Smith, Wendell, 1914-1972

Wendell Smith (1914-1972) was a prominent sportswriter with the Pittsburgh Courier, an African-American newspaper, and Chicago's American. He was one of the leading critics of segregation in major league baseball. He worked through his sports columns and directly with baseball officials to end segregation with the signing of Jackie Robinson by the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1993, he was honored posthumously by the Baseball Writers Association of American with the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for life-time achievement in baseball writing.

From the description of [Wendell Smith papers : c1943-1961]. (National Baseball Hall of Fame). WorldCat record id: 39039841