The 2 Negro League stamps that the United States Postal Service released on July 15th 2010 are still being sold, including "First Day Covers" TO ORDER GO TO: The United States Postal Service Store's website
at
www.usps.com/shop or
by
calling 800-STAMP-24
Supplies are limited and first day covers will only be on sale for another 40+ days or so.
• On Wednesday
August 4th Mr. Robert "Bob" Wiggins of the Raleigh Tigers; Mr. Lou Clarizio Jr. of the Ted "Double Duty" Radcliff managed Chicago American Giants and Mr. Gary Crawford COO of this website, appeared on the WGN-TV
... newscast where it was officially announced that the White House has extended an open invitation to the former Negro League baseball Legends for either a lunch or dinner with the President tentatively scheduled this fall, 2010.
Funds are
needed as well as travel vouchers and accommodations for
players and one guest to Washington D.C.
Corporations interested in donating can call (312) 859-7788 for further information for our 501(c)3 number. Individuals can donate by making a direct contribution on this website or by emailing us @ info@negroleaguelegends.org. THANK YOU
Upcoming Shows in 2010: Co-Sponsored by Mounted Memories, FansEdge & The Chicago Sun-Times
November 19-21 ... This show will all be held @ the Donald Steven's Convention Center over in Rosemont, Illinois. Just a few miles away from Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Among the players expected to attend are:
• Hank "Baby" Presswood, 89, - Cleveland Buckeyes and Kansas City Monarchs
infielder who played for Buck O'Neil while with the Monarchs. He played
two years (1948 & 1949) with the Buckeyes, then two more years with
the Kansas City Monarchs - both as a Shortstop & 3B. Between 1950 & 1952 while with KC, Buck
nicknamed Hank, "Baby," because of his young face, and age! Mr.
Presswood was recently "drafted," by the Chicago White Sox. And
Hartland just launched a new figurine of him (at a recent Sun-Times
show)
• Johnny "Lefty" Washington, 80, - Chicago American Giants, and Houston / New Orleans Eagles pitcher. Washington is a Morgan Park Grad -
played for Ted "Double Duty" Radcliff where he finished the 1949
campaign with the American Giants, and then in 1950 he pitched
for the Houston / New Orleans Eagles.
He
served his country in Korea (Marines) and earned two Purple Hearts.
This year his high school (Morgan Park, of Beverly, IL) retired his jersey.
• Nathan "Sonny" Weston, 79, - Chicago American Giants, outfielder.
Also a Bloom High School Grad where Jerry
Colangelo (the former majority owner of the Phoenix Suns, and the
D'Backs), Jim Boutin, Bryant Young are also Bloom alum) this year, they
too retired his jersey! Sonny played outfield for Ted "Double Duty" Radcliff with the Chicago American Giants. He then was the "last cut" on both the 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.
• Robert "Bob" Wiggins, 77, Raleigh Tigers outfielder in both 1959 and 1960. Where he was also
fortunate enough to have played with many of those who were featured
in what was then called, the 28th Annual (and officially last)
East-West Negro League All-Star Baseball game. He was a part-time
instructor for the Gary Railcats when the club first started.
• Louis "The Grey Cat" Clarizio Jr. 77, Chicago American Giants 1950-1951 (OF)
1st (of 3) "white" players to sign in baseball's Negro Leagues (1920-1960) ... (the only one still around today).
• Julius "Satchel" Sledge, 70, Indianapolis Clowns outfielder and pitcher. Played for 2/12 with the Clowns organization. Teammate of Heron O'Neal.
• Heron O'Neal. 69, Indianapolis Clowns outfielder. Played for 1/12 seasons for the Clowns organization. Teammate of Julius Sledge.
• Dennis Biddle, 71 Chicago American Giants Pitcher / OUtfielder. Mr. Biddle played in the late 50's and early 60's. He also had a tryout with the Chicago Cubs of the National Baseball League. Today he lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
OR email us @ info@negroleaguelegends.org AND / OR CALL: (312) 859-7788 FOR FURTHER INFO.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
WE WELCOME THOSE 50 LIBRARIES NATIONWIDE WHO ARE HOSTING THE PRIDE & PASSION EXHIBITION. THIS EXHIBITION IS CURRENTLY TRAVELING THROUGH 50 LIBRAIES NATIONWIDE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CONCLUDING IN THE SPRING OF 2013.
HAVING JUST STARTED EARLIER THIS SPING, PLAYERS THAT WE HAVE BOOKED HAVE ALREADY APPEARED IN OAK BROOK, LOCKPORT & HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS; MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN; CYPRESS (HOUSTON), TEXAS; DES MOINES, IOWA; CASPER, WYOMING; ETC., ETC.
NEGRO LEAGUE LEGENDS.ORG IS A PROUD CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS EVENT, ASSISTING LIBRAIRIES NATIONWIDE WITH THEIR BOOKING OF BOTH PLAYER AND SPEAKER APPEARANCES.
WE ARE HONORED TO BE LISTED AS THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES AND NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME (OF COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK) AS THEIR "GO TO SOURCE" FOR BOTH SPEAKERS AND NEGRO LEGEND BALL PLAYERS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION & FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR EVENT, PLEASE CALL (312) 859-7788 OR EMAIL US AT INFO@NEGROLEAGUELEGENDS.ORG
ELSEWHERE:
On Friday January 30th 2009, former
Negro League Legend Nathan "Sonny" Weston, 78 had his baseball jersey retired by Bloom High School, where he was a three-sport athlete, and arguably one of the fastest of them all!
Bloom, located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, has had many famous alums attend its great school, including Jim Bouton, Bryant Young and Jerry Colangelo, now 69, an American Businessman and Sports Mogul, as the former majority owner of the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. Colangelo was also instrumental in getting the former Winnipeg Jets of the NHL transfered to Phoenix now becoming the Phoenix Coyotes. Most recently, he was the National Director for USA Basketball helping Team USA bring home the Gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
As for Mr. Weston he played the 1951 season with the Chicago American Giants (along with the late great Ted "Double Duty" Radcliff) and also had tryouts with both the Brooklyn (nee Los Angeles) Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox where he was their "last cut."
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On
Friday Friday May 15th 2009, former
Negro League Legend Johnny "Lefty" Washington, 79 had his #20 baseball jersey
retired by Morgan Park High School, located in Beverly Illinois.
Washington was a two-sport athlete, and
arguably one of their fastest swimmers! Today, the Morgan Park High School baseball club, nicknamed the Mustangs, is managed by a newphew of the legendary Double Duty, Head Coach Ted Radcliff. A versatile player, Washington was a left-handed starting pitcher, who also played first base and the outfield during his two seasons in baseball’s Negro Leagues. Even before Johnny finished high school, baseball was in his blood.
In 1948 Washington joined the Armour Meat Packing Company’s semi-pro team which played on Chicago’s South Side over at Washington Park. There he pitched twice a week in front of huge crowds, and it was during that time that he and fellow Negro League infielder Jack Marshall were encouraged to visit Dr. J. M. Martin - the owner of the Chicago American Giants.
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On May 16th thru May 18th 2008, we celebrated with a nice gathering of former Negro League Legends in Naperville, (Chicago) Illinois.
Legends on hand included many who played both in the Major Leagues and in the Negro Leagues such as; Cubs great GEORGE "Daddy Long Legs" ALTMAN, Hall of Famer MONTE IRVIN, Reverend BILL GREASON, SAMMY DRAKE and JC HARTMAN.
Some of the other names appearing included:
Carl Long, Hank "Baby" Presswood, Jim "Zapper" Zapp, Johnny "Lefty" Washington, Nathan "Sonny" Weston, and Ernest "Ernie" Westfield.
The Negro League Legends were there to help celebrate the 88th Anniversary of the first ever Negro League Baseball game, which was played May 20th 1920.
• In 1954 REV. BILL GREASON was the St. Louis Cardinals 1st African American Pitcher
• The late SAMMY DRAKE - along with his brother Solly (who was unable to attend this show) were the first African American brother combination to play in the Majors. They both broke in with the Chicago Cubs and played along side Ernie Banks. The also played with Cubs & NY Mets.
• Mr. J.C. HARTMAN played with the Houston Colts 1962-1963 was the mentor to Hall of Famer Joe Morgan.
OTHER NEGRO LEAGUE LEGENDS...WHO WERE THERE WERE:
* Carl Long - Birmingham Black Barons - who resides in North Carolina
* Jim "Zapper" Zapp (3B, OF) 1948-1954 - Birmingham Barons who lives in Texas
