Saturday, April 2, 2011

Negro Baseball League Exhibit at the Bronx Museum
  
    In conjunction with opening day at Yankee Stadium the 161st Street BID held its own opening weekend list of events to showcase the 161st Street business area. Thursday morning before opening day at Yankee Stadium a concert was held in Ruth/Gehrig park. On Friday it was the opening day of "The Negro League Exhibit" at the Bronx Museum. Then on Saturday former Yankee great Roy White, along with Negro league player Jim Robinson signed free autographs for hundreds of Yankee fans in front and inside of a packed Stan's Sports Bar on River Avenue. Roy and Jim then went to Mullaly Park just north of Yankee Stadium to sign autographs for the many kids who play little league baseball sponsored by the Grand Slam foundation. 

    After he finished signing autographs Roy White walked over to the Bronx Museum to view the Negro League exhibit on display. He met Ricky Martinez (who loaned part of his private collection for the exhibit) and the two looked at every item while Mr. Martinez explained the history of each item on display. Ricky Martinez explained that the Negro Leagues were made up of black and what are now called Hispanic players, such as his grandfather Rudolpho "Rudy" Fernandez. Ricky added that it was his grandfather that got him started collecting Negro League memorabilia when he was seven years old. 

    There were autographed baseballs, hats, bats, photos, plaques, and even an original uniform, with names such as Willie Mays, Leroy "Satchel" Page, Roy Campanella, James "Cool Papa" Bell, Josh Gibson, Lionel Hampton, Buck Leonard, Jackie Robinson, and many others that were not so famous, but played and enjoyed the game. 

    The Negro Leagues were established in the 1920's as an alternative to Major League Baseball, for non-white baseball players that could not play in the major league due to the color barrier. Jackie Robinson broke that color barrier on April 15th, 1947, and as other Major League baseball teams removed the color barrier by 1960 the Negro Leagues were history. "All that remains is the stories and memories of those who played the game of Black Baseball". The Negro League Museum is located in Kansas City Missouri.     

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