Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 4

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Comments from our readers * Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett

Remembering Terry Kay
Every month I look forward to reading Georgia Magazine in search of something
interesting to learn about or relate to.
While reading the February 2021 issue, I was so pleased to see one of my
favorite authors, Terry Kay, being featured in your piece, " In memoriam. " [See Mailbox,
page 4; bit.ly/tkim221.]
I had the opportunity to attend the event at the University of Georgia back in 2006
when he was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame. [See " Stories to tell, "
March 2021, page 30; bit.ly/solittr.] Throughout the years I enjoyed attending several
of his book talks and signings. In 2011, I had the honor to bake the chocolate Guinness
cakes served at the launch party for his " Bogmeadow's Wish. " The story takes place in
Ireland, hence the Guinness-flavored cakes.
Meeting Terry Kay was certainly a memorable literary experience in my journey
with books and their authors. Thanks for paying tribute to this amazing author!
-Ana Raquel Morales, Powder Springs

COURTESY NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM

Stories for my baseball scrapbook
I am a collector of baseball memorabilia, so the
April 2021 issue rated Class A for me.
The article on the Negro Leagues will be added to my
ATLANTA'S
FIELD OF DREAMS
scrapbook of baseball stories, which I've collected over
the years. [See " Atlanta's field of dreams, " page 22;
T
bit.ly/afod421.] Several years ago, I was able to obtain a
set of baseball cards dealing with stars of those leagues.
The by-the-numbers look at Hank Aaron's career was
another for my collection. [See " Henry Aaron by the numbers, " page 9; bit.ly/hbtn421.] Years ago I was fortunate to
have a one-on-one interview with him. He was most gracious in giving of his time to sit
down and talk baseball with me. Thanks for a truly wonderful issue.
-Dan Jaskula, Warner Robins
Remembering the Atlanta Black Crackers of Negro League baseball
By Jonathan Shipley

here are seeds planted. It doesn't look like much,
but there are seeds planted in a little community
garden. On one side of the garden there's a dingy
shed. There are some rows of dirt, half weedchoked. There are some hardscrabble trees and
lopsided shrubs, with a rusting, bent, chain-link fence keeping
it all in. Across the dead-end street from the garden are old
houses and quiet driveways. But not all of the seeds nurtured
in the Bush Mountain neighborhood of Southwest Atlanta were
planted recently; some have been growing for decades.
Decades, because the seeds of dreams were planted
here-the old location of the practice field for the Atlanta
Black Crackers of the Negro Leagues-in the first half of the
20th century by young black men. The echoes of those dreams
still resonate on this nondescript city block. Can you hear the
cheers, the laughter and the talk of future glory? Do you hear the
ball hitting a mitt and the crack of a bat? The children squealing
as they run past the fence to collect a home run ball?
Whether they achieved fame or not, the Atlanta Black
Crackers players were simply enjoying baseball, as were the boys
who looked up to them and played in their own front yards and
empty lots.

Georgia Magazine

Preserving the stories

One of those players was James " Red " Moore, who lived
a couple of streets away from the practice field. Moore was
acclaimed as an outstanding defensive first baseman and was the
last living member of the Atlanta Black Crackers until his death in
2016 at age 99.
" Red Moore was an outstanding first baseman. He was
special. A showman, " says Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro
Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. " [Negro Leagues
first baseman and manager and founder of the museum] Buck
O'Neil says he was one of the greatest first basemen ever. And if
Buck O'Neil says that, well ... "
Moore's friend Greg White wants to make sure the memory of
Moore and others like him is not lost.
" The history is so important to keep alive, " says White,
director of Decatur Active Living, a division of the city of Decatur
that is dedicated to providing leisure and support services.
White was instrumental in putting up a historical sign at the
practice field and creating a " Red " Moore museum at Springfield
Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Moore was a
member for decades. " Mr. Moore had major league talent but
did not get a fair opportunity [because professional baseball was

April 2021

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Find it this month!
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Are you a resourceful reader? One lucky reader who finds and submits
the correct answers to these trivia questions will win a $25 Target gift card.
1) How many pilots volunteer with Angel Flight Soars?
2) On day three, students at SkyCamp are sorted into three groups.
Name one of the groups.
3) Dave Myers has instructed amphibious trike passengers from
youngsters to age ____.
4) What did Marty Kemp challenge FFA members and 4-H'ers to design
for Pet Adoption Days?
5) 'Mighty Mosaic' has leaves with patterns in which three colors?

How to enter:
Send an email to trivia@georgiaemc.com with the answers to all five
questions by May 31, 2021. Be sure to include your name, address and
phone number. (If more than one person answers all the questions
correctly, we'll draw from among all correct answers to determine the
$25 Target gift card winner.)

Georgia Magazine

May 2021

From THE EDITOR
Ask any child what three wishes he
or she would like granted and odds are
one would be the ability to fly. As adults
we realize that delayed schedules, long
lines at the airport and security screenings can make flying drudgery rather
than a joyride.
But there's an easy way to rekindle
that childlike sense of wonder concerning air travel. Climbing aboard a
hot-air balloon allows you to rise above
the fray at ground level and enjoy
360-degree views from your lofty perch.
And that's not your only option in
terms of a different perspective on
flight. You also can opt for a soar in a
glider, the thrill of hang gliding or a ride
on an airborne trike. So if you're ready
to enjoy a bird's-eye view of the Georgia
landscape, see " Up in the air, " starting
on page 28.
Speaking of children and their
dreams of flying, there's a program
offered by the Middle Georgia State
University School of Aviation that
brings them together. The university's
SkyCamp provides kids with a unique,
behind-the-scenes opportunity to
experience the wonders of flight.
And this three-day camp isn't just
about flying; it's also about the aviation
industry and the wide variety of skills-
and jobs-that support it. Turn to page
22 to learn more about these aspiring
aviators and the high-flying fun this
summer camp entails.
While the hassle and expense of
air travel are merely annoyances for
most of us, they can present real
problems for patients in need of
specialized care. That's where Angel
Flight Soars comes in.
This Atlanta-based charitable flight
service offers patients free transport
to facilities where they can receive
treatment. Read " Angels take flight, "
starting on page 24, to find out how
these volunteer pilots are removing
transportation as an obstacle to
medical care.
Enjoy!

Laurel George
Editor

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Georgia Magazine - May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2021