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SABR - NEGRO LEAGUES

COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

@SABR - NEGRO LEAGUES COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

December 1996

(portions reprinted with permission of editor)

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Editor: Dick Clark, 1080 Hull, Ypsilanti, MI 48198-6472

Telephone Number: (313) 487-5273; Fax (313) 487-0807

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All opinions expressed are those of the editor exclusively.

NEGRO LEAGUES COMMITTEE PUBLICATION

Lyle Wilson has passed along truly needed research on later 50's rosters. The hoped for update edition will have rosters to 1960.

We have more USL info, 1908 Cleveland Giants rosters, Luis Tiant Sr update,more Harlem Globetrotter Baseball data.

We also have some wonderful info from Jay Sanford on Bill Pettus's boxing career, along with 1891 and 1909 items.

Some 1921 game scores from Tod Maher.

Ted Knorr has supplied Harrisburg Giants info.

We have made contact with Erwin Ford, Milt Smith, Joe Durham, Willie Sheelor, and Charlie White (born in 1927).

SPECIAL EVENTS

POP LLOYD CELEBRATION

The Pop Lloyd Celebration was an outstanding event held at the tremendous Atlantic City High School . On Saturday many attended the baseball game at Pop Lloyd Field between youth teams from Atlantic City. Players honored this weekend were Max Manning, Rufus Lewis, Leroy "Toots" Ferrell, Warren Peace, Benny Felder, Connie Johnson, Earl Taborn, Lee Moody, and Buck O'Neil. Saturday evening everyone was back at the AC High School for a dinner, the official opening of the BEFORE YOU CAN SAY JACKIE ROBINSON.......exhibit.After dinner the truly wonderful documentary BEFORE YOU CAN SAY JACKIE ROBINSON was shown and Max and Buck spoke shortly. On Sunday the Fourth Annual John Henry "Pop" Lloyd Lecture and Awards Program was held at Asbury United Methodist Church in Atlantic City.

Dr. Arnold Rampersad spoke on "Jackie Robinson and the Youth of America".

The 1996 Humanitarian Award was given to Rachel Robinson and the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Larry Doby and former Gold Medalist, Larry James.

Twenty-five students were honored with awards for community service and academic achievement. It was truly an inspiring event.

We have an article from SCD 11/29/96 "1946 Negro League World Series Anniversary Observed in Atlantic City".

PHILADELPHIA NEW OBSERVER 10/2/96 "Atlantic City Honors Negro League Baseball,"

DDAT CLUB INC. with Drexel and Deanna Collins were present selling some exciting, great looking Negro League items. 1pg AD Email dclub@ixnetcom.com Web Site http://www.netcom.com/~dclub/baseball.html

The following is a price list of items available from the Pop Lloyd Event with the proceeds going to the continued restoration of Pop Lloyd Field. Send to: Committee To Restore Pop Lloyd Stadium c/o Shultz and Middlesworth Central Park East, 222 New Road Linwood, NJ 08221; phone (609) 926-2266. Created especially for the event are the following: Official Pop Lloyd Ball-$10; Eagle/Monarch T-Shirts-$12; Replica-1946 Eagles/Monarchs World Series Scorecard-$10. Also, Eagle and Monarchs Baseball $10 each; Eagles/Monarchs Hats $12 each; Atlantic City Bacharach Giants Hat-$20; Commemorative Program Packet--Program, ticket, and flyer-$3. Postage and handling is #2 per order.

The following is a recap of the Judy Johnson Night held in Wilmington, by Gregg Truitt. Buck O'Neil cancelled out because of his wife's illness but Geraldine Day and Loretta Bruton joined 10 players for the event. The players appeared at Judy Johnson Field for a first ball ceremony and introductions. Later, an autograph session and silent auction were held and the Blue Rocks won 10-1. A great time was had by all and plans look good for next year. A beautiful limited edition oversized card was given out.

A reception was held October 11, 1996 at Bank One Center Gallery in Indianapolis, Images of Greatness: A Tribute to Oscar Charleston and Negro League Baseball.

On October 26, 1996 The Puerto Rican Hall Of Fame elected Buster Clarkson, Satchell Paige, George Scales, Dr. Francisco A. Marquez, Juan Sanchez, Nazario, Tony Perez, Jose Manual Morales, and Felix Mantilla.

Judy Johnson was inducted into the Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame on October 26th.

DISCOVER GREATNESS: An Illustrated History of Negro Leagues Baseball....exhibit will be at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond until February 2, 1997. Info at (804) 358-4901.

The Minnesota Twins are planning a Negro Leagues Tribute next year and are planning to wear replica 1909 St. Paul Black Gophers uniforms.

I have had many positive responses to the suggestion of a NLC national get-together. The Ninth Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball & American Culture will be held June 11-13, 1997 in Cooperstown. The 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's entry into Major League Baseball is the main theme. I know many will be attending this grand event. It will be the perfect setting to promote Black Baseball and all its' glory. (abstracts are due by January 15, 1997) It would also seem to be the perfect spot for NLC people to get together. Alas, the National SABR Convention is one week later in Louisville. Since many of us have limited vacation time I'd hate to compete with this event especially when I know of several newcomers planning to attend the convention already. While I strongly urge participation in the Cooperstown Symposium, I continue to hope for high attendance in Louisville. Perhaps 1998 is something to strive for in a national NLC meeting since the SABR Convention will be in San Mateo, CA that year. That would certainly be a great place for our West Coast folks to get together. Perhaps a midwest or eastern site would be better for the rest of the NLC folks.

COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Many of our veterans have passe d lately. A.S. "Doc" Young died in Los Angeles at 76; JET 9/30/96

William Jones, 1957 KC Monarch P,OF, 1B and NAL Rookie of the Year, died 10/4/96 at 58.

Connie Morgan died in October. Elbert Israel 10/22/96 in Rockville, MD at 69.

Toni Stone died11/2/96 in Alameda CA at 75. NEW YORK TIMES 11/10/96 . SAN JOSE MERCURY

NEWS 11/10/96 .

The Chicago Historical Society is working up an exhibit on the history of Chicago Sports with Rube Foster and Black Baseball a strong possibility.

Also, The Institute of Arts is trying to put together a pictorial presentation that would have something to do with the Negro Leagues.

Look for Claudia Perry on JEOPARDY starting Wed. January 1st up to Tuesday the 7th.

THE HISTORY CHANNEL recently ran the Satchel Paige Story with Louis Gossett Jr.; look for it to be repeated.

I JUST got a copy of the BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN SPORTS 1989-92 SUPPLEMENT and it has new bios on Sam Bankhead, Dave Brown, Donaldson, Slim Jones, Malarcher, Mendez, Bill Monroe, Petway, Scales, Torriente, Sol White, and Winters. They were done by Merl Kleinknecht and Jim Riley.

Jeff Eastland reports recent sightings of a Mule Suttles "Home Run King" postcard, an original photo of the 1920 Detroit Stars.

Yesterday's Negro League Baseball Player Foundation is a new fundraising group out to help players. The executive board is Sherwood Brewer, Doc Horn, Willie Lee, Eugene Scruggs, Jimmy Dean, Cowan Hyde, Herb Simpson, Melvin Duncan, Josh Johnson, Merle Porter, Jim Zapp, Ira Mitchell, Dennis Biddle, and Robert Mitchell. Help when you can.

From SCD 10/18/96, "SABR marks 25th anniversary at Cooperstown" SCD 11/1/96 ,"Hall of Fame adds significant acquisitions."

Millito Navarro just celebrated his 91st birthday.

Birthday greetings to Mahlon Duckett 74 on December 20th. Connie Johnson 74 on the 27th. January 12th Buster Haywood is 87. The 20th Sam Jethroe is 75. January 25th Josh Johnson is 83.

Leslie Heaphy did a presentation on The History of The Negro Leagues to the

Kent State faculty and will be doing a presentation in January at the Canton Ohio Historical Society.

"Stamps of Recognition from the Collection of Larry Lester will be touring the country over the next three years. Contact Larry for the itinerary.

Sammy Miller will be honored by his inclusion into the 25th edition of Marquis Who's Who in the South and Southwest. Jim Riley is also listed in this book. Our hardiest congratulations to Sammy.

ONLINE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lyle Wilson's article THE LAST NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUE GAME and THE SINGING BASEBALL TEAM: The Piney Woods Giants Collegians are on David Marasco's new web site for quality original research at http://charon.astro.nwu.edu/david/writing

Lyle's WILLIE FOSTER AND THE WASHINGTON BROWNS is on Leading Edge's webzine http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/

This site has a Jimmie Crutchfield interview, a Jerry Malloy piece on Joe Rogan and Christmas gifts you can order.

Paul Debono has a web page http://www.indy.net/~pdebono

New Email addresses for Tom Gerbasi at tgerbasi@ix.netcom.com Jeff Eastland at beruth@fls.infi.net Tito Rondon at tito@laprensa.com.ni

Mike Welsh at welsh@ponyexpress.net

David Marasco has created a site to attempt to get all Negro Leagues related sites linked together for easier use and he is also seeking any sites not yet linked up. Go to http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~dmarasco/ring.html This is really an exciting page linking most of the Negro League sites.

Finally, David and Paul Debono are working on collecting all box scores and line scores for the 1915 season for all major black teams and would appreciate any help in locating new information. This site is http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~dmarasco/1915.html

NEGRO LEAGUE RELATED ARTICLES

David Marasco's latest article "The 1930 Negro Leagues World Series" appears in James Floto's Fall, 1996 THE DIAMOND ANGLE.

PITCH WEEKLY May 16-22, 1996, "Unveiling of Woody" 1pg oil portrait of Dewitt Smallwood at NLBM.

"A legacy with some distance to it" (Gibson) from HARTFORD COURANT 9/29/96.

PHILADELPHIA NEWS OBSERVER 10/2/96 "Buck O'Neil captures the days of the Negro Baseball League"

DETROIT FREE PRESS 10/23/96, "Negro Leagues".

FIELDCREST CANNON TODAY 4/29/87 Employee Spotlight on Willie Sheelor.

IMAGE, May, 1996 "Soul Of The Game" article "Tigers 'Negro League' jerseys headed for auction on Nov. 23"

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE 9/24/96, "Hero at home" (Gibson)

PITCH WEEKLY July 4-10, 1996, "Negro League history comes to life," (O'Neil)

FT. RILEY POST 10/11/96, "Card Show Held" , also bio sheets on Surratt, Holliman, and Rogers.

THE BALTIMORE SUN 8/4/96, "Day's fame is too late for widow", Ric Roberts article on Josh Gibson

CURRENT AND FUTURE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS

We are seeking any information on the Cleveland Negro Indians of 1942 and Fort Worth Black Cats of 1942.

We still seek any info about a film short from the 30's "Colored Champions of Sports". Any help would be great.

James Floto of TDA still seeks more Negro League articles for the Winter edition honoring Black History Month. THE DIAMOND ANGLE PO Box 409 Kaunakakai,HI 96748.

Call for papers; Conference on Baseball in Literature and Culture, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, April 18, 1997. Deadline January 15, 1997

April 3-5, 1997 Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, JACKIE ROBINSON: RACE, SPORTS AND THE AMERICAN DREAM, contact Joe Dorinson (718) 488-1057

Judson Edwards (601) 261-1311 is seeking any information on the Hattiesburg

Black Sox of Mississippi. Lyle Wilson has helped tremendously already.

Dr David M. Piltz seeks info on creation of NNL by Rube Foster in 1920. Contact him at 800 466-7722 Pin # 211.

James Floto also seeks more info on the beginnings of the NNL in 1920.

Andy Ellner, 76 Lowell Mail Center, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 493-2995, is writing a Senior Thesis at Harvard on Larry Doby and his role in the integration of Major League Baseball. Any and all articles would be appreciated.

Cristian Mendoza is now with the military in Germany. He plans to preach the Negro Leagues doctrine at a sports restaurant there. You can connect with him at PSC5 Box 738 APO AE 09050.

THE MARKETPLACE

Hallmark has put out a Satchel Paige 1996 Christmas Ornament. It is a beauty. Sincerest thanks to Jim Passassante for sending me the real item.

Be sure to get your 1997 BLACKBALL CALENDAR superbly put together by Sammy Miller. Check bookstores or call IOKTS Productions (301) 270-1920 to order one.

SCD 11/15/96 ad on inventory reuction sale on many NL Lithographs.

University of Temple Press will soon release THE PHILLIES READER by Richard Orodenker. Chapter three is subtitled "Phillies in Black and White" and features 5 articles of interest to us. Check stores, $24.95.

Two different 1996 Induction Day Cachets of Bill Foster are available from Historic Limited Editions (516) 292-9271 . Leon Day's is also available.

I got the excellent 1996 edition of ENCICLOPEDIA del BEISBOL MEXICANA 1996.

It took 6 weeks from mailing check to getting book.

1pg ad Cotton Sports Collectibles 1-800 450-7298 pin# 3182 for Bobbin Heads of Rube and Willie Foster. They are really outstanding.

Ebbet;s Field Flannels has added some new Negro League merchandise. Call 800 377-9777.

SATCH IN SASKATCHEWAN is an entertaining 40 page booklet edited by Dave Shury. $12 postpaid.

Negro League Lithographs from Names of Fame call (914) 838-4312.

Here's another chance to get Jim Overmyer's terrific EFFA MANLEY AND THE NEWARK EAGLES. $24 postpaid to Jim at 7 Fairview Ave., Lenox, MA 01240 (413) 637-3306. Great book.

FINAL REMARKS

We plan to have a new NLC member address list by next newsletter. If I haven't heard from you in the last year please let me know of your continued interest in the NLC. This includes members and readers. We are doing the annual cleansing of the NLC's address list.

The next newsletter will be February's. Please get all material to me before the last week of January. Larry, Val, Marilyn, and I wish everyone the happiest of holiday seasons.

Dick Clark & Larry Lester

NLC Co-Chairpeople

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For information on joining the SABR organization, contact:

John Zajc, Manager of Membership Services (SABRjohn@aol.com)

P. O. Box 93183

Cleveland, OH 44101

(216-575-1942)

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