Good morning Kristin,

I like baseball. I enjoy the way it is played, the narrative of a six-month season, and the statistics. And so it was with great interest that I read this afternoon about the integration of statistics from the Negro Leagues into Major League Baseball’s statistical database. This integration has been three years in the making, and long overdue (baseball integrated in 1947); nevertheless, it is a monumental shift. As the article observes: History evolves.

The Negro Leagues exclusion certainly has roots in our history of racism. Full stop. But more recently, an artificial reason for precluding their inclusion in the statistical database was the shortened seasons customary to these leagues, that is until the 60-game 2020 season prompted a reconsideration of what could be considered an MLB season.

Baseball’s statistics are hallowed. 3,000 hits. 500 home runs. 300 wins. And yet the American pastime has found a way to evolve, “correcting a longtime oversight.”

I came away from the article with three takeaways:

1. They did not let the perfect stand in the way of the good. The records, as they stand, remain incomplete, with only an estimated 75% of the Negro Leagues' games played documented. However, they have included what they have been able to capture, acknowledging that most is better than none.
2. The committee adhered to the existing standards (minimums) for qualification. They recognized that “the irregularity of [the Negro League] schedules were not of their making but instead were born of MLB’s exclusionary practices.” So, a shortened season was not a reason to exclude a player’s statistics; however, to qualify, players were still required to play at the same rate prescribed by MLB’s record books.
3. This project took time (3+ years) to complete, will likely continue to evolve, and will not please everyone. As noted, this was long overdue, but the committee still took the necessary time, once the decision was made to include these statistics, to do it properly and to ensure fidelity to the game.

This is a lot of baseball talk for a group of school leaders (who may or may not like baseball), so I’ll get to it — history evolves. In each of our classrooms, schools, and certainly within our archdiocesan system, there is something that is ready to evolve. There are also reasons why evolving today may seem impossible.

But that is our challenge. As the school year nears its end, it invites the opportunity for reflection, and I would invite part of that reflection this spring to consider what is seeking to evolve in the landscape of Catholic education at your own school and here within the Archdiocese of Seattle. And then, once identified, what next step can we take to help realize this evolution.

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The Fulcrum Foundation has launched an inaugural award that recognizes excellence in education. The LaSalle Educator Excellence award will recognize outstanding educators who have contributed greatly to the success of the school and the students served. Please take time this week to identify a distinguished educator who should be considered for this award. All nominations are due this Friday, May 31.

I look forward to joining many of you this afternoon as Katie Doyle from the NWEA leads us in a conversation related to our Spring Data from our MAP assessments. These data conversations are an important part of our work to promote academic excellence in our schools.



With gratitude, 

NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent

Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle