September 22, 1906: The Atlanta Race Massacre

September 22, 1906: One day, Atlanta, the capital city of Georgia, would be labeled "The City Too Busy to Hate." This would not be that day.

Newspapers published several unsubstantiated and luridly detailed reports of the alleged rapes of 4 local women by black men. White mobs ran through Atlanta, beating, stabbing and lynching black people, destroying their homes and businesses.

The violence lasted 3 nights, before Governor Joseph M. Terrell called in the Georgia National Guard. Because, like other such incidents, including the one in Tulsa in 1921, the white supremacists managed to hide it from history for decades, the full death toll can never be known. Officially, the toll is 25 blacks and 2 whites, but the black death toll could have been over 100.

Not until 2006, the 100th Anniversary, did the State of Georgia place a public historic marker on the site of one of the violent acts. The next year, the Atlanta Race Massacre was made part of the State's curriculum for public schools.

*

September 22, 1906 was a Saturday. These baseball games were played that day:

* The New York Highlanders lost to the Chicago White Sox, 7-1 at South Side Park in Chicago. The Highlanders, who became the Yankees in 1913, would finish 2nd to the White Sox, who won the World Series. Fielder Jones, the White Sox' manager and center fielder, went 3-for-3 with a home run.

* The Cleveland Naps beat the Boston Americans, 7-0 at League Park in Cleveland. Bill Bernhard pitched a 6-hit shutout. The Cleveland team was named for their manager and 2nd baseman, Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie. When he left after the 1914 season, they became the Cleveland Indians. The Americans became the Red Sox in 1908.

* The Detroit Tigers swept a doubleheader from the Washington Senators, 5-3 and 4-3 at Bennett Park in Detroit. Ty Cobb, 19 years old and in his 1st full season, went 3-for-8 with an RBI.

* The St. Louis Browns beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 7-5 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.

* The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-2 at National League Park (later renamed Baker Bowl) in Philadelphia.

* The New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs were rained out at the Polo Grounds. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader on the following Monday. The Cubs swept, 6-2 and 10-5. Ed Reulbach outpitched Christy Mathewson in the nightcap.

* The Brooklyn Superbas and the St. Louis Cardinals were rained out at Washington Park in Brooklyn. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader on the following Monday. The Superbas won the opener, 6-5 in 11 innings. The nightcap was tied 1-1 after 7 innings, when it was called due to darkness. The Superbas became the Dodgers in 1911.

* And the Boston Beaneaters and the Pittsburgh Pirates were rained out at the South End Grounds in Boston. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader on the following Monday. The Pirates won the 1st game, 6-5. They were leading the 2nd game, 6-0 after 7 innings, when the game was called due to darkness. Honus Wagner went 1-for-9 with an RBI. The Beaneaters became the Braves in 1912.

There were 8 games played on this day on which the college football season began. But only 2 featured teams that are now in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Penn State beat Lebanon Valley, 24-0 at Beaver Field (not the later Beaver Stadium) in State College, Pennsylvania. Lebanon Valley, in Annville, eastern Pennsylvania, is now an NCAA Division III school.

And Kansas beat William Jewell College, 18-0 at McCook Field in Lawrence, Kansas. WJC, in Liberty, Missouri, now plays in NCAA Division II.

And in English soccer, Woolwich Arsenal beat Newcastle United, 2-0 at the Manor Ground in Plumstead, South-East London.