Photo by: Reds Hall of Fame
Danny Litwhiler's Connection To Jackie Robinson
6/19/2020 5:15:00 PM | Baseball
Legendary Spartan manager welcomed Robinson to Cincinnati when Litwhiler played for Reds.
NOTE: Before he was manager for Michigan State baseball, Danny Litwhiler had an 11-year career in Major League Baseball from 1940 to 1951, including playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1948. The following is an excerpt from an article in the Baseball Almanac from Litwhiler representing the Reds in welcoming Jackie Robinson to Cincinnati in 1948.
Daniel Webster "Danny" Litwhiler may be best remembered as a successful college baseball coach who was later inducted into the American Baseball Coaches' Hall of Fame. But he started his long career as a good-fielding flychaser who played with four National League ball clubs, the Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Braves, and the Cincinnati Reds.
When Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers were coming to Cincinnati for the first series of the 1948 season, Litwhiler, then in his seventh big league season, was called into the office of Warren Giles, president of the Reds.
Born on August 31, 1916, in Ringtown, Pennsylvania, Litwhiler, unlike most major leaguers, was a college graduate. He earned a bachelor's degree in Science and Social Sciences in 1938 from Bloomsburg State Teacher's College.
Remembering the meeting with Giles, Litwhiler explained, "I'm wondering, 'What happened?' You don't get called upstairs unless you're getting traded or sold, or something like that. When I got there, the mayor of Cincinnati and a representative of B'nai B'rith were also there.
"Mr. Giles said, 'You are a college graduate, and I believe you will agree that Jackie Robinson should play major league baseball.'
"I said, 'Yeah, if he can play baseball, that's fine. I wouldn't want to see anyone come in just for reasons of color or race. But if he can play, let him play.'
"Giles said, 'We thought you'd feel that way. We want you to pose for a picture with Jackie, who's coming a day early. That will let people know the Cincinnati Reds welcome him.'
"I agreed to have the picture taken, and the photo ran in the papers the day before the first Dodger game. We got to be friends after that.
"Years later, in 1967, Jackie came to Michigan State to speak, and I had him sign the photo. I have a copy in my den, and the original is at my alma mater, Bloomsburg University."
The photo shows Litwhiler and Robinson smiling and looking at a poster sponsored by the Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee. The poster shows several white boys and one black youth, with the batter saying, "What's his race got to do with it? Can he can pitch?"
Given his Pennsylvania Dutch upbringing, his basic sense of fairness, and his educational background, Litwhiler, who admitted taking "a lot of flack from a few of the players over the picture," had no qualms about his friendship with Robinson.
A very committed individual, Danny gave the game everything he had every day. As a result, he overcame many injuries and hustled his way to a fine 11½-year career in the majors. The 5'10" 190-pounder, a hard-swinging right-handed batter, averaged .281 lifetime with 107 home runs and 451 RBI.
For complete article, click HERE.
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Daniel Webster "Danny" Litwhiler may be best remembered as a successful college baseball coach who was later inducted into the American Baseball Coaches' Hall of Fame. But he started his long career as a good-fielding flychaser who played with four National League ball clubs, the Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Braves, and the Cincinnati Reds.
When Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers were coming to Cincinnati for the first series of the 1948 season, Litwhiler, then in his seventh big league season, was called into the office of Warren Giles, president of the Reds.
Born on August 31, 1916, in Ringtown, Pennsylvania, Litwhiler, unlike most major leaguers, was a college graduate. He earned a bachelor's degree in Science and Social Sciences in 1938 from Bloomsburg State Teacher's College.
Remembering the meeting with Giles, Litwhiler explained, "I'm wondering, 'What happened?' You don't get called upstairs unless you're getting traded or sold, or something like that. When I got there, the mayor of Cincinnati and a representative of B'nai B'rith were also there.
"Mr. Giles said, 'You are a college graduate, and I believe you will agree that Jackie Robinson should play major league baseball.'
"I said, 'Yeah, if he can play baseball, that's fine. I wouldn't want to see anyone come in just for reasons of color or race. But if he can play, let him play.'
"Giles said, 'We thought you'd feel that way. We want you to pose for a picture with Jackie, who's coming a day early. That will let people know the Cincinnati Reds welcome him.'
"I agreed to have the picture taken, and the photo ran in the papers the day before the first Dodger game. We got to be friends after that.
"Years later, in 1967, Jackie came to Michigan State to speak, and I had him sign the photo. I have a copy in my den, and the original is at my alma mater, Bloomsburg University."
The photo shows Litwhiler and Robinson smiling and looking at a poster sponsored by the Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee. The poster shows several white boys and one black youth, with the batter saying, "What's his race got to do with it? Can he can pitch?"
Given his Pennsylvania Dutch upbringing, his basic sense of fairness, and his educational background, Litwhiler, who admitted taking "a lot of flack from a few of the players over the picture," had no qualms about his friendship with Robinson.
A very committed individual, Danny gave the game everything he had every day. As a result, he overcame many injuries and hustled his way to a fine 11½-year career in the majors. The 5'10" 190-pounder, a hard-swinging right-handed batter, averaged .281 lifetime with 107 home runs and 451 RBI.
For complete article, click HERE.
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