Welcome

Curtis Charles Flood

Mr. Curtis Charles Flood was born in Houston, Texas, January 19, 1938, to Herman and Laura Flood, and was the youngest of six children

His childhood days were spent in the City of Oakland, California. Of his first baseball game at the age of six, he said, “the first time I saw a person with a glove on, I had to have one.” He started playing organized baseball the following year at seven years of age.

He graduated from Oakland High School in 1956 and was the Student Body President. He later attended the Bay Area College of Arts and Crafts.

Upon graduation from high school, the Cincinnati Reds immediately signed him. Assigned to the Red’s minor league team, he became the second African American to play in the California League. As the only African American on the team in the Deep South, he endured many indignities. As a result of the indignities suffered, he was determined to demonstrate that he was not only equal but also more. He led the Carolina League in batting average, RBI’s, hits, runs scored and fielding percentage. He set a club record for home runs and was the League’s 1956 Player of the Year.

In 1957, Cincinnati traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals, where after starting his first full season with a major league team, he remained for twelve years (1957-1969) and was team captain for the last three years. A three-time Major League All-Star, Curt also earned seven Gold Gloves Awards for Fielding Excellence 1963-1969. Curt batted .300 or better 6 seasons with a high of .335 in 1967 and lifetime average of .293; held the Major League record in Fielding Percentage (1.000) in 1966 and held the Major League record for Most Consecutive Errorless Games (226). He was a key member of the Cardinal teams that won the World Series in 1964 and 1967, and participated in the 1968 World Series.

After the 1969 season, Curt was traded by the Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies. At this point, considered to be baseball’s best center fielder, he felt he had earned the right to finish his career with a team of his choice, “I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes” Curt said. Rejecting the team’s $100,000 contract, he was more than prepared to challenge a system that was a form of economic servitude and violated the antitrust laws. With this challenge, which ended his career, he changed the face of professional sports by opening the door to what is now known as “Free Agency.”

On January 16, 1970, Curt Flood shocked the baseball world and America by filing suit against Major League Baseball and its reserve clause. Baseball had faced legal challenges in the past, but never had a player of Flood's caliber attempted to assail the game's sacred clause--which effectively bound a player and his contract to a team for life.   Flood earned $90,000 a year yet accused baseball of violating the 13th amendment, barring slavery and involuntary servitude. With a few exceptions, the public and the media initially reacted to Flood's action in utter disbelief, branding the outfielder an ingrate, a destroyer, even a blasphemer.

Flood's case eventually climbed all the way to the Supreme Court. In the arguments, Flood's lawyer, former Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, put forth evidence that baseball's reserve clause violated the antitrust laws by depressing wages and limiting a player to one team. Baseball's defense team attempted to counter Goldberg's broad arguments for human and labor rights point-by-point, but the crux of baseball's argument dealt with such ideas as tradition and "The Good of the Game. Their   contention was that baseball, America's oldest and most loved game, stood as a broader symbol for the ways of the past, and that the largely abstract and myth-shattering arguments of Flood and his lawyer represent a very similar type of reform thought embodied in the Civil Rights Movement and campus protest. His suit opened the door to Free Agency in all of professional sports.

The eloquent protest of Curt Flood electrified this nation and altered forever the demeaning impact of the reserve clause in organized baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, and other professional sports. As a result, professional athletes and this entire country are the beneficiaries of his courage, tenacity and creative talents  

In 1984 he was appointed the Commissioner of Sports for the City of Oakland. He relocated to Los Angeles and founded the Curt Flood Youth Foundation to benefit inner city youths. He was also an accomplished painter as his portrait of Reverend Martin Luther King hangs in the living room of King’s widow, Coretta. As an author, he wrote his autobiography, “The Way It Is.”

He was the recipient of many awards, including: 1979 NAACP Man Of The Year; 1995 Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame; 1995 Sports Life Time Achievement Award; 1987 The National NAACP Jackie Robinson Sports Achievement Award; 1968 Sports News Man of the Year; Brian B. Burns Award, and in 1987 the A.F. of L.-C.I.O., Curt Flood Award was named in his honor.

He was especially honored by his home town, when, in 1989 Oakland named a new park, The Curt Flood Pak and Sports Complex.” Spike Lee directed a documentary of Curt’s life, which aired on HBO in March 1997. “Curt was one of the ten most influential athletes of the Century” said Lee. He was the first African American to have a congressional legislative act bear his name, the Curt Flood Act of 1998 signed by President Bill Clinton.

The Curt Flood Foundation previously joined hands with the City of Los Angeles to provide employment opportunities for teens in the inner city at Golden Day Schools, National Council of Negro Women, and the Braille Institute and at the International Children’s Center. The Foundation also produced “Tough Men, Tougher Times.” a documentary of the African American professional baseball player from the Negro Leagues of the thirties and forties.

 Judy Pace is the widow of Curt Flood, one of the finest actresses in the entertainment industry with over one hundred TV/Film credits. Judy was the first African American to be under contract with Columbia Studios, 20th Century Fox and had a three-picture contract with American International Pictures. Judy was a pioneer of African American Actresses of the 60’s and 70s’.

Judy and Curt have two beautiful daughters. Shawn, a graduate of Howard University and an Attorney in private practice and Julia, an accomplished actress with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Howard University and a Masters in Fine Arts from National Denver Conservatory of Performing Arts. Julia has guest starred on ”Law & Order: twice and on “The Dave Chappelle Show.”

Curt has five children from a previous marriage. Two daughters Debbie and Shelley and three sons Curtis Jr., Scott, and Gary. Judy resides in Los Angeles.

Don Johnson

Tennis courts, idle youth, and inner city environment, all existing separately, with only a spark to bring them all together. That spark came in the person of Don Johnson, a young man from that same inner city environment, with a passion for tennis..and a fuse was lit.

Don Johnson grew up on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 12, Johnson found his calling in the life when a coach, Phil Rubell, decided to coach him tennis. From that point on, Johnson used tennis as a way to better his life.  Don pursued tennis during these years and was fortunate to garner a position as Head Tennis Coach for the all-white Pratt Institute, New York’s men’s tennis team. In three years, Don led the Pratt “Cannoneers’s” from 8th place in the B league to 1st place in the A league. While coaching at Pratt, Don played in and won the prestigious Westside Tennis Club at Forest Hills, New York, becoming only the third black man to do so.

After moving to San Jose, California in 1976, Don developed and implemented an NJTL program for the City. The program reaches over 500 young people, primarily Hispanic youngsters on the Eastside or “the bad side” of town. The program has been a tremendous success, involving 10 site locations at local schools and parks.

“If I look at these walls, I would say to myself that I’ve done it,” Johnson said, pointing to the numerous plaques of achievements adorning his home in downtown San Jose. “But then I go on the court and see those little 6 and 7-year old girls and boys, and I only dream that I’m around to see them develop.”

Don’s “wheel of fortune” in life took another positive turn; he met the legendary Arthur Ashe. Don maintained a friendship and working relationship with Arthur for seven years. In that time, Don and Arthur played together in the RFK Pro Celebrity tournament at Forest Hills and several other pro celebrity events. They shared a dream together, that the two of them made come true. It was the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL). The program ran successfully for three years, pulling together youngsters from Hispanic, African American, Asian, West Indian and Arabic backgrounds. They took these young tennis players throughout the city and inspired them.

For over the past 25 years, Don’s junior San Jose tennis programs have developed hundreds of junior tennis players. Aside from the young people receiving a solid tennis education from Don, they also receive lesion in a host of other skills like; Discipline, punctually, dependability, teamwork, respect for others, respect for themselves, and how to listen.

“I call this heaven; I came from hell,” Johnson said of coming to California. “They’re my children, my angels.” Johnson said of the tennis students he has taught over the years, “I think with all the goodies and trinkets that you get our of this game, the most important thing are the children..I’ve been lucky enough to run a program for the last 29 years to develop children.

In July 2004, it was Johnson, now 64, who was in the spotlight. The Norcal section of the United States Tennis Association inducted Johnson into its Hall of Fame becoming the first African-American to be inducted in the Norcal Hall of Fame.

Gene C. Johnson 

Willie McGee was born in San Francisco and raised in Richmond, California. He received his education from Richmond Public Schools where he graduated in 1975 from Harry Ells High School

Mr. McGee, a one-time Major League Baseball National League MVP and three-time Golden Glove recipient, has continually shown compassion for his community. He played 17 years in the major leagues playing with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and the Oakland A’s. Since retiring from the major leagues in 1999, McGee has worked as an assistant coach for the Contra Costa College baseball team in Richmond, a suburb of Oakland.

In addition to working with Contra Costa College, McGee is also involved in numerous community organizations including the Police Activities League, East Bay Consortium, Souper Kitchen, ACORN Track Club, Helms Community Project, Terrance Kelly Youth Foundation and many more. McGee is similarly involved in the community of his other adopted hometown of St. Louis.

Mr. McGee elected to from the Willie McGee Foundation (WMF) with one goal in mind: leaving a lasting, positive mark in his community. Started with several of his childhood friends, the Willie McGee Foundation provides community outreach through a variety of athletic, educational and cultural programs.

The Willie McGee Foundation seeks to empower youth ages thirteen to eighteen, to develop a positive sense of self-esteem and purpose for youth striving to create an environment that inspires them to complete their high school education, pursue continuing education and become contributing members of society.

Julius Menendez

A Spanish-American boxer who spoke broken English upon his arrival at San Jose State in the fall of 1946, Julius Menendez did not let the negative perceptions of his peers shape his academic and athletic successes while on campus.

The son of poor Spanish immigrants, Menendez – who boxed and played soccer while growing up in the impoverished city of East St. Louis, Illinois – entered World War II with hopes of becoming a Naval fighter pilot.  Upon the death of one of his peers in training camp, however, he and his classmates were transferred about the country.  Menendez transferred to Athens, Georgia, where DeWitt Portal sought him out.  Portal – the boxing coach at San Jose State – had heard about the former Golden Glover’s reputation in the ring.  With a bit of encouragement from Portal following the War, Menendez would join Spartans (and WWII veterans) Yoshihiro Uchida (judo), Lloyd “Bud” Winter (track and field), and Lincoln Kimura (athletic trainer) on campus in 1946.

According to Jack, Menendez’s eldest son, Coach Portal received “a lot of flak” for bringing his father to SJS’s campus.  And because his father worried about how he was perceived on campus, Jack continued, he learned to speak English with no accent.  In fact, Menendez not only majored in English, but graduated magnum cum laude before heading to Stanford University.

Menendez’s career as an assistant coach blossomed, as well.  He assisted Coach Portal at San Jose, and also coached the University of Santa Clara’s boxing team.  As a team in the collegiate boxing arena, Portal and Menendez made strides in the ring by pushing the NCAA to require protective headgear, and increase the ropes around the boxing ring from three to four, an important safety improvement.

Once he completed his master’s degree in Education at Stanford, he headed south to Tulare, California, to teach physical education.  His career as a high school teacher, however, was short lived.  Following the death of Portal in 1953, SJSC officials persuaded Menendez to return to the campus to take over the Spartan boxing team.

The boxing program remained more than competitive under Menendez’s direction. Within a few years, he caught the attention of the U.S. Olympic Committee, during which time he led the Spartans to three consecutive team titles. In 1960 he coached the U.S. Olympic boxing team that featured the brash, young light heavyweight Cassius Clay – now better known as Muhammad Ali – who would go on to make history as a professional heavyweight world champion, and for his refusal to enter the Vietnam draft.  In 1976, Menendez coached the U.S. Olympic soccer team. He remains the only person to have ever coached two sports at the Olympic level.

Menendez, who retired in 1994, and his wife, Doris, reside in Morgan Hill.

Irene Obero

Irene Obera is a seventy-one year YOUNG athlete who was born in Loma Linda, California on December 7, 1933. She was the third child of seven, born to Francisco B. Obera and Charlotte L. Williams Obera. Her family and especially her father were very supportive of her athletic efforts. Even though the fast-pitch softball games were all at night and frequently out of town her father never missed any of those games.

As a youth her father was selected to play on a all-tar baseball team that was to compete in Manila, Philippine Islands, but his mother did not allow him to play because it was too far from his home in San Miguel Leyte, Philippines. He then vowed that his children would be allowed to compete in sports.

Her father’s goal of primarily procuring a good education for all of his children led to her attendance at a private kindergarten school. She attended public school from Elementary through Jr. College in San Bernardino, California. She transferred to Chico State in the Fall of ’53, but left school at the end of her junior year to earn money to complete her education. She graduated from Chico State in 1957, with a Special Secondary teaching credential in Physical Education. She received her Masters degree from San Francisco State and an Educational Administrative credential in 1977.

In 1958 she accepted a teaching position at Berkeley, California. During her tenure she was a teacher, Department Chairperson, Acting Dean, Counselor, Grade Coordinator, and Principal. In 1983 she was awarded and outstanding Principal award that included a $1500 stipend. The award was very timely because the World Games were to be held in New Zealand that year and the stipend covered her plane fare. 

Ms. Obera is undefeated in National Track & Field Championships in three events: 100m, 200m, and 400m in her age group. (40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69, 70-74* (1997 placed 2nd in 400m, a new event for her).

Ms. Obera medaled in each (3) individual events (100m, 200m, 400m) in World Championship and all 4x100, 4x400 relays. She is the National Track Champion and Record Holder for each 5 yr. Age-group competed in. She held a least ONE World Record in each age group prior to age fifty (50). And held world records in ALL three (3) events (100m, 200m, 400m) since age fifty (50). Ms. Obera is the current National record holder in 100m for ages 60-64 (13.91) set in 1994, 65-69 (14.29) set in 1999. She is the current National record holder in 200m for age 60-64 (29.57) set in 1997, 65-69 (30.46) set in 1999. (This record may have be been broken in 2005).

She is the current National Record Holder in 400m for age 60-64 in 1995, and is the current World Record Holder in 100m 65-69 age-group (14.29) 200m (30.46) set at World Veterans Athletic Championships in Gateshead, England July 29-August 8, 1999. At one period in time, she held twenty individual Gold sprint medals (More than any Master Male or Female track athlete). World Medal count is: 23 GOLD, 10 Silver, and one Bronze. “I want to be the world champion in two centuries, “she said.

Yoshihiro Uchida

San Jose State University Coach Yoshihiro Uchida did not let the difficulties he faced as a Japanese American following World War II impact his ability to achieve on campus.

Throughout his coaching career, the legendary sensei has quietly established himself on the SJS campus by leading the Spartans to 40 of 44 national championships.  And though his name may not be as recognizable in the American collegiate sporting arena as Penn State’s Joe Paterno, Temple University’s John Chaney, or even retired Grambling football coach Eddie Robinson, there is no doubt that his success is well recognized on the world stage.

Uchida began his coaching career as a student when he entered SJS in 1940.  An engineering major, he wrestled, and assisted another wrestler, Mel Bruno, in training SJS’s Police Academy cadets.  But following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, his family – along with another 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans on the mainland whose loyalty came under question – was sent to an internment camp.  While his parents and siblings were sent to camp in Poston, Arizona, he entered the Army where he and his Japanese- and African- American peers served in segregated units, and were assigned menial tasks such as cooking and cleaning.  A superior officer, however, soon discovered Uchida had taken coursework in the sciences, and transferred him to a hospital where he served as a medic.

Uchida would return to SJSC upon the War’s end in 1945.  Following his experience in the military, his career path changed from engineering to biology.  His coaching career would follow suit: When Bruno followed former heavyweight champion Gene Tunney into business after the War, Uchida took over the realm of Bruno’s judo coaching duties.  Instead of training police cadets, he began what has become known as the most successful sporting program in the history of San Jose State athletics.

Over the next two decades, Uchida and the University of California’s Henry Stone would change the way in which judo was recognized.  Once the pair instituted a weight-classification system into the self-defense method, it became recognized as an intercollegiate and Olympic sport. 

In fact, in 1964 Uchida coached the first U.S. Olympic Judo Team that featured SJS graduates Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a retired Colorado Senator, and Paul Maruyama, a retired Air Force colonel who coached the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Olympic Judo Teams.  But he did not stop there: In 1979, he organized the first U.S. Open at San Jose State, which helped American athletes gain recognition at the international level.  The event now is known as the U.S. International Invitational Tournament, and is held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.