Did you know that the first mixed race baseball player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame was an Italian American? Roy “Campy” Campanella was born in the Germantown section of Philadelphia on Nov. 11, 1921. John Campanella, Roy’s father, was a son of Italian Immigrants and his mother Ida was an African American. 

He later moved to Nicetown in North Philadelphia which was the home of the Phillies and A’s who played at Shibe Park (Connie Mack Stadium). I was also born in Nicetown and a Phillies fan and often walked to the park with Dad and my brother to see my favorite stars Richie Allen and Johnny Callison.