THE CRIME OF THE BIG LEAGUES

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Whether it’s in business, science, politics, education or everyday life, we need people with courage.

This is the story of a little known American hero, who did the right things for the right reasons. 

As virtually everyone knows, Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, and broke the color ban in baseball.

But few Americans know Lester Rodney -- the sports editor of the Daily Worker, New York's Communist Party newspaper, who prepared the ground, repeatedly calling the ban "un-American" and "the Crime of the Big Leagues." 

For over ten years, Lester Rodney’s columns put unrelenting pressure on baseball’s establishment.  Who would have thought that a communist writer would become the loudest voice in the fight to desegregate America’s national pastime?  

Eleven years ago, I had the pleasure to interview Lester for 3 hours.  At first he was reticent to go on camera, as he never sought any credit or attention for himself.  But he DID agree, and for 3 hours we taped an interview at AT&T park.  Even at 93 years old, Lester had more energy and clarity than any of us!  An amazing guy…

Although my “day job” is directing videos for tech and healthcare clients, I hoped to develop a feature length documentary about his life. But sadly, all that remained was a trailer for the film that never was, until recently.  

After meeting the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the project finally found a home.

We produced the finished piece with Rough House Editorial.  Sirius Sound, Malcolm Payne Music, the SF Giants and sports legends Vida Blue and Marty Lurie were among those donating their talents. 

With all of the dissention and divide that we all live with, this is a story that needs to be remembered.