Bill Mardo: Bud Selig, Politicians Continue to Dismiss Writer's Monumental Achievement

Bill Mardo served as sports editor for "The Daily Worker" 

"Communist" Label Could Be Key Reason MLB and Politicians Won't Bestow National Honors

"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence of due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into the age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men -- not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular." - Edward R. Murrow

On January 29th, 2012, I attended a private memorial service for legendary sportswriter and civil rights icon Bill Mardo. Many of Mardo's closest family members and friends were on hand to reflect on the life of a man that helped change major league baseball and the state of race relations in America. Details of Mardo's phenomenal contributions are available here:  Bill Mardo - New York Times Obit

There were a total of 70 to 80 people that came to pay their respects, including celebrated historian and writer Joseph Dorinson, who co-edited Paul Robeson: Essays on his Life and Legacy (McFarland & Company, Inc., 2002) and Jackie Robinson: Race, Sports and the American Dream (M.E. Sharpe, 1998). Dorinson eloquently shared his fondest memories of Mardo and noted that the sportswriter often came under vicious attack for publishing his views on inequality, poverty and race in America, which was something a white man wasn't supposed to do on a sports page. However, Mardo wasn't your average sportswriter and "The Daily Worker" wasn't your average New York City newspaper. 

During the tribute, I made efforts to suppress my anger. I was angry because I felt that an entire nation should've also been mourning the loss of Mardo, especially every Black man and woman in the country. Moreover, Mardo's tribute served as a powerful reminder of what Blacks and Jews could accomplish if they worked together toward a common goal: unity. This was validated during the tumultuous civil rights struggle of the 60's, but Bill Mardo, who spent a short stint as a boxer during his teenage years, had laced up his gloves of righteousness long before Rosa Parks or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. started the movement. 

I recently watched in amazement as the majority of people in this country and the world mourned the loss of two people that brought hope, joy and pride to Black America: Don Cornelius and Whitney Houston. Common people, politicians and preachers offered praise, and the world's greatest entertainers came together in unprecedented numbers to honor the contributions of "The Conductor" and "America's songbird". Alas, there was no national celebration or mourning for Mardo, a man who bonded with Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson to address many of society's economic and racial ills and relentlessly pushed major league baseball to integrate. 

According to one of Mardo's closest family members who spoke at the memorial, "Many aren't aware of this, including members of his own family, but Bill was called to testify before a senate committee because he was a member of the Communist Party and often spoke out against economic and racial injustice. They put this man, and many others that fought for the rights of people in this country, through absolute hell. Bill always stood by his convictions. How many of us would be able to stand before a senate committee and say 'F*ck you!'?" 

Another family member noted, "Bill deserves a national honor of some type, but, unfortunately, a lot of powerful people and people that served or now serve in the U.S. Senate and Congress have long memories. They still have disdain for those that were considered Communists back in the day. The reality is that if you weren't considered a Communist, prior to the horrific revelations involving Stalin, people thought there was something wrong with you. It's really, really sad because Bill sacrificed so much and helped change the country in the process." 

I've repeatedly stated, personally and through this news and information site, that everyone from President Obama to professional athletes should do something to honor Bill Mardo. In my quest to share Mardo's remarkable story, I've contacted the Executive Office of the President of the United States, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, the New York State Conference of Black Senators, representatives for Governor Andrew Cuomo, representatives for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Clint Eastwood's production company -- in the hope Eastwood would do a documentary on Mardo -- the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and the office of Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball. I also emailed them "The Mighty Mardo", my tribute article to the civil rights icon. Inexplicably, no one has responded.

Based on the lack of response, Mardo's relative has been proven right. Apparently, some very powerful people -- in and out of government -- have very long memories and refuse to acknowledge the phenomenal achievement of Bill Mardo because they worry about being associated with, or being viewed as supportive of, "Communist doctrine". There is no other explanation for this unconscionable treatment, and Black America, as well as Americans of all races, should be as saddened as they were when Don Cornelius and Whitney Houston were laid to rest. 

This commentary is from the heart and....From The G-Man. 

Photo courtesy of Ruth Ost.