NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL HISTORY of Comiskey Park, U.S. Cellular Field, White Sox, Giants, Dr. Martin

	JOHNNY WASHINGTON
	HANK PRESSWOOD
	SONNY WESTON alias NATHAN GRIFFIN
	IRA MCKNIGHT
	ROBERT "BOB" WIGGINS
	CHARLES JOHNSON
	CARL LONG
	ART HAMILTON
	HAROLD "BUSTER" HAIR
	Barnstormer ODELL NORRIS
	PHITEN Athletic (magnet) Sport Related Products
	Books, Posters, Caps, Top Loaders, Bat Tubes
	"LATE LEGENDS"
	CLYDE GOLDEN
	Autographed BASEBALLS
	Autographed PICTURES
	Autographed BASEBALL BATS
	Autographed CAPS
	Varity

Dr. J. B. Martin with JOE LOUIS & ERNIE BANKS

Dr. J. B. Martin is flanked by JOSEPH LOUIS BARROW (left), the legendary "Brown Bomber," considered by many to be the finest heavyweight champion in the history of boxing. Joe Louis held the world's heavyweight title from June 22, 1937 through June 25, 1948. Born in Alabama, Louis moved to Detroit as a child. Over the years, Louis fought in many ballparks who housed former Negro League Baseball teams. Among them was Yankee Stadium in New York City and Chicago's Comiskey Park Homes to the New York Black Yankees and the Chicago American Giants respectively. After winning his first 27 professional bouts (23 by knockout) Louis lost to Max Schmeling at Yankee Stadium, who knocked him out in the 12th round. But on June 22 1937, Louis rebounded from that defeat when he faced champion James J. Braddock in Chicago's Comiskey Park. Although he was dropped early, Louis rose from the canvas to score an eighth-round knockout becoming the first African American to win the heavyweight title since Jack Johnson in 1908. • As for Ernie Banks (right) he never played minor league ball, jumping directly from the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues to the Chicago Cubs. By 1957 he was one of the most feared power hitters in the league. Ernie "Let's Play Two," Banks went on to hit 512 home runs and win two MVP awards in a Hall of Fame career. Today "Mr. Cub" is an ambassador for the Chicago Cubs.

CHISOX & CHI. AM. GIANTS

At the intersection of 35th & Giles in Chicago, Illinois stands the new Comiskey Park, now named U.S. Cellular Field home to the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox. Back in the twenties, thirties, and forties, etc., while the Negro Leagues were in existence, old Comiskey Park - kiddy corner to the new ball park - stood the home of the Chicago American Giants and host ballpark to many of the East-West Negro Baseball League All-Star games.

WRIGLEY HOSTS THE LEGENDS

Thanks to Manager Dusty Baker and the Marketing & Special Events Department of the Chicago Cubs, the former Negro League players were honored on Labour Day 2004 when the (old) Montreal Expos came to Wrigley Field managed by baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. PICTURED (LtoR) ARE: FORMER CLEVELAND BUCKEYE & KANSAS CITY MONARCH HANK PRESSWOOD, HANK'S K.C. MANAGER BUCK O'NEIL, HOUSTON EAGLE & CAG JOHNNY WASHINGTON and PITCHER ERNIE WESTFIELD OF THE BIRMINGHAM BLACK BARONS.