Fun and Games

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. Its been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But, baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again.
        -- Terrance Mann (James Earl Jones)
            Field of Dreams

Matt Goyak wanted to be a professional baseball player but World War II intervened. He had been in position for a role with the Pittsburgh Pirates but ended up onboard a navy ship – where baseball was not among the list of recreational activities.

“Bobby Feller (future hall of fame pitcher) was on my ship and I did get to catch him a few times,” Goyak recalled. “Imagine trying to catch baseballs thrown on the deck of a shop rising and falling on the ocean.”

The only game Goyak got to play during his time in the service was on an island.

“We needed Marine guards in the out-of-bounds areas in case we were attacked,” he joked.

Though the Pirates offered him an opportunity to play in the minors after his return from service, Goyak realized his chances for making it in the majors was slim. He returned to Pittsburgh and gave alternate careers a try, including a week working in a steel mill.

“My brother got me the job and, after a few days, I asked him when payday was,” said Goyak. “He told me ‘Friday,” and I said, ‘O.K. Friday’s my last day.’”
He finally found a home in Georgetown, South Carolina where he spent 38 years as a recreation director.

Half a century ago, Goyak was caught up in events that reflect the times – and illustrate how much they’ve changed. In 1955 an all-black baseball team qualified for a playoff berth that could have led to participation in the Little League World Series.

As was happening throughout the South (and in the North) children became pawns in the struggle to integrate schools and other institutions – including youth baseball in South Carolina.

Goyak withdrew his all-white team from the tourney, leaving the black kids with no path to the championship.

He became a founder of the Dixie Youth Baseball program, which was formed to facilitate racial discrimination but now conducts leagues in 11 states.

Though that initial act reflected the racist values of the times, Goyak is proud of the growth of the league. For years, youth of all races have been welcome. The league points with pride to black players like football’s Bo Jackson and basketball superstar Michael Jordan who were part of the Dixie League.

On the other hand, the Confederate battle flag continued to fly over Dixie League fields until 1994.

I believe I had a meeting of the minds with Matt Goyak. I don’t know what kind of guy he was 52 years ago when he participated in an act that robbed both black and white kids of the chance to compete with each other – the winner going on toward the international Little League World Series; but the kind of guy he seems to me to be today is my kind of guy.

Goyak spent 38 years in the public recreation arena. Based on our discussion, he did plenty of good during those years – he seems to have affected a lot of people for the better, of all ages and all other categories we use to separate folks.

He was active in the leisure services profession, serving as president of the South Carolina Parks and Recreation Association and participating in many workshops and seminars that led to formation of new community recreation programs throughout the region.

It would be easy to judge Goyak for a single action; but who among us would stand up to such a standard? While it’s hard to miss the fact that many of the housekeeping and food services workers at the facilities I’ve visited in the South are black, it’s also worth noting that there are more minorities among the residents. This anecdotal information doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it’s clear that we’re not in 1955 anymore.

Neither Washington, Jefferson nor even the Great Emancipator, Lincoln, bears scrutiny when past statements are scrutinized under modern microscopes. What we now refer to as political correctness may be particularly unfair when applied retroactively.

So I’m willing to give Goyak the benefit of the doubt and credit him for his years of public service and for being the fellow he appears to be today.

A member of the team that was denied the opportunity to participate in Little League post-season play is philosophical about the event and says he bears no grudge against his would-be opponents.

Leroy Mitchel was a pitcher and center fielder for the all-black team. He spoke to the Associated Press on the 50th anniversary of the forfeited game:

"We don't have any animosity toward them," he said. "It was an adult thing, not a kid thing. We all just wanted to play ball."