Bob Gibson's Home in Bellevue

 Bob Gibson was one of the greatest baseball players ever.  He was a teo-time Cy Young Award winner, Two-tim World Series champion and the baseball MVP one year.  He is in the Hall of Fame.  He grew up in South Omaha.  After he retired from baseball he lived in Bellevue Nebraska.  He passed away in 2020.  His home recently changed owners and there are still pictures on line.

I snapped a couple upon driving past.

Book Review: 24th and Glory: The Intersection Between Civil Rights and Omaha's Greatest Generation of Athletes

24th and Glory: The Intersection Between Civil Rights and Omaha's Greatest Generation of Athletes by Dirk Chatelain, History Nebraska partnered with Omaha World Herald, Omaha Nebraska, 2019.

This book is a great read and it partners two topics I love, civil rights and sports.  It is incredible that so many premier athletes came from the same neighborhood.  This book mentions seven, but talks about many more.  These seven were all mentioned by the Omaha World Herald as part of the top 100 athletes from Omaha, 1. Bob Gibson, 2. Gale Sayers, 4 Bob Boozer, 5. Johnny Rodgers, 17. Marlin Briscoe, 26. Ron Boone, 36. Roger Sayers.  These athletes participated in multiple sports in high school.  Three made their names in football, two in basket ball, one in baseball and one in track and field.  Two were brothers who played football together, but the younger brother became and elite running back.  

Most were influenced by Josh Gibson, the older brother of Bob Gibson.  Josh was not allowed to coach at a public schools because of his race, so he turned to youth recreational sports where he excelled at creating athletes.  

Six of the seven athletes in the book were from the North Omaha, Logan Fontenelle housing area.  They attended either Central or Tech high schools.  One grew up in the housing project in South Omaha and attended South Omaha High School.  

But this book is more than a story of athletes.  It weaves in the story of segregation and civil rights.  Many in the African Community found their way to Omaha to work in the meat packing industry which was a trolley care ride away from North Omaha.  Politics did not allow for Blacks to live where they chose but the only housing available was in North Omaha.  It was many years before Nebraska passed laws to outlaw discrimination in housing.  This book delves into that process.  

I highly recommend this book.  It tells many excellent stories about the athletes and about civil rights.

Sports Stars from Omaha High Schools in the 1960s.

 

This information is from the Great Plains Black America Museum in North Omaha.  North Omaha produced some of the best athletes in the world during the civil rights era.  Most attended either Central High School or Technical High School in Omaha.  During the 60s seven athletes graduated who went on to major accomplishments in sport.  They all lived within a couple miles of each other growing up.  

Bob Gibson considered the best Omaha athlete ever.  He is a Hall of Fame baseball player.  He pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals his entire professional career.

John Rogers also graduated from Tech High School.  He played football for University of Nebraska and won the Heisman Trophy.

The Heisman Trophy

Gale Sayers and his older brother Roger Sayers both went to Central High School.  Gale Sayers is a Hall of Fame football player.  He is known for his roll in the Brian Piccolo story as he and Piccolo roomed together when Blacks and Whites generally did not room together.  Gale Sayers made some incredible runs.  

His older brother Roger also played football at Central High School.  However he is most known for his track and field accomplishments and at one time was considered the fastest man alive.  

Ron Boone attended Technical High School and played basketball.  He did not start until his senior year.  He played junior college level for a year and then played for Idaho State in Pocatello.  He had a very good pro career in both the NBA and ABA.  He won a championship with the Utah Stars.  He last played for the Utah Jazz and is the color commentator for them now.  He set an ironman record for playing the most consecutive games.  He played 1041 consecutive games with out missing a game in his 13 year career.  

Bob Boozer attended Technical High School where he played basketball with Bob Gibson.  He played collegiately for Kansas State.  He won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.  He is a collegiate Hall of Fame member, and his Olympic team is in the basketball Hall of Fame.  He won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.  

Marlin Briscoe attended Omaha South High School.  He played running back in high school and their team won the state championship.  He played quarterback for the University of Omaha (now University of Nebraska at Omaha.). He set many records and is inducted in the collegiate football Hall of Fame.  He was selected by the Denver Broncoes of the AFL where he started at quarterback, becoming the first African American starter at quarterback.  His rookie year he threw 14 touchdown passes, and Denver record which lasted until 2024.