- [Reporter] It was 1947when Jackie Robinson

broke the color barrier in baseball

by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers.

(bat hitting)(fans cheering)

For an 11-year-old San Allen.

- That was the greatestthing that ever happened.

It gave us a hero.

Everybody wanted to be a baseball player.

And I knew then that I wantedto be a baseball player.

- [Reporter] Born in 1936, Sam grew up

in a tight-knit family withhis mom and grandparents

in their hometown of Norfolk, Virginia.

His love of baseball startedwith his grandfather.

(organ baseball music)

At that time, teams andspectators were segregated.

- The blacks had to go in the side gate

down the left field line.

And the black grandstand wasnext to the white bleachers.

But we go every nightbecause it was cheap.

- [Reporter] By the time Sam was six,

he had picked up on allthe rules and signals.

Before long, he was playingbaseball with his friends.

- I broke a few window panes,

my grandparents had to pay for 'em,

but I fell in love with baseball.

It gave me something to look forward to.

- [Reporter] Sam was becoming a star

at Booker T WashingtonHigh School in Norfolk,

not only in baseball,but football, as well.

- When we used to play football,

you could hear the micin the neighborhood.

And my grandmother would be listening

and she would hear it say,

"Allen running the ball for Booker T.

"Allen making the tackle for Booker T.

"Allen kicking off for Booker T."

See all I hear was Allen,Allen, Allen. (chuckling)

- [Reporter] Aftergraduating, Sam was invited

to try out for the CincinnatiReds minor league team

but didn't make the cut.

- I almost cried, but I did cry

because you know, I'd neverbeen cut before from a team.

All the teams that I evertried out for, I made it.

- [Reporter] One thinghelped him press on,

his faith in God.

- Without faith, I would've given up.

I had all the reason inthe world to give up.

A lot of the players that were cut down,

they didn't play anymore.

But I stuck with it.

- [Reporter] Soon after, an agent invited

the now 21-year-old to try outfor the Kansas City Monarchs

a Negro League team who were training

in Jacksonville, Florida at the time.

Taking a step of faith,Sam bought a one-way

bus ticket to Jacksonville.

- I didn't have money to get back.

I just had enough to get down there.

But I don't have any way to get back home,

so I got to, I got to make the team.

- [Reporter] Sam's big chance came playing

against the Monarchs.

The stands were packed that dayand a team from Jacksonville

showed up with only four players.

Not wanting to disappointthe fans and lose money,

the Monarchs' managertold Sam and a few others

to dress up for the other team.

- The first time up I got a hit.

They say I almost struck out and I said,

"Look, I gotta do better than this."

So the next time, I hit theball over the scoreboard.

(fans cheering)

- [Reporter] Signed onthe spot as an outfielder

by the Monarchs, Sam became a proud member

of the Negro Leagues.

- I think the contract was about $150

but I was so happy Ididn't know what to do

because I didn't have anymoney, now I got a contract,

and I'm gonna get $2 a day, a meal, too.

- [Reporter] The NegroLeagues were formed in 1920.

Despite their talents, blackplayers weren't allowed

to play alongside whites in the segregated

major and minor leagues.

By the time Same joined in the late '50s,

the Negro Leagues were well-established.

- The Negro League was drawing 20, 30, 35,

40,000 and at that time, we were equal

to the major league baseball.

White and black went to the game

'cause people love baseball.

- [Reporter] Sam playedprofessional ball for four seasons

moving from the Monarchsto the Raleigh Tigers,

to the Memphis Red Sox.

Talented in the field and at bat,

he led the league in runs in 1957.

Sam says despite the lowpay, he loved pro ball

and the other benefits that came with it.

- The greatest thrill that Igot outta playin' baseball was

believe it or not, when I would come home,

the ladies in theneighborhood would be talkin'

and they'd say that's Bernice's boy.

He play baseball.

Say, "Yeah, your momma proud of you,"

and that made me feel good, you know?

Yeah, that made me feel good.

- [Reporter] However, onthe road from town to town

was a different story, as theteam faced racism constantly.

- Some places, you had a restaurant

where you had to eat in the kitchen, see.

And the kitchen they had a fish box

that they had a piece of plywood on.

Yeah, they would feed you in the kitchen.

- [Reporter] Sam saysit was his faith in God

that kept him groundedand his mother's example

of godly character that kepthim from becoming bitter.

- My mother was a loving person.

My mother was the reasonthat I am the way I am.

I'm about helping people, that's my thing,

'cause they said let theworks I've done speak for me.

- [Reporter] In 1960, Sam'sdream of making the majors

got put on hold when he wasdrafted into the army at 24,

and became a paratrooperwith the 82nd Airborne.

He served two years beforemoving back to Norfolk

where he got married and started a family.

He kept up with baseball,playing and coaching for fun

and watching his hometownteam, the Norfolk Tides.

- Baseball is my game and I love it.

I gave it 100%, that's all.

I did the best I could.

- [Reporter] And Sam's legend lives on.

(gentle music)

- They got my picture, where is it?

Oh, over here.

Right over here, on the wall.

Didn't know a whole lotta people

don't have pictures on a wall, now.

You know, when you come in aball block and you see that,

that means a whole lot.

- [Reporter] Then in December 2020,

Sam and hundreds of histeammates and opponents

would finally hold the title

of major league baseball player.

One hundred years after its formation,

the Negro Leagues were recognized

as major league by the MLB.

- It's about time, you know?

'Cause we've been coming alongfor many a year, you know?

Hundreds of years, sowe, we're gettin' there.

- [Reporter] Sam says thatwhile sports will continue

to play a part in bringingAmericans together,

it's prayer that will bringhealing among all the races.

- We gotta do a lot of praying.

It's been divided.

We need each other.

Blacks, whites, we needeverybody to defend this country.