Greater than enjoyable and video games: Meet the household behind an Indianapolis Clowns legacy

CINCINNATI — The Savannah Bananas are again in Cincinnati, however this 12 months they face a brand new opponent: the Indianapolis Clowns.

The Clowns had been applied into Banana Ball this season to honor the unique Negro League workforce that performed from the Thirties to 1989. The workforce additionally had stints in Miami (Florida) and right here in Cincinnati because the Ethiopian and Cincinnati Clowns.

Rashawn Merchant

So, when 93-year-old West Chester resident Myra Merchant heard the Clowns had been coming to city, she mentioned she was shocked.

“It brings back a lot of beautiful memories,” she mentioned.

Merchant’s husband, Henry Lewis “Speed” Merchant, was an outfielder for the unique Clowns workforce. He coined the nickname “Speed” due to his tempo on the bases.

WATCH: Meet the household of Indianapolis Clowns legend Henry Lewis “Speed” Merchant

The Savannah Bananas are again in Cincinnati, however their opponents hit house for one household

In 1950, he gained the title for many stolen bases in a single season with 45 bases stolen in 80 video games.

“(He) was a hell of a ball player,” Merchant mentioned of her late husband. “He could run, he was a beautiful runner.”

“Speed” died of prostate most cancers in 1982, however even 4 many years later, on the Merchant household’s desk, sit dozens of images and memorabilia — a bodily file of a legacy Merchant refuses to let fade.

Noelle Blumel

“I can’t help it, it’s part of history,” she mentioned. “I thank God he had a chance to prove himself in the Negro League.”

Their three youngsters, Charisse, Herma Jean and Rashawn Merchant, nonetheless reside within the Cincinnati space as nicely and bear in mind the methods he used to do as a participant.

“They came up with tricks (like) hiding the ball and digging into the dirt and coming up (with it),” Charisse mentioned.

Charisse added that even after his time as a participant, their father would nonetheless carry out the methods every so often.

“He just knew how to do so many things,” Rashawn mentioned. “He could take the baseball and roll it down his shoulder… could catch the ball behind his back, over his head.”

Myra Merchant

Myra mentioned the methods, along with the baseball, made the video games a joyful spectacle.

“There was laughter and fun in the game, the way they played it, and it was enjoyable,” Merchant mentioned.

That enjoyment, nevertheless, got here with adversity. The Clowns typically needed to carry out within the face of open discrimination.

“It was rough,” Charisse mentioned. “(Going to) certain places to eat, they would send whoever was the lightest-skinned guy on the team. He would go to the back and get the sandwiches or whatever to eat.”

The hostility did not cease there.

“Players being thrown ice, (patrons) would throw the bottles at them,” Charisse mentioned. “But (the players) kept going and they would win the game and hurry up and get on the bus.”

Charisse added that typically the gamers couldn’t change out of their jerseys after video games as a result of they needed to depart the hostile atmosphere instantly to keep away from issues escalating.

Myra described the period with unflinching readability.

“Prejudice, back in the, the ’30s and ’40s, and even a lot of times in the ’50s, that prejudice was still there,” she mentioned. “And you had to endure it, take it, smile and keep going.”

When requested what made the gamers need to maintain going, Myra’s reply was quick.

“I’ll put it this way, our Lord came here, and he knew what he had to endure,” she mentioned. “He kept going, and that’s what the Black man has done. He kept going. Because had he stopped, where would he have been today?”

Charisse and Rashawn echoed that sentiment.

“He loved the game. It was just in his blood, and that’s what he wanted to do,” they mentioned.

Now with a brand new era of the Clowns making headlines, the Merchant household mentioned their hope is that the followers and gamers know in regards to the pioneers who wore the title first.

Rashawn Merchant

“I thank God because it lives on. He’s part of history. And it lives on through the children and every Black player. Every Black man that came through hell,” Myra mentioned.

Charisse and Rashawn mentioned they need that historical past to be a part of the celebration.

“Just remember that it started through a lot of hardship, that it wasn’t all fun and games,” Rashawn mentioned. “There’s a history there and all of it’s not the best, but they made the best of what they had.”

Myra mentioned the struggles they went via, although grueling, are a part of what makes America a fantastic nation.

“They were part of America. That’s what makes America great, and it is a great country,” she mentioned. “This is a melting pot of beautiful colors. She have her problems — What country has none? But we can solve them together, united as one.”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been transformed to this platform with the help of AI. Our editorial workforce verifies all reporting on all platforms for equity and accuracy.