Over the past decade I've shared this particular item within my collection numerous times. Considering todays national holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to share it again. This time, though, I finally have some background information.
Featured above is a circa 1948 ink blotter, measuring 3 1/2" x 6 1/4", that was created by an committee appointed by then Cincinnati mayor Albert Cash. Originally, it was a poster project to promote racial and religious understanding.
Furthermore, they elicited the help of Jackie Robinson and Reds outfielder Danny Litwhiler to promote the project. The Mayor along with the head of the local B’nai B’rith, Phil Goldsmith, who owned a sporting goods company that would be known as MacGregor-Goldsmith, had Litwhiler pose with Robinson as they gazed at the poster. You can see that below.
On another note, Litwhiler only recalls one racial incident related to the photo below. Per a biography written in 2006 (Danny Litwhiler: Living the Baseball Dream, p. 134):
The Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee signed the placard. This picture and placard were placed in all the are newspapers and also in many stores and public buildings.
The Dodgers and Reds played the game at night in front of a full house. Fans arrived in busloads from many southern cities. Many of these fans were of African-American descent. There were no arguments in the stands or on the field.
The only negative comment I heard came from my roommate, who was from North Carolina. Looking at me, he remarked, "Nigger lover."
That was the end of our friendship. I just considered the source and continued to play ball. I also continued communicating with the rest of the team, but I requested that the club give me a new roommate on the road.
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