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SABR - NEGRO LEAGUES COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

February 1997

(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.

 

CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS

Happy New Year to everyone! With February being Black History Month please pay extra attention to your local area's events and newspaper articles for sharing with other newsletter readers and be sure to read the Special Events area, in this newsletter on the Geraldine Day Benefit Fundraiser.
We send special birthday wishes to Bill Cash on February 21st and Monte Irvin on the 25th. Both are 78. Fantastic!
Our hardiest congratulations to Claudia Perry for a most successful run on JEOPARDY (Claudia, I am available to go to Spain)
There may be potential pensions for some Negro Leaguers (complete details unavailable as of press time)


NEGRO LEAGUERS AND THE HALL OF FAME


March 4, 1997 is an important date for the NLC as we see if our candidate from last year, Smokey Joe Williams is selected for The Hall of Fame. Williams was voted upon by the readers of this newsletter as the overwhelming choice for the next selection to the Hall. We wish Monte Irvin and Buck O'Neil the best in convincing their fellow Veterans Committee members to add another deserving Negro Leaguer to the rolls. All of the candidates are overly qualified. Our goal remains the elimination of the 5 year limit (year 3). If we fail, Black Superstars whose achievements dwarf half the current Hall of Famers will be left out. We must continue our positive educational efforts towards the public and uninformed policy makers. Keep spreading the word.
USA TODAY BASEBALL WEEKLY Jan. 15-21, 1997 ,"Hall of Fame".
Courtesy of Robert Peterson we have some "early" HOF pieces. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS 2/9/72 Dick Young column ; NEW YORK TIMES 8/13/72, "Black standouts of past recalled," ; NEW YORK TIMES, 7/27/77, (Red Smith) "The outcasts of Cooperstown,"; NEW YORK TIMES, 2/14/78 (Red Smith) "From Jim Crow to Cooperstown,"; "Satchel Paige Dies" RECORD (Hackensack, NJ) 6/16/82 .Also, "The List", original 25 candidates.


THE NEGRO LEAGUES BOOK


We have made contact with Sam Robinson, Roscoe Price, Earl Wilson Sr., and Jeff Campbell.
Mike Kolleth provided 1958, 1959 and 1962 Kansas City Monarchs rosters.
Mark Pollak came up with all the teams in the 1886 Southern League of Colored Base Ballists.
Jerry Malloy and Tom Shieber found more post Civil War Black teams from THE BALL PLAYER'S CHRONICLE and the NEW ENGLAND BASE BALLIST.
Finally, some movement is being made to have the work translated into Spanish.


SPECIAL EVENTS


Honoring the memory of Hall of Famer, Leon Day and to benefit his widow, Geraldine Day, a fundraiser will be held on February 15, 1997 at The Overlea 6809 Bel Air Road in Baltimore from 8:00 PM to 12:00. Buffet cost is $75 per person with all proceeds going to a trust fund for Geraldine. Former Negro League Stars and Baltimore Orioles will be in attendance. Silent and live auctions of memorabilia will be held. For folks unable to attend but who wish to show their support, a special ticket is available for $30 (plus $3 p/h) that entitles you to what I can attest is a fine package of very collectible and scarce items, including trading cards of Leon Day and Bill Wright, a Leon Day Hall of Fame portrait pin, a HOF postcard of Leon, an official NLBPA cloisonne pin, a Baltimore Elite Giants postcard by Bob Retort and more. For more information, please call (410) 356-4852, fax (410) 356-6229, e-mail DayBenefit@aol.com or write to Geraldine Day Benefit PO Box 648, Owings Mills, MD 21117, make your check payable to AUM, Inc. Remember, ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO A TRUST FUND FOR GERALDINE DAY.
The Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame held their induction ceremony November 9, 1996. Sincere congratulations to new inductee, Willie Grace.
The Chicago Institute of Arts is putting together a photo exhibit including Negro Leaguers and Latin-Americans.
The Hall of Fame is sponsoring a national essay contest for high schoolers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut. Contact (607) 547-0215. "Essay contest marks Robinson Anniversary" ** 1/22/96 USA TODAY. **
Opening January 31st at The Pink Palace Museum, in Memphis, TN is BLACK DIAMONDS: THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL exhibit.
On February 8, 1997, "Rediscovering the Negro Baseball Leagues," a Florida Humanities Council program, will be at the College Hill Branch Library in Tampa, FL. Jim Riley will be presiding.
Judy Johnson Night, in Wilmington, DE, will be Saturday, August 16th at Frawley Stadium. The JJN committee hopes to establish a scholarship program in Judy's name.
Finally, Larry Hogan's beautiful wife, Sally, has agreed we can have a 1998 get-together at the Hogan spread in New Jersey. We must provide a LARGE tent, BIG outhouse, and a HUGE deposit check....well in advance. I'm thinking on it.....more later.


COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS


We're sorry to announce the passing of more veterans. Charlie Neal 11/18/96 in Dallas at 65 **1pg. Lovell Hardin 11/22/96 in Erie, PA at 78. Nat Pollard 11/23/96 in Dolemite, AL at 81. William "Cap" Brown, 12/30/96 in Birmingham, AL. Hamick William Sr. 1/4/97 in Philadelphia **1pg. Finally, Joe Scott, the former Baron, in Los Angeles, 1/12/97 at 78.
We have the following obits on Toni Stone: KANSAS CITY STAR 11/5/96 & 11/23/96 **: SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS 11/5/96 ** STAR TRIBUNE 11/5/96 ** A play, TOMBOY STONE written by Roger Nieboer will open soon at the Great American History Theatre in St. Paul: call (612) 292-4323 for ticket information. One of the playing fields at the Dunning Field baseball complex will be dedicated to Stone on February 1st.
We are very pleased to say that Nap Gulley is home recovering after colon cancer surgery. We pray for a complete recovery.
Look for an ESPN show on Jackie Robinson February 28th.
Items on pension issue are: "Pioneer Black players to be granted pensions" , NEW YORK TIMES 1/20/97**USA TODAY BASEBALL WEEKLY, "Negro Leagues finally receive overdue payday,"***"Negro Leagues gain pension plan" TEMPO through the Internet, "Moseley-Braun goes to bat for Negro Leagues' Players," **
Jim Passannante's 7th grade students are reading William Brashler's THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL.
The upcoming Winter issue of THE DIAMOND ANGLE will feature David Marasco's piece on Gus Greenlee, Larry Lester's obits on Willard Brown & Bill Wright, and James Floto's article on Toni Stone, plus Stars in Their Time (SITT) results.
Larry Lester provided Q & A's for an upcoming SABR-Pommegranate Day-by-Day calendar.
CHOICE: Outstanding Academic Books for 1996 has chosen the Nebraska Press release of SOL WHITE'S HISTORY OF COLORED BASEBALL with Jerry Malloy's superb introduction.


ONLINE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS


Leading Edge Productions Webzine will feature Willie Wells this month and a host of new features. Lyle Wilson's Willie Foster piece was featured earlier.
Jerry Malloy put a transcription of a four page hand-written "Report of a Delegate of the Phythian to the Pennsylvania State Convention"
James Passannante Email NerkEagles@aol.com
David Marasco's web site is at a new location
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/field/1538/negro.html Larry Lester will have 28 bios of Negro Leaguers in February on The Major League web site Majorleague.com
Mike Kolleth has a web site which is building an online database of Negro Leaguers autograph samples. He is working towards an autograph book of Negro Leaguers which will donate money to the players. Contact Mike at 100731.357@compuserve.com Site is http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/spaige
Kevin Keating at Quality Autographs & Memorabilia, PO Box 25274, Alexandria, VA 22313-5274 (411) 728-3089 is working with Mike and anyone can mail samples of autographs to Kevin.


NEGRO LEAGUE RELATED ARTICLES


KANSAS CITY STAR 1/12/97, "Numbers don't tell his tale" (Buck O'Neil)
DILLARD DIALOG #3, 1972-73, "One of baseball's great... New Orleans University Grad" (Malarcher) **
8/5/78, "Cherry Hill:From pasture to baseball field" **
KANSAS CITY GLOBE 1/3/97 to 1/9/97 ** , "Justice Clarence Thomas visits the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum."
SCD 12/27/96, "Jethroe, Dropo highlight Boston area show,"
SCD 1/24/97, Otha Bailey
I recently received Spring/Summer 1996 issue of SILHOUETTES, 20 pages.
"The story of Negro Baseball" a 6-part series in the NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS, 4/21/62 thru 5/26/62,
SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, 8/6/95 "A tribute to the Negro Leagues"
USA TODAY BASEBALL WEEKLY 11/27 to 12/3, 1996 "Pro baseball's unknown stars,"
PLAY BALL, "The best players you've never heard of."
KANSAS CITY STAR 12/9/96 "O'Neil: don't give up on baseball,"
THE RYDER, December 1996, "Bloomington's best baseball player," (George Shively) by Paul Debono, .
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/18/97, "Robinson to King: role model for a role model,"
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 11/19/96, "Between the Lines,"
SCD 1/31/97 "New association is formed" ** & "Yesterday's Negro League Baseball Players."


CURRENT AND FUTURE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS


Todd Bolton is working with the Trust for Public Land and the Baltimore City Program to establish an Leon Day Trail, in Baltimore....More later.
Frazier Robinson and Paul Bauer are working on an autobiography of Frazier.
Anyone with knowledge of the San Francisco Colored Stars, please contact me or Ed Cesarone.
Tim Booker is trying to collect all posters and card sets on the Negro Leagues. If you can help or just want to exchange info contact Tim at (913) 784-3682.
Clement Hamilton is finishing up his manuscript on INTEGRATING THE MAJOR LEAGUES 1947-1960: A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION and hopes to publish it (perhaps in NINE) He is also seeking folks who are interested in Minor League integration for that period.
Look for Negro Leagues Baseball by Marie Tedesco as part of the upcoming TENNESSEE ENCYCLOPEDIA.
Chris Mayer, 14135 Furlong Way, Germantown, MD 20874 (301) 916-0391, CWMayer@aol.com is writing an article about the East-West All-Star Games and seeks answers to a couple of questions. Contact Chris .
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS was seeking writers for entries on International League of Independent Baseball Clubs; League of Colored Baseball Clubs; National Association of Colored Baseball Clubs of America and Cuba; and Western League of Colored Baseball Clubs. Contact Nina Mjagkij at (317) 285-8721.


THE MARKETPLACE


Dick Derby of Yannigan's has a listing of Negro League Memorabilia for sale at good prices.
Bowood Enterprises has their latest catalog out ** call (914) 298-9424 for a color one.
** list of single signed Negro Leagues baseballs.
** "Jackie's in the cards--and then some."
Tony George has Negro Leagues team pins; call him at (714) 589-6075.
A book recently offered for sale in the SABR BULLETIN, SHOESTRING GLORY: A PRAIRIE HISTORY OF SEMI PRO BALL, has many references to Negro Leaguers barnstorming and Manitoba-Dakota League teams.
BASEBALL'S BEARDED BOYS, about the House of David has a few Negro Leagues pictures and many references to the Black teams.
Luis Alvelo has put out an excellent Willard Brown postcard.
SCD 12/27/96 book review includes coverage of Sol White's history, now out in paperback.
New book for younger readers by Kevin Pulley, BLACKBALL, THE STORY OF BLACK BASEBALL: 76pp, 18 photos, a nice read.
Avon Products catalog is offering a Negro Leagues Gym Bag (with NLBPA Logo) for $24.99 and a 6" tall cold cast resin figurine of Josh Gibson, $19.99
** article SCD 12/27/96 on Flambo Industries, who put out among other items Baseball Santas, call 800-flambro.
**1pg Ad Negro League Jersey Ornaments for 1997.
For rare Cuban cards, contact Ralph Maya (305) 666-3935
NEWARK STAR-LEDGER 1/12/97 article, "Newark is the 'N' thing" **1 (Negro League Caps).
THE AMISTAD PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ATHLETE: COLLEGIATE & PROFESSIONAL $35 each, 256 pages and 2000 photos.
Listing of NoirTech Research Inc. Negro League items. Included are 8x10's of Satchel Paige (Pitching & All-Star) Josh Gibson (Catching & Batting), Cool Papa Bell (Fielding & Portrait) just $3 each or all six for $12 + $1 P&H. .


FINAL REMARKS


Our next newsletter will be April's. Please get all material to me before the last week of March. Get HOF material to Monte Irvin, Buck O'Neil or the Veterans Committee at the Hall of Fame, now.

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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