Former Gold Glove winner Vic Power just died of cancer today. An underrated player who kept a sense of humour despite the racism he endured. He was a four-time all-star who played 12 years.

Good story: One time Vic went into a restaurant in the segregated south (he was new to America at the time) and he was told by the waitress that the restaurant "doesn't serve negroes." Vic replied, "That's okay. I don't eat negroes. I would like some beans and rice."

Another time an older and wiser Vic was again in the south when he was charged with walking across a street against the pedestrian traffic signal. In court Power explained to the judge that he knew he was in the segregated south and when the white man walking light was showing that meant white people could cross the street and when the sign changed that meant non-whites could cross.

A write up on Power follows:

http://philadelphiaathletics.org/history/vicpower.html