Campanis Says He Apologizes for Comments : Aaron and Dodger Players Are Among Those Angered

Al Campanis, the Dodgers’ vice president of player personnel, and owner Peter O’Malley released a joint statement Tuesday night, apologizing for Campanis’ comments during a nationally televised interview Monday night in which he said that blacks lack the “necessities” to be managers and front-office executives.

The apologies came in response to strong criticism by black leaders in the Los Angeles area and several of the Dodgers’ black players. Campanis’ remarks came on ABC’s “Nightline” program taped after Monday night’s season opener here.

O’Malley made no comment other than his statement. But asked through team spokesman Steve Brener whether the job of the 70-year-old Campanis was in jeopardy, O’Malley’s response was: “Absolutely not.”

Perhaps the strongest criticism of Campanis was made by Henry Aaron, baseball’s all-time home run leader and the highest-ranking black executive in baseball. Aaron said Tuesday that Campanis’ remarks are typical of the “backward” thinking among the owners and management.

“I was shocked, and I think Mr. Campanis needs to apologize to every single black person in America for making comments like that,” Aaron said. “All that shows is how ignorant the man is.”

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley told reporters Tuesday that he “does not accept” Campanis’ beliefs. Assemblywoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and one Los Angeles-area chapter of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People has called for the Dodgers to disassociate themselves from Campanis. And several of the Dodgers’ black players expressed shock and resentment.

Campanis’ statement, in part, read:

“My statements have been construed as indicating a belief that blacks lack the ability to hold such positions. I hold no such beliefs. However, I, and only I, am responsible for my statements.

“Therefore, I apologize to the American people, and particularly to all black Americans, for my statements and for my inability under the circumstances to express accurately my beliefs. . . .

“In my work and in my personal life, I have never distinguished a person by reason of his color, but only by reason of his abilities. For this reason, I feel that this is the saddest moment of my entire career.”

O’Malley’s statement expressed his apologies for the entire organization. It read, in part:

” . . . As far as the Dodgers and I are concerned, black Americans are just as capable and dedicated as any other Americans, and therefore equally as qualified to hold positions of responsibility, whether in baseball or any other field. All of us in baseball must do everything possible to hasten the day when all minorities are better represented in key management positions.”

Campanis has been the Dodgers’ vice president of player personnel for the last 19 years and has been with the organization in some capacity since 1943. Campanis played alongside Jackie Robinson in 1946 when Robinson broke into organized baseball as a member of the Montreal Royals, a Dodger farm team.

Most of the Dodgers’ black players said they were shocked and disappointed after learning of Campanis’ remarks. They all said, however, that the incident would not affect their play on the field.

Veteran third baseman Bill Madlock, who said he inferred from reading Campanis’ remarks that Campanis believes that blacks lack intelligence, had perhaps the strongest reaction of any Dodger.

“I wouldn’t want to play for anybody who thinks I’m stupid,” Madlock said. “It’s like they are saying to me, ‘You’re stupid enough to play for me, but you’re too stupid to manage or be in the front office. I’m talking in general terms, but that seems to me what he meant by lacking the necessities. I want to know what those necessities are that we lack.

“To give the guy the benefit of the doubt, it was a poor choice of words. I didn’t think anyone in their right mind would say that. I’m hoping he got mixed up on his words. Who knows? Maybe he doesn’t remember what he said. He’s 70. It’s hard talking to those TV (reporters).”

Madlock, who has expressed the desire to be a manager or general manager when his playing career is over, said he wants to meet with Campanis.

“(Campanis) said what he believed,” Madlock said. “What are (the Dodgers) going to do, bring in a black GM because he said that?

“Black kids will listen to that on TV and what are they going to think? This extends beyond baseball. This is life.”

Outfielder Ken Landreaux said: “It doesn’t surprise me. Prejudice is alive and well, and there’s nothing you can do about it. At some points in my career, I’ve felt prejudice in baseball.”

Asked about whether he felt the Dodgers were prejudiced, Landreaux said: “I’d rather not talk about (how) it is here.”

Ken Howell, Dodger relief pitcher and the team’s assistant player representative, said Campanis’ televised comments could have a long-term effect on the club.

“I think a statement like that is really strong and bad because now if things come down on the black players on the team, they are going to take it like it is prejudice,” Howell said.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda defended Campanis and his reputation in baseball circles.

“I’ve known Al Campanis for 30 years and I can honestly say that the man has no prejudiced bones in his body,” Lasorda said. “If Al Campanis said anything that is derogatory, I know he didn’t mean it.

“(Campanis) feels awful bad. Here’s a guy who has built a tremendous reputation in the game. When he judges ballplayers, he doesn’t judge color.”

Aaron, vice president of the Atlanta Braves, also criticized the Dodgers for not doing enough to improve the conditions of blacks in the front office.

“If you look at the Dodgers’ history, all they did was give Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella a chance to play,” Aaron said. “They’ve done absolutely nothing else to help blacks move into the front office. Sure, they’ve got a couple of guys who work in community relations and go around and give speeches. But the club has cut it off there.

“Those comments are very sad, especially coming from an organization that every black person in this country holds in high esteem because they broke the color barrier. (But) the Dodgers have done nothing to improve conditions since Jackie Robinson.”

Early Tuesday, before the club released a statement, O’Malley talked about the Dodgers’ commitment to equality in the organization.

“I’m very proud of the advancement blacks in our organization,” O’Malley said. “We have a scout (Bob Darwin) who is black, and three blacks in our community relations department (Don Newcombe, Lou Johnson and Campanella). In recent years, we had (now deceased) Jim Gilliam as a coach and we have Tommy Davis as a batting instructor. Again, I’m proud of the opportunities blacks have in our organization.”

Campanis taped the interview live from the Houston Astrodome after the Dodgers’ opening-game loss to the Astros. Roger Kahn, author of several books on baseball and the Brooklyn Dodgers, was the other guest questioned by “Nightline” anchorman Ted Koppel.

Campanis said that black players who want to be managers or executives have to pay their dues in the minors, adding that “they may not have some of the necessities to be a field manager or general manager.”

He also said, “How many (black) quarterbacks are there? How many pitchers?”

At one point, Campanis said: “Why aren’t blacks good swimmers? They don’t have buoyancy.”

Campanis was not scheduled to be the guest on “Nightline.” Koppel said that Newcombe had been scheduled to appear, but he had to cancel. Campanis was then asked to fill in. Newcombe was giving a speech in Stockton, Calif., Tuesday and could not be reached.

Currently, there are no black managers, general managers or owners in the major leagues. Larry Doby, Frank Robinson and Maury Wills have been the only black managers in baseball history. For a brief time, Aaron was Atlanta’s general manager.

“This is the feeling throughout baseball,” Aaron said. “You’d have to say this is feeling from all the owners. Mr. Campanis has been in that position a long time. As long as you have men like that in those positions, it will be like this. I said this a long time ago. This just proves my point.”

Madlock and Aaron said they especially took exception to Campanis’ references to blacks having to “pay their dues” and to Campanis’ remark about swimming.

“Blacks can’t swim--what does that have to do with baseball?” Aaron asked. “That is incredible he said that.”

Added Madlock: “When they say we have to pay our dues in the minors, that’s a big beef with me. It’s like the blacks are the only ones who have to. Pete (Rose, Cincinnati’s manager) didn’t. Larry Bowa (San Diego’s new manager) didn’t very long.

“I’d like them to tell me who were the guys who turned down their offers to pay the dues.”