The Biggest Unwritten Rule

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

Baseball has axioms, adages, and some of the most unique unwritten rules that provide a style, flow and tradition like no other sport. While many of the unwritten rules are well known and apply to game strategy, there are rules of thumb that are lesser known and apply to every aspect of the sport.

The nuances and professionalism that some of these unwritten rules provide to baseball far exceed those of other sports. Most are designed, implemented and followed to preserve the integrity and tradition of the game.

There was one unwritten rule, however, that did not fall into the category of preserving and providing what was best for the national past time.

Before Jackie Robinson broke in with the Dodgers in 1947, there were not any African-American players in the Major Leagues. This was not a policy or a directive that was written anywhere. This was baseball's biggest unwritten rule. Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was commissioner of baseball during these years and made sure this unwritten rule was understood.

In 1938, he hosted a delegation of African-American leaders who wanted to be heard regarding bringing players from the Negro Leagues to the Major Leagues. Landis welcomed them to a meeting consisting of the team owners as well and let them have their say.

After the presentation, Landis thanked them and dismissed them from the meeting. Turning to the club owners, he asked what the next order of business was for the league meeting. One owner replied, "Shouldn't we discuss their ideas and proposal first?" Landis answered by stating, "They wanted to be heard and we listened, next item!"

Leo Durocher was manager of the Dodgers and always understood the unwritten rule. He didn't agree with it however and in 1942, went public stating that there was a "grapevine understanding" keeping African-Americans out of the major leagues. Commissioner Landis caught wind of this statement and had Durocher report to his Chicago office. When Durocher emerged from the meeting, he suddenly alleged that he had been misquoted.

Landis stepped forward also and stated, "Negroes are not barred from organized baseball by the commissioner and never have been in the 21 years I have served. There is no rule in organized baseball prohibiting their participation and never has been to my knowledge. If Durocher, or if any other manager, or all of them, want to sign one, or twenty-five Negro players, it is all right with me. That is the business of the managers and the club owners. The business of the commissioner is to interpret the rules of baseball, and to enforce them."


Paul Robeson, an African-American singer and former star athlete led another group in 1943 who voiced a request for "equal rights for Negro players in major league competition." This was at the final session of the annual big league meetings.

Again, Landis listened to them and reiterated that there was not any written rule or law against any African-American joining the big leagues. Landis then declared publicly, "Each club is entirely free to employ Negro players to any and all extent it desires. The matter is solely one for each club's decision without any restriction whatever."

By stating this for the newspapers, Landis threw the weight of the unwritten rule back onto the shoulders of the team owners. He was able to maintain his veiled racism and challenge the owners to take any necessary steps if they wanted to break the color line.

According to reports, many owners had thoughts and had even selected players from the Negro Leagues that they wanted to sign and have play in the Majors. Landis' contract as commissioner was set to expire in 1946 but the owners had already voted him another seven year term. However, in 1944, Landis died and coincidentally, plans were put into place to begin to sign African-American players.

While Landis may be blamed for delaying the integration of the Major Leagues and perpetuating the unwritten rule, he probably could not have prevented Branch Rickey from signing Jackie Robinson.

So just as today, while some of the unwritten rules are being diminished or even ignored, 1947 saw the strongest "grapevine understanding" tossed aside and proven that it was not in the best interest of baseball.

All this because I know more about nothing...