Bill Nelson: “Further, as the Senator correctly pointed out, once Jackie Robinson was able to break into the majors in 1947, it would…”

“Further, as the Senator correctly pointed out, once Jackie Robinson was able to break into the majors in 1947, it would be another 11 years--1958--before the last team in the Major Leagues integrated. Would you believe, for all of that period of time, these great baseball players who have contributed so much had no pensions? Further, it was years later in this Senate--in the last decade--that, finally, the Commissioner of Baseball was brought in front of the Commerce Committee in order to face the music about the fact that the retired players who had not played in Major League Baseball but in the old Negro leagues in America--because they couldn't get into Major League Baseball, even while the rest of the teams were being integrated, which took 11 years--had no pensions. Would you believe that Major League Baseball, through Bud Selig, finally agreed to give them onetime pension payments? This Senator is so grateful because that has helped so many of the residents in my State who are these great players. Senator Blunt has so accurately described their considerable talents on the baseball field.”