2025-Wendell Smith

Smith began his journalism career in the 1930s, writing for the Pittsburgh Courier, where he gained the respect of his peers and ultimately became a pioneer for racial justice in journalism. Early on, Smith began using his platform not just to cover games, but also to advocate for equality. He was an early and vocal supporter of integrating Major League Baseball and wrote a steady stream of editorials calling for the inclusion of Black players.

In 1945, Smith’s advocacy took on a more personal role when he recommended Jackie Robinson to Brooklyn Dodgers’ general manager, Branch Rickey. When Robinson was signed, Smith was selected to accompany Robinson from 1946 to 1947. In this hybrid role, Smith was able to document much of Robinson’s progress. In 1947, Smith also joined the Chicago Herald-American, becoming one of the first Black sportswriters to work for a daily newspaper. In 1964, he entered the television business as a sportscaster at Chicago’s WGN-TV.

When Robinson died in October 1972, Smith wrote his obituary. It was Smith’s last article.

Smith passed away on November 26, 1972, at the age of 58, but his legacy continues to resonate. He was more than a reporter; he was a voice of change during one of the most pivotal eras in American sports and civil rights history. In 1993, Smith was posthumously awarded the J.G. Taylor Spink Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Through his courage, integrity, and pursuit of justice, Smith helped write not just the story of the game but also the story of a movement.