the memory of Rod Carew (interview notes)

Panama's national baseball stadium is named for the most famous player, Rod Carew. 

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Me: You grew up in the Canal Zone, no?

So he grew up in a black town in a white borough. He grew up in Gamboa in the borough of Santa Cruz. It was segregated.  There were two schools, two gyms, two tennis courts, two baseball fields, two clubhouses. The Commissary had two entrances. You could be arrested for walking in the wrong door. Of the first thirteen Panamanians in the major leagues, five of them were from Gamboa. Most Panamanian athletes were from the Zone. Only Panamanian in the Hall of Fame is Rod Carew, who was from Gamboa. Baseball was so popular there was a cradle league, which was below little league! 

#29 Rod Carew’s number was retired in California and Minnesota. He holds (held?) the record for stealing home [on consecutive attempts in one season. Seven.]. “Do you know how difficult it is to steal home?” He had over 3,000 hits. “And you know what? The thing is, no white Santa Cruzians ever saw him play when he played in Panama. Never.”