of the details in this column come from Lindholm's research. Lindholm earned his B.A.( English ) from Middlebury (1967) and holds a Ph.D in American Studies (American Literature) from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Grambling State's Jeremy Shelby Signs With Baltimore O's

GRAMBLING, LA --
Jeremy Shelby saw a lifelong dream fulfilled when his name was called by the Baltimore Orioles during the 2010 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. Taken in the 38th round, Jeremy contends that playing in the MLB is a dream shared by his entire family.

The second oldest of six children, Jeremy proudly enters the rank of Shelby's to play in the major league. Jeremy now follows in the footsteps of his father, John "T-Bone" Shelby, Jr., who was drafted in the first round by the Orioles in the 1977 and his brother, John Shelby, III, who was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2006.

To say baseball is in his blood would be an understatement. Jeremy has been around baseball his entire life. By the time Jeremy was five, he and his brothers were out catching fly balls while his dad was coaching in the minor league.

The year after he was born was the year Kirk Gibson hit the walk off homerun for the Dodgers (Los Angeles) in the World Series. His dad was the centerfielder for the Dodgers in that game.

Jeremy, who is now 22, had not originally intended to go to Grambling. Instead, his journey to Tigerland began with a trip to a junior college in Tennessee. In fact, Jeremy was previously drafted in the 46th round by San Diego in 2000, but passed up the offer to attend Columbia State (TN) Junior College where his dad had also played briefly.

Jeremy's trek to Grambling did not happen by chance, but after a lot of encouragement by his teammate, Byron Huff. Byron thought Jeremy's speeding and hitting skills would be better showcased in the Southwestern Athletic Conference which he thought would also improve Jeremy's chances of being drafted.

GSU's 6-4/190 senior Jeremy Shelby

Jeremy says he didn't initially listen to his friend but finally decided to call Coach Barnett Rey (former GSU head coach) who offered him a deal he couldn't pass up. Right then, Jeremy verbally agreed to come to Grambling. He says that was the best decision of his life. Jeremy contends that the support he received from the coaches and the fans helped get him into the league.

The Kentucky (Lexington) native became the first Tiger to go in the MLB draft since current interim head coach James Cooper was taken in the 33rd round as an outfielder by the Houston Astros in 2004.

Named to the 2010 First Team All-SWAC, Jeremy had a career batting average of .314 in 112 games for the Tigers with 114 hits, 89 runs scored and 64 RBI's. He also recorded 19 doubles and 12 homeruns and was 26-of-29 in stolen bases.

Jeremy has followed in his father's footsteps, attending the same junior college, being drafted by the same team, and playing rookie ball at the same field. Now, Jeremy is looking forward to playing on the very same team where his dad is the first base coach.

This is truly a dream come true, not just for Jeremy but also for his dad.

Courtesy: Grambling State Athletics Department

Florida A&M Rattlers' Shaw drafted by MLB Brewers

Florida A&M outfielder Derrick Shaw started his day wondering if showers in the New England area would hold off long enough for him to play his first game with the Holyoke Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The rain didn't let up Wednesday, but by the time word came that the game would be washed out, Shaw still had reason to celebrate: He had been drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers picked Shaw, who played baseball and football at FAMU, in the 41st round. His selection makes him the first FAMU player drafted by a major-league team since the Chicago Cubs signed outfielder Dwaine Bacon in 2001.

"Accomplishment, man," said Shaw, explaining his emotions during a telephone interview. "It's a dream come true." Shaw said he will likely spend the next week playing with Holyoke while the Brewers negotiate his contract. Once that is done, he will likely be sent to join the Brewers' rookie team in Arizona or its A-league affiliate in Helena, Montana.



Derrick Shaw, a 6-0 sophomore infielder/outfielder from Orlando, Florida was a 1,239 selection overall in the draft. He finished the season with 67 hits in 163 at-bats for a .411 batting average, scoring 45 runs, while driving in 36 runs. He had 20 hit for extra bases in 11 doubles, three triples and six homers. Shaw was a two-time First Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection (2009, 2010) and a Louisville Slugger All-American. in 2009. As a freshman, Shaw hit .366 with 9 doubles, 42 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.

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