Author Archives: Tim Lacy

(UPDATED 1:43p 4/27/14) I have had a minute to think about sharing more of my precious memories with Sam Lacy, or returning to the “He Made a Difference” series. Since my boss hasn’t called me to say, “Enough!” I decided to share one more installment of our time together. Maybe we can return to my […]

Last week I took a break from “Sam Lacy: He Made a Difference” to share some stories from my childhood. Some are tales shared by my dad, and others are stories I lived while walking in his shadow. It seems like yesterday, with Pop spinning yarns and hitting ground balls for me to catch with […]

I decided to take a break from the “Sam Lacy – He Made a Difference” series this week to share some events and some stories I have been privy to living with my Pop. When I was a kid, we lived in a nice neighborhood with a gas station on the corner. I mention the […]

When we parted last, I shared an experience Pop had with a Southern, big hat-wearing sheriff. We were on our way to watch Althea Gibson—the Serena Williams of the time—when we were stopped for speeding. Pop had borrowed Dan Bankhead, the first Black pitcher in Major League Baseball’s car, and when he produced the registration, […]

I received a call a few days ago, and was reminded that Black History Month had come and was about to go and I hadn’t bothered to share my views on a few issues. My thoughts turned to the saga of Sam Lacy and I was satisfied that contributions to Black History were being made […]

In my last effort, I left a little intrigue on the table. We addressed one of Sam’s trips to the South to work at his trade. The Dodgers had signed five more colored players, bringing the total to six. This left him as the odd man out. For this reason he had to find lodging […]

The following is a result of more than a few minutes of soul searching. I am plagued with a few issues relative to the Super Bowl that I would like to weigh in on. However I have been reminded that everybody with a computer or typewriter has voiced an opinion or weighed in on the […]

During this period, Pop had reached elite status among colored newspapermen. He had coached basketball on a few different levels, and when the call came for a referee for Central Interscholastic Athletic Association (CIAA) games, he was on the short list. When he went to Richmond to referee a game at Virginia Union, I was […]

Although I have spotlighted the early years of Sam Lacy, I find that the experiences I shared alongside my dad helped weave this tapestry. It was during this period Pop took on the chore of introducing me to sports. In my childhood, the only learning experiences we were privy to were what we learned on […]

My trips to Florida for spring training and trips to other events requiring air or train travel gave me a sense of independence because Pop was usually on site and I was joining him there. To say I was gaining a sense of independence is a sort of understatement. The correct way of putting my […]

My adventure with Dan Bankhead and the chicken on the spit was out of this world for a ten-year-old kid, but I was soon to learn that this was just the tip of the iceberg. The Dodgers had a utility player named Rocky Bridges. Rocky didn’t get as much time on the field as the […]

I have some fond memories of my childhood. Pop’s attitude towards me made me realize that he was not just my father, but my friend. We shared many adventures together. Segregation in America was in full swing and athletes were no exception to the rule. For this reason quite a few ballplayers visiting Washington stayed […]