Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved collecting baseball cards. My journey with baseball began when I was eight, and it became even more exciting when my hometown team, the Red Sox, won the World Series in 2004. I got the chance to meet many of the players at autograph signings and events around Boston. However, I noticed that these players often acted more like celebrities and seemed overpaid and unfriendly.
In middle school, a friend showed me a different way to collect autographs: writing letters to players through the mail. I would send a letter, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a few baseball cards. To my surprise, the players who responded were not the modern stars but those from the 1950s and 60s. These retired players were much friendlier and less recognized during their careers.
In 2007, Topps Baseball Cards released a set featuring Negro League players. The Negro Leagues were a separate league for Black players from 1920 to the 1960s, as they were not allowed to play in the Major Leagues due to segregation. These players traveled across the country, often playing multiple games a day under challenging conditions. Unfortunately, the history of the Negro Leagues faded over time due to a lack of recognition.
I started writing to the players featured in this set, and they signed my cards. Soon, I reached out to other Negro League players who didn’t have cards and were even less recognized. In my letters, I included my phone number, and some players began calling me. I discovered that many of them had no baseball cards, documentation, newspaper articles, or photos from their careers, and they had lost touch with their teammates.
Determined to change this, I began creating baseball cards on my computer and sending them to the players. I also used newspaper archive websites to find old articles that could help give these players the recognition they deserved. I took on the role of a private investigator, tracking down their former teammates to help reconnect them.
As I continued my work, I spoke with these players regularly. By the time I was a freshman in high school, my hobby had turned into a serious passion for researching the Negro Leagues. I even asked for Negro League autographs and memorabilia for Christmas.
Throughout high school, I collaborated with adult researchers and worked on several programs. One of these was the Negro League Annual Reunion in Birmingham, Alabama, where 50 to 60 players would gather to share stories and receive the recognition they had long deserved.
Another program I worked on was the Negro League Pension Program, offered by Major League Baseball. If a player had documented four years in the Negro Leagues, they could receive $10,000 a year. This was significant for many players who hadn’t earned much after their baseball careers. I faced challenges, like sifting through hundreds of newspaper articles to prove their participation in the league.
Tracking down players wasn’t easy. Sometimes, I called the wrong person or encountered players who were reluctant to talk about their past due to painful memories of segregation and racism. However, some players opened up and shared their stories with me for hours, recounting specific games and memories.
To date, I’ve attended four Negro League Reunions and worked on about a dozen pensions. I’ve tracked down over a hundred Negro League players, continually finding new players and reconnecting them with their former teammates, bringing baseball back into their lives.
Thank you for joining me on this journey to uncover baseball’s untold history!
Design a baseball card for a Negro League player using online tools or drawing materials. Research the player’s history and achievements, and include this information on the card. Share your card with the class and explain why you chose that player.
Write a letter to a retired baseball player, expressing your interest in their career and asking for an autograph. Discuss the importance of recognizing players from the past and how it contributes to preserving history.
Choose a topic related to the Negro Leagues, such as a specific team, player, or event. Conduct research and create a presentation to share with the class. Highlight the challenges faced by the players and their contributions to baseball history.
Pair up with a classmate and role-play an interview between a journalist and a Negro League player. Prepare questions and answers based on historical facts. Perform your interview for the class, focusing on the player’s experiences and legacy.
Create a timeline that includes significant events in baseball history, with a focus on the Negro Leagues. Use images and brief descriptions to illustrate each event. Present your timeline to the class and discuss how these events shaped the sport.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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I’ve always collected baseball cards. I first started playing baseball when I was eight years old, and when my hometown Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, I began meeting many of the players at autograph signings and events around Boston. However, I noticed a few things in common: these players weren’t very friendly, they were quite overpaid, and they acted more like celebrities.
In middle school, a friend introduced me to a new way to collect autographs: writing to players through the mail. I would write a letter, send a self-addressed stamped envelope, and include a few baseball cards. Within a few weeks, I’d often receive a response. Interestingly, it was never the modern players who would reply; it was always players from the 50s and 60s, who were much friendlier and less recognized during their careers.
I continued to write letters to these retired ballplayers, and in 2007, Topps Baseball Cards released a set that included a few Negro League baseball player cards. The Negro Leagues were a period from 1920 to the 1960s when Black players, who were segregated from the Major Leagues, played in their own league, often traveling around the country and playing multiple games a day under less glamorous conditions. Over time, due to a lack of recognition and public interest, the history of the Negro Leagues faded away.
I began writing to players featured in this set, and within a few weeks, they signed my cards. From there, I started reaching out to Negro Leaguers who didn’t have baseball cards—players who were even less recognized. In my letters, I often included my phone number, and a few of them began reaching out to me. When I spoke with them, I noticed they all had a few things in common: none had baseball cards, documentation, newspaper articles, or photos from their careers, and they had lost touch with their teammates.
I wanted to change this, so I started creating baseball cards on my home computer, designing and printing them out to send to players. I also signed up for newspaper archive websites to find old articles that would provide these players with the recognition they deserved. Additionally, I took on the role of a private investigator, tracking down their former teammates to help reconnect them.
As I continued this work, I found myself speaking with these players regularly. It got to the point where they were calling me for information. By the time I was a freshman in high school, this had transformed from a hobby into a serious research passion for the Negro Leagues. I even asked for Negro League autographs and memorabilia for Christmas.
Throughout high school, I took my work with the Negro Leagues more seriously. I began collaborating with adult researchers and worked on several programs. One of these was the Negro League Annual Reunion in Birmingham, Alabama, where around 50 to 60 players would gather. They would spend time together, sharing stories and catching up, receiving recognition and honor that they had not experienced before.
Another program I worked on was the Negro League Pension Program, offered by Major League Baseball. If a player had documented four years in the Negro Leagues, they could receive $10,000 a year. This was significant for many players, as most had not earned much after their baseball careers. I faced many challenges in this work, including sifting through hundreds of newspaper articles to find documentation proving their participation in the league.
Additionally, tracking down players was not easy. I often encountered difficulties, such as calling the wrong person or facing players who were reluctant to speak about their experiences due to the painful memories associated with segregation and racism they faced during their careers. For many, discussing baseball was emotional, and it was challenging to get them to open up about the game they had left behind.
Despite these challenges, I also experienced success. Some players would share their stories with me for hours, recounting specific games and memories. To date, I have attended four Negro League Reunions, three of which I shared accommodations with former player Russell “Crazy Legs” Patterson of the Indianapolis Clowns. I’ve worked on about a dozen pensions and tracked down over a hundred Negro League players, continually finding new players and reconnecting them with their former teammates, bringing baseball back into their lives.
Thank you!
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate content.
Baseball – A sport that originated in the United States, played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players each, where the aim is to score runs by hitting the ball and running around a series of bases to reach home plate. – In the early 20th century, baseball became known as America’s pastime, reflecting its popularity and cultural significance.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, which helps us understand how societies have evolved over time. – Studying history allows us to learn about the causes and effects of major events like the American Revolution.
Players – Individuals who participate in a sport or game, often as part of a team, contributing to the overall performance and outcome. – The players of the Negro Leagues showcased incredible talent and resilience despite facing racial discrimination.
Leagues – Organized groups or associations of sports teams that compete against each other in a structured format over a season. – The formation of professional baseball leagues in the late 19th century helped standardize the rules and increase the sport’s popularity.
Recognition – Acknowledgment or appreciation of someone’s achievements or contributions, often leading to increased respect or fame. – Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier in Major League Baseball earned him widespread recognition and paved the way for future African American athletes.
Segregation – The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment, often leading to inequality and discrimination. – Segregation laws in the United States, known as Jim Crow laws, kept African Americans and whites apart in public spaces until the mid-20th century.
Memories – Recollections or remembrances of past experiences or events, which can shape an individual’s or community’s identity and understanding of history. – Oral histories help preserve the memories of those who lived through significant historical events, providing personal insights into the past.
Challenges – Difficulties or obstacles that require effort and determination to overcome, often leading to growth and change. – The Great Depression presented significant economic challenges that affected millions of people worldwide, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions, often used to gain a deeper understanding of historical events. – Conducting research on primary sources, such as letters and diaries, helps historians piece together accurate accounts of the past.
Autographs – Signatures, especially of famous people, which are often collected as memorabilia and can provide a personal connection to historical figures. – Collecting autographs of famous historical figures, like presidents or civil rights leaders, can offer a tangible link to important moments in history.
