The Trophy Cage
- The Trophy Cage
Somewhere in a dark dusty corner of a decaying building,Stands a tall mahogany veneered trophy case surrounding with glass,Trimmed in gold with a story to be told.
Behind the glass roadblock are rows of bronze trophies Meekly echoing the triumphs of black baseball exploits, Their cups overfloweth with tears of neglect, One by one they vainly beckon to share their glorious past with the masses.
Quarantined from baseball’s mainstream, They are outlawed into the cage, Meanwhile, their metal bodies precariously vibrate, To emit a siren welcome, only to be ignored by those who pass.
Over time, once a glitter of achievement,The trophies became tarnished with neglect.Their brass bodies pitted from daggers of racism,While off-color remarks smudge their once shining exterior.
Trophy after trophy, dusty with untold stories, That once gleamed with excitement, Are now quietly spirited away, one by one.
While they are only a shadowy remembrance of a once bright life, The remaining cups thirst for visitors, As they plead to surrender their countless stories. [End Page 3]
From dawn to dusk, they stand tall,Reaching skyward for acceptance,Absorbing the elements from a blind society,Never to see the light of recognition.
Unable to penetrate the glass barrier, The trophy cups become empty with ambition, One by one, unpredictably, They crumble before their next confession.
Their achievements are visible, yet unseen behind the glass façade, As they are never touched with accolades from the baseball gods.
Who has the keys to this dark dungeon?Who will discover these caged trophies?And expose their unheralded glory?Or will they live in an immortal Eden? [End Page 4]
larry lester is chairman of SABR’s Negro Leagues Research Committee and author/editor of several books on Black baseball history and a contributing researcher to more than 200 books on sports history. More information about Lester can be found at: www.LarryLester42.com.
